The Antigua and Barbuda Airport Authority is today better positioned to respond to any emergency or crisis at the VC Bird International Airport following the conduct of a full-scale exercise to test its internal mechanisms and those of its support agencies.
The United Nations-established International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) makes clear that these exercises should be conducted at intervals not exceeding two years and shall “coordinate the response or participation of all existing agencies which, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, could be of assistance in responding to an emergency.”
ABAA in conjunction with National Office of Disaster Services (NODS) were the main coordinating agencies in the exercise that involved the resources of a number of agencies to test the national emergency response mechanism in handling a scenario that created a hostage crisis situation on the compound of the airport.
The overall objective sought to assess the procedures and response mechanisms of the Airport Operation Centre and the country’s Emergency Operation’s Centre in not only minimising the effects of any emergency but protecting and saving lives.
“We live in an age where we can’t leave anything to chance and we are obliged to DREW FEIG take all possible and potential threats to the safe aerodrome environment in which we operate with absolute seriousness,” noted Director of Safety and Security Mr. Avery Henry.
At various stages of the exercise, there were involvement from a number of key agencies whose resources would be called on should a real-life emergency was ever to take place at the airport. These include the Police and Defence Forces, the Fire Service, the Emergency Medical Services, Red Cross, Sir Lester Bird Mount St. Johns Medical Centre and the National Office of Disaster Services.
Among the observers were the Eastern Caribbean Civil Aviation Authority (ECCAA), which is the regulating agency for all Civil Aviation safety and security matters based on International Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPs).
“We now assess and review so that we can improve and ensure that our aerodrome is a safer place for the public, all travellers and employees,” Henry noted.
“I must say thanks to all the supporting agencies and the willing group of volunteers who helped to assimilate a scenario that brought us as close as possible to a real-life situation,” he added.
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