The hunt will soon be on for three Bermudians to fill senior management jobs at the Airport.

Transport Minister the Hon. Maxwell Burgess announced yesterday the posts of General Manager, Operations Manager and Financial Comptroller would be advertised in the next three of four weeks.

The successful candidates -- expected to come from a business background -- will undergo intensive training.

And they will spend some time as understudies for experienced managers.

The $90,000 training will be carried out by the Vancouver International Airport Authority (VIAA) and the Canadian-based International Aviation Management Training Institute (IAMTI).

Bermuda Government has a 12-month $616,000 contract with VIAA, although there are options to extend it to three years.

On Thursday, Mr. Burgess and Mr. Frank O'Neill, president and chief executive officer of YVR International Services Ltd., a subsidiary company of VIAA, signed the contract.

IAMTI, a non-profit international school of aviation management, has linked up with the VIAA to provide a three-phase training programme for the Bermudians.

This week, IAMTI executive vice president and chief operating officer Mr.

Pierre Coutu was in Bermuda, outlining the programme to Mr. Burgess.

"I was very impressed with it,'' said Mr. Burgess.

The job of Operations Manager involves overseeing, among other things, air traffic control, meteorology, crash fire rescue, ground electronics maintenance and Airport security.

The Comptroller, meanwhile, would have responsibility for financial planning and analysis, and revenue collection.

Mr. Coutu told The Royal Gazette IAMTI, which started its training activities in September 1987, had vast experience in organising aviation management courses.

To date it had offered courses to more than 3,000 people from 161 countries, many of which were sponsored by the International Civil Aviation Organisation.

Mr. Coutu explained the programme involved holding workshops and giving guidance to the Bermudian understudies.

It also entailed offering internships at Vancouver International Airport, or other airports.

Mr. Coutu added the training would focus on the commercial side of the Airport operation.

Mr. O'Neill pointed out the training would cost about $90,000, and he went on to stress the importance of the Airport to Bermuda's tourism-driven economy.

"It is one of the most important economic levers.'' For Mr. Burgess, what was essential was that Bermuda managed the Airport correctly.

It could not afford to slip up as the Airport adjusted to the changes.

"We have to make sure we get it right. We have only one chance.'' Mr. Burgess stressed he was in no hurry to thrust the Bermudians into such responsible positions.

He added Government was keen to start an ongoing relationship with Vancouver.