It could happen we have to be prepared.
Thats the message from Invercargill Airport general manager Nigel Finnerty as final preparations are made for today’s air crash simulation exercise.
Before the whatsoninvers crew headed out onto the tarmac to see first hand how an actual air crash scenario would play out Nigel Finnerty said the aim was to show and test how the airport would react if a plane did crash.
Nigel Finnerty says it would be an exercise within an exercise with all emergency services being tested on how they responded.
He says that includes Air New Zealand as operators of the aircraft.
The scenario centered around a Q300 aircraft landing heavily on the runway, splitting in two with the front half skidding Off and bursting into flames. The back half would would come to rest some distance away with survivors being treated by St John Ambulance crews.
Nigel Finnerty says there would be fatalities.
He says if such an incident occurred the airport would be closed to commercial traffic. The only aircraft that would be allowed to operate would be helicopters used for medical evacuations and military aircraft if that was necessary.
Before we were driven to the crash site Nigel Finnerty explained that the excercise was big undertaking with all emergency services taking part including Southland Hospital where the injured would be treated.
He says between 50 – 70 people would be involved including several volunteers from S I T, Southland Multi-Cultural Society and other organizations who would play the parts of the injured passengers.
Nigel Finnerty says this sort of exercise has to be held every two years as part of the Airport’s operating certification.
He says as well as completing the exercise they should all take learnings from it so it can be applied should the worst happen.
From what we observed the management and crew at Invercargill Airport and the emergency services are up to speed should the unthinkable happen.