OREANDA-NEWS. Worldwide, the world's leading aviation and aerospace university, have formally signed an agreement that will enhance training and degree opportunities for firefighters in the U.S. and abroad, by providing college credit for training classes at the Airport's Fire Training and Research Center.

The DFW Airport Fire Training and Research Center (FTRC) is one of the world's top facilities for aircraft rescue firefighting training and research. The center re-opened earlier this year after a USD 29 million dollar expansion and reinvestment project which has enhanced the facility's real world training and high value research capabilities by adding new interactive curriculum, classroom space, a new control center, new burn pits and the only Airbus A380 mockup trainer in the United States.

“The Fire Training Research Center at DFW Airport is proud to partner with Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University on aircraft rescue firefighting training and curriculum,” said Jeff Fegan, CEO of DFW Airport. “Embry-Riddle students gain real-world knowledge and hand-on training that will share best practices around the world and result in safer communities.”

“The Embry-Riddle Fire Science Team has been working with the Dallas/Fort Worth Fire Training Research Center for some time now, and we really are excited about this unique partnership. Now firefighters who are already training at the center can get Embry-Riddle credit toward a bachelor's degree in fire science,” said Dr. Ron Wakeham, fire science department chair at Embry-Riddle Worldwide. “Over the years, the role of fire department leadership and administration has evolved - reaching beyond the traditional firefighting role. Our bachelor's degree will help prepare firefighters to become professionals academically equipped to lead today's modern fire department.”

The agreement, which was signed earlier this month, calls for the two entities to partner in curriculum review. It will also encourage other collaborative efforts including research to advance scientific knowledge in the fire and emergency services disciplines. Embry-Riddle, which has a Fire Emergency Services Higher Education (FESHE) recognized program through the U.S. Fire Administration's National Fire Academy, will accept specific course credits from the center and apply them toward a bachelor's degree in fire science.

Since it first opened in 1995, the DFW FTRC has trained nearly 17,000 students from 31 countries and 39 U.S. states in a variety of course offerings such as aircraft and structural fire suppression, incident management, aircraft rescue and firefighting, emergency vehicle operations and vehicle mass applications.

The Center now features an Airbus A380 mockup to teach students how to handle modern ultra-large fuselage aircraft. Other features in the Fire Training Research Center include:

A liquid hydrocarbon burn pit that uses environmentally compliant fuels to train firefighters on the behavior characteristics of a jet fuel spill and fire (Liquid hydrocarbons burn 98% cleaner than Jet A or Jet B fuels)

A two-story training command center for full observation and control of training exercises

A large state-of-the-art classroom facility with 3D simulation technology providing the ability to visually and virtually train for any airport in the world

A new multi-purpose road connecting the FTRC to DFW Airport runways and taxiways, to allow active aircraft onto the facility for training and research

A new galley area to allow for onsite meals, increasing the efficiency and value proposition of the center