Emergency response vehicles on duty at the Airport Preparedness Drill
Emergency response vehicles on duty at the Airport Preparedness Drill

Airport Completes Full-Scale Emergency Drill

Author: Airport Management
Date: 5/11/2018 1:05:29 PM

On Wednesday, May 10, 2018, the San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport had a drill to check preparedness of our emergency response teams.

SAN LUIS OBISPO, CA — The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport has concluded its preparedness drill. FAA regulations require that airports conduct a full-scale exercise every three years to rehearse with all the entities that would be involved in an actual emergency. The purpose of the exercise was to evaluate the preparedness and capabilities of the airport, its tenants and local response agencies.

The event was held Thursday, May 10, in the airport’s old terminal, with a jet bridge and larger activity area to simulate the new terminal. The drill mimicked a 50-passenger aircraft incident and a potential security incident; injured “passengers,” smoking objects and terminal evacuations also played a part in the airport’s comprehensive drill. The group will debrief and report back on lessons learned, in order to improve the response during a real emergency. 

“The airport would like to thank all of the organizations that participated in today’s exercise,” said Airport Director Kevin Bumen, C.M., C.A.E. “The safety and security of our passengers is the airport’s highest priority, and the work we put in today will help us be more effective tomorrow.” 

The organizations and agencies involved in the exercise include: San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport, Cal Fire, Skywest Airlines, Alaska Airlines, American Eagle Airlines, San Luis Ambulance, Cambria Ambulance, Air Traffic Control, American Red Cross – San Luis Obispo Chapter, San Luis Obispo City Fire, San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office, Transportation Security Administration, Sierra Vista Hospital, California Highway Patrol, San Luis Police Department and the County Office of Emergency Services. Cuesta College students and community volunteers role-played aircraft crash victims.

ABOUT US

San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport (SBP) serves areas as far north as Southern Monterey County and as far south as Northern Santa Barbara County. The airport offers convenient access to and from the Central Coast. Residents and visitors have the choice of three commercial airlines with flights to Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, Seattle and Denver. The airport is also home to full service general aviation and corporate facilities. For more information, or to book a flight, visit www.sloairport.com.