Commonwealth Ports Authority Executive Director Edward Deleon Guerrero said the special plane is part of the $17 million grant that CPA received from the Federal Aviation Administration for the ARFF.
Deleon Guerrero said it will take at least a year to build that special plane which can be burned using real jet fuel.
Airport firefighters who will train at the ARFF will actually be trained how to douse a burning plane from jet fuel, which powers most commercial planes.
The yet to be built new ARFF regional center facility will be a two-story building and will use recycled water during its activities.
Deleon Guerrero said only the Saipan ARFF is using jet fuel during training, thus, firefighters get the real deal.
“We’re the only one using jet fuel during the training,” he said.
The Saipan ARFF was established in 2004. It was designed to train not only local aviation firefighters but as well as those from Guam, the Marshall.
Islands, Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia: Chuuk, Kosrae, Yap and Pohnpei.
At Saipan international airport, more than 30 personnel are on stand-by, working on shifting schedules, for any emergency situation.
Most international flights depart and arrive on Saipan between midnight and 4 a.m.
