Full Scale emergency exercise held at Benazir Bhutto Airport

ISLAMABAD: A full scale Airport Emergency Exercise (AIR-X-11) was held at Benazir Bhutto International Airport here on Thursday in which various rescue ventures were demonstrated.

The exercise was organized by the Management of CAA Benazir Bhutto International Airport with the collaboration of PAF, ASF, PIA, and other Foreign Airlines alongwith Ground Handling Agents at BBIAP Islamabad.

The Ambulances of Rescue 1122, CDA 1122, Military Hospital, PIMS, Edhi Services, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital alongwith doctors and paramedics of the twin cities also actively participated.

The objective of the Airport Emergency Exercise was to attain, develop, educate and train the staff and to achieve the high level of fire safety and first aid procedures during an emergency at the airport.

An Air-Bus 310 aircraft was used for demonstration with 130 passengers on board in the simulated exercise.

The response time was achieved in one minute 20 seconds. The outcome of the accident was 16 passengers seriously injured, 24 delayed care, 85 self evacuated and 11 Causalities.

The scenario of the exercise was that a passenger aircraft made a crash landing near the runway and broken into two pieces and caught fire.

Immediately after the incident, fire fighting units rushed to the scene and extinguished the fire instantly.

The rescue teams evacuated the passengers from the plane and shifted them to the twin cities hospitals through ambulances and helicopter.

Speaking on the occasion, Airport Manager, CAA, Asghar Fahim Khattak highlighted the significance of the exercise and said that the aim of the exercise is to ensure adequate response of all personnel and resources, check emergency equipments and communication, mutual coordination and exchange of facilities among all associated agencies. It gives a chance to review the deficiencies and improve the operation in case of any emergency at the airport.

At the end, Anwar Ahmed Ghauri, Chief Fire Officer CAA, briefed the participants about the sequence of events of Air-X-11.

It may be mentioned here that Pakistan CAA being signatory to ICAO conventions is obliged to implement the standards and recommended practices to ensure safe and smooth airport operations.

In line with such recommendation, CAA, BBIA, Islamabad was required to simulate the subject exercise once in two years.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2011