RIYADH: The Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation has won approval from the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress (IFSAC) to carry out advanced training programs in the Kingdom. The accreditation was granted during a recent international conference in Kentucky in the US. Fahad Al Harbi, president of the Saudi Academy of Civil Aviation, said that the award reflects the Kingdom’s advances in both aviation training and fire and rescue sciences. The academy’s latest international recognition follows earlier recognition of the its fire and rescue training services.  Following accreditation by the International Fire Service Accreditation Congress, the academy will be able to hold 11 training programs offering trainees internationally accredited certificates. Last April the academy was inspected by IFSAC auditors, who reviewed equipment and techniques used at the fire and rescue training center. The academy has started training about 2,450 fire and rescue services staff working in airports around the Kingdom over the past two years. IFSAC was established in 1999 and is one of the authorities responsible for licensing fire and rescue services training centers around the world.