Airport Security Officers Undergo Aviation Security Training at Statia’s FDR Airport

ORANJESTAD, ST. EUSTATIUS – All officers of the Unit Security at Franklin D. Roosevelt Airport are currently undergoing Basic Aviation Security Training (BAST) as part of a comprehensive professional development effort initiated by the Public Entity of St. Eustatius.

The training, delivered by certified instructors from NTCB, is designed to bring the island’s airport security practices in full compliance with the standards set by the Brigade Toezicht Beveiliging Burgerluchtvaart (BTBB) and the National Training Program Civil Aviation Security (NTBB-CN). It covers essential areas such as threat recognition, access control, passenger and baggage screening, x-ray operations, patrolling, and emergency response.

Unit Manager Security, Michael de Vreugd, emphasized the significance of the program:

“With this training, we are not only meeting our regulatory obligations but also investing in the professionalism and preparedness of our officers. It’s a fundamental step toward raising the standard of airport security on the island.”

To ensure uninterrupted security coverage at the airport, officers are attending the training in shifts. This approach allows key airport functions to remain fully operational while progressing toward full certification of all security personnel.

The BAST training marks the beginning of a longer-term strategy to enhance aviation security on St. Eustatius. It is the first in a planned series of structured training modules to be rolled out in the coming years as part of a multi-year training and compliance program for the Unit.