OSCE Centre organizes courses on aviation emergency response skills in Turkmenistan
ASHGABAT, 22 March 2013 –A series of training courses on emergency response skills at airports organized by the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat concluded today.
Organized in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the State National Service “Turkmenhowayollary” (“Turkmenistan Airlines”), the specialized training courses brought 57 officials from the senior management of Turkmenistan Airlines, as well from the transportation police and security from all airports in Turkmenistan.
During each five-day course, which were held at Ashgabat, Turkmenbashy and Mary airports, an expert presented internationally-standardized emergency response, search and rescue and crisis management guidelines for aviation, natural and man-made disasters and crisis events. Participants also took part in drills and exercises and discussed the need for effective planning and operations in co-ordination with other states.
“As Turkmenistan expands its aviation and other transport resources, the importance of an enhanced emergency planning and response programme increases,” said Ambassador Ivo Petrov, Head of the OSCE Centre in Ashgabat. “The preparedness and operational training courses aim to expand the knowledge and expertise of the staff and officials at the country’s major airports.”
“The training courses provided a platform for sharing principles, strategies, operational perspectives and experiences, which are the cornerstone of aviation emergency response operations,” said Larry Wansley, a US expert who led the training courses.