Fire and medical teams were tested this morning at a simulated air crash of an ATR42 at Labasa Airport organized by the AFL.
The simulation was a part of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that requires that the exercise be conducted every three years.
AFL Manager Rescue and Firefighting Services, Josefa Rainima, who was responsible for organizing the event said that they tried to make it as reall as possible.
“We used the full fire services of the airport to put out the fire with foam; we included an ambulance and seven medical staff from Labasa Hospital to treat the fifteen volunteer passengers who simulated injuries, and we included the police who took over the crash scene when the fire was extinguished and the passengers treated.”
Following the completion of the simulated plane crash a immediate debriefing was held with stakeholders and participants to determine the effectives of the response.
“We are initially reviewing the airports emergency plan to see whatr needs to be amended. But the final report will take an additional two weeks at which time we will return to the airport for a final debriefing and final amendments to ensure that our emergency services are among Fiji’s best,” Mr. Rainima said.
The exercise lasted from 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m.