BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Newark’s Liberty International Airport was one of four Port Authority of New York and New Jersey airports that have received a $3.5 million fine from the Federal Aviation Administration.

Along with Newark, John F. Kennedy, LaGuardia, and Teterboro were cited for aircraft rescue and firefighting violations between December 2010 and June 2012.

Pilot and aviation attorney Justin Green says most large airports have their own fire departments, but he said the Port Authority staffs their units with policemen to cut costs, according to 7online.com. The FAA said 77 police officers served on hundreds of firefighting shifts without proper training at JFK last year.

According to the FAA, the Port Authority also failed to ensure proper rescue and firefighter training for 341 days at LaGuardia and 378 days at Newark. Administrator Michael Huerta said, according to USA Today, "We expect the Port Authority to have trained safety personnel to ensure the safety of the traveling public and airport personnel."

Under terms of the settlement, according to aviationnews.net, the Port Authority will create a rescue and fire-fighting force that has extra police officer duties. The position of fire chief will be created by March 31, 2014 at the latest, and will report directly to the department of aviation. Also, the Port Authority will create 75 hours of initial fire and rescue training, curriculum for training to the FAA on or before December 31, 2013, with 40 more hours to take place annually.

According to 7online.com, the Port Authority says it has "taken immediate steps" to make the changes to its airports. The FAA expects the Port Authority to pay $3.5 million fine in 30 days, according to CBS New York.