Tue, May 08, 2012
Exercise Tests Emergency Services Every Three Years
On Saturday morning Virginia’s Lynchburg Regional Airport hosted a mass casualty drill in preparation for the worst-possible disaster that could strike the airport at any time. The airport’s fire unit was backed up by Emergency services from Campbell County’s fire and emergency services units, the city of Lynchburg’s public safety department and rescue squads from surrounding areas. The event was staged to resemble a crash of a regional airliner, complete with local volunteers as casualties and a replica of a regional-size aircraft that utilizes propane gas to provide a real fire-fighting environment was used for Saturday’s exercise.
The News & Advance reports that J. Bowen, the airport’s fire chief, said before the drill that an area just in front of the simulator called the "pit" would be temporarily lit on fire and there would be a small blaze on the inside of the plane. No volunteers were in danger during the drill, which he said is a way to put into practice what emergency workers study in classrooms."This keeps up our training," Bowen said.
Mark Courtney, airport director said "Nothing replaces going through an actual simulated incident. It’s a very thorough and well thought out plan. It really does all come together." The casualty drill is required by the FAA for all federally certified air carrier airports in the United States every three years. It is designed to test the regional airport and nearby localities’ mutual abilities to respond to an actual aircraft disaster with casualties.
Mr Courtney said he was pleased with the cloudy skies and lack of humidity and heat that often take its toll on participants during such exercises.The volunteers were mostly teenagers from the local Lynchburg division of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps.
More News
Chaff Thin, narrow metallic reflectors of various lengths and frequency responses, used to reflect radar energy. These reflectors, when dropped from aircraft and allowed to drift d>[...]
“Today, XB-1 took flight in the same hallowed airspace where the Bell X-1 first broke the sound barrier in 1947. I’ve been looking forward to this flight since founding>[...]
“Teaming up with the EAA and Berlin Express for this event in Cincinnati will give warbird fans a unique opportunity to see the aircraft that helped defend freedom and gave t>[...]
Hazardous Weather Information Summary of significant meteorological information (SIGMET/WS), convective significant meteorological information (convective SIGMET/WST), urgent pilot>[...]
Aero Linx: The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission The Nebraska Aeronautics Commission was created by the 1935 Legislature to oversee the development of aviation in the state. The Comm>[...]