GULF SHORES AL-
Edwards Airport had an unannounced disaster drill last Friday morning. Fire,
actors, even mock fatalities added realism to the exercise. First responders from 20 different agencies participated, including the Baldwin
County Emergency Management Agency, Gulf Shores, Foley police and Orange Beach
fire departments.
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Disaster drill at Gulf Shores Airport Image courtesy of Michelle Przystas
Staged was a collision between two aircraft. One aircraft refueled at the Airport then experienced an engine failure on takeoff. Landing back on the runway, the plane crashed into another aircraft.
According to the FAA, an airport incident can occur anywhere, at any time - day or night, under any weather condition, and in varying degrees of magnitude. Moreover, emergencies of the same type can differ widely in severity, depending on factors such as degree of warning, duration, and scope of impact. The important thing to remember is that, while emergencies can seldom be exactly predicted, they can be anticipated and prepared for. All agencies were tested.
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Image courtesy of Michelle Przystas
Debriefing will be discussed later at a meeting where emergency responses will be evaluated and graded.
In the past, the Airport, originally an outlying field for Naval Air Station Pensacola, had military disaster drills. But according to Mayor Craft, this is the first time in 20 years training like this has been done at Jack Edwards Airport. B Meyer, FMI:Ferguson Air
Disaster drill at Gulf Shores Airport Image courtesy of Michelle Przystas
Staged was a collision between two aircraft. One aircraft refueled at the Airport then experienced an engine failure on takeoff. Landing back on the runway, the plane crashed into another aircraft.
According to the FAA, an airport incident can occur anywhere, at any time - day or night, under any weather condition, and in varying degrees of magnitude. Moreover, emergencies of the same type can differ widely in severity, depending on factors such as degree of warning, duration, and scope of impact. The important thing to remember is that, while emergencies can seldom be exactly predicted, they can be anticipated and prepared for. All agencies were tested.
Image courtesy of Michelle Przystas
Debriefing will be discussed later at a meeting where emergency responses will be evaluated and graded.
In the past, the Airport, originally an outlying field for Naval Air Station Pensacola, had military disaster drills. But according to Mayor Craft, this is the first time in 20 years training like this has been done at Jack Edwards Airport. B Meyer, FMI:Ferguson Air