Pacific Region Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting Training Center

Welcome

Welcome to the Pacific Region ARFF Training Center (PRATC).  Over the years, we have provided training to fire service personnel from the islands in the Western Pacific Region including Guam, the Republic of Palau, the Republic of the Marshal Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia consisting of Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae.

PRATC, located on the beautiful island of Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, is the newest training institution in the Western Pacific Region with one of the finest emergency response training programs in the world.

PRATC was created to train all airport firefighters throughout Micronesia. Since opening, we have trained an excess of 150 fire personnel annually.

Scheduled training courses meet all training requirements in accordance with National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), FAA Regulation Part 139, and ICAO regulations.  Special classes tailored to meet your specific training needs are available upon request.  Furthermore, class schedules can also be made flexible to meet your busy schedule to include out-reach and training programs at on-site locations.

In addition to our basic firefighting and basic aircraft rescue courses, we also offer fire leadership, emergency medical services, hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction response courses. 

PRATC’s new modern classroom facility can accommodate up to 30 fire fighters comfortably.  In addition to this, our center offers practical hands-on training at our new EPA and FAA approved state-of-the-art Live-Fire Training Facility.  It features a large frame (Index E) aircraft mock-up in a 17,980 square feet bin area, allowing instructors to simulate any aircraft firefighting scenario. The aircraft mock-up utilizes hydrocarbon fuel, creating the most realistic training conditions possible for our Firefighters.

We are setting a new standard of excellence in firefighting service in this region with our new Pacific Region ARFF Training Center.  And we are ready to deliver first-class training to your firefighters.

The Pacific Region ARFF Training Center (PRATC) is fully certified by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications Committee on Accreditation to train and certify all airport firefighters throughout the Micronesian Islands to provide unparalleled emergency response and fire prevention to the protect people, facilities and the Commonwealth and Micronesian communities from the adverse effect of fire, release of hazardous material, aviation and industrial injuries and to ensure the protection of life and property throughout effective and efficient delivery of professional aircraft fire rescue and emergency medical services.

Part 139.319(i) of Federal Aviation Regulations requires that all Operators of Part 139 airports be properly trained to provide aircraft rescue and firefighting services during air carrier operations that require a Part 139 certificate.

PRATC offers an ongoing program and curricula using the most up-to-date methods meeting NFPA and FAA national standards, standards required by the National Professional Qualifications System (NPQS), the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation (NFPA), the National Fire Academy (NFA), standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) for Aerodromes, ARFF accreditation criteria as well as OSHA regulations.

Mission Statement

Provide excellent Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting training to fire service personnel within our local and western pacific island region meeting FAA and NFPA training standards.  And to deploy these services in a responsive and costs effective manner.

Training Facility

• Meets FAR Part 139 and ICAO ARFF training requirements
• AIRCRAFT MOCKUP:  85 feet by 16 feet in diameter
• Provides realistic and hands-on control and extinguishing of live fuel fires from aircraft
• Participants utilize actual firefighting equipment and vehicles

Accreditation

National Board On Fire Service Professional Qualifications Accreditation

On July 22, 2005, the Saipan International Airport, Commonwealth Ports Authority was awarded accreditation by the Pro-Board Committee on Accreditation to certify fire and emergency personnel, upon successful completion of training, in accordance with the criteria established by the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications also known as the Pro-Board.

See Certification Program document for program and policy.

Training Information:

Courses

Trainining courses accredited through the National Board on Fire Service Professional Qualifications also known as the “Pro-Board” and through our local U.S. accredited College.

Leadership and Management Courses

Training focuses on incident command systems, management and tactics for disasters.

• Fire Officer I and II
• Incident Command System
• Tactics and Strategy
• Fire Instructor I and II
• Fire Inspector I and II

Basic Firefighting and Rescue Courses

Firefighting courses involving academic and hands-on live fire structural and rescue operations on tactical strategies and techniques in a safe and controlled environment.

• Fire Fighter I and II

Hazardous Materials (HAZMAT) and WMD Courses

Hazardous materials and response training features strenuous exercises using chemical protective clothing to include Weapons of Mass Destruction response training.

• Hazardous Materials Awareness, Operations, Technician, and Incident Command
• Weapons of Mass Destruction Awareness, Operations, and Incident Command

Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting Courses

The center is one of only a few facilities in the entire world that uses “hydrocarbon fuel” aircraft live fire simulation training. The training institution offers specialty courses for airport firefighters in basic and advanced level training. Participants will develop insights into aircraft tactics, strategy, pre-fire planning, and rescue through challenging hands-on experience.

• FAR Part 139 Live Fire Re-certification
• Basic ARFF
• Advanced ARFF
• ARFF Driver Operator