07/03/2026
CASA PNG Certifies Rescue Group PNG as Part 141 ARFF Training Organisation
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The Civil Aviation Safety Authority of Papua New Guinea (CASAPNG) has granted Rescue Group PNG (RGPNG) an Aviation Training Organisation (ATO) certificate under Civil Aviation Rule (CAR) Part 141, authorising the organisation to conduct Airport Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) training.
The issuance of the certificate on 5 March 2026 coincided with the official opening of RGPNG’s purpose-built training facility at 9 Mile, Lae, Morobe Province. The ceremony was officiated by the Governor of Morobe Province, Hon. Rainbo Paita, who presented the certificate on behalf of CASAPNG.
While presenting the certificate to the owner of Rescue Group PNG, Mr Daniel Lewis, the Governor highlighted that RGPNG is the first ARFF training organisation in Papua New Guinea to be certified under CAR Part 141. He noted that this milestone supports CASAPNG’s new regulatory requirement to provide oversight of all aviation training, beyond the traditional scope of pilot, aircraft engineer, and air traffic controller training.
As part of the opening ceremony, a live fire drill was conducted by 10 Airport Rescue and Firefighting personnel from the National Airports Corporation (NAC), who were undergoing a week long training programme at the facility. The demonstration showcased realistic firefighting scenarios and operational readiness.
The significance of integrating RGPNG into the civil aviation system lies in its capability to deliver pressure fed fuel fire training and live fire drills in compliance with Civil Aviation Rule Part 139. Currently, the NAC does not provide pressure fed fuel fire training for its ARFF personnel—training that simulates realistic aircraft fire scenarios.
The establishment of the RGPNG training facility is therefore timely, responding directly to NAC’s search for pressure fed fuel fire training solutions to address an ICAO audit finding from 2023. The week of the facility’s opening marked the third batch of 10 NAC ARFF personnel to successfully undergo this specialised pressure fed fuel fire training.
In addition to aircraft fire training, the RGPNG ARFF training package also covers urban firefighting, first aid, and other emergency response competencies, further strengthening aviation safety and emergency preparedness across Papua New Guinea.
