Fire Engine stationed at the Airport

Full-Scale Emergency Drill to be Conducted at Airport

Author: Airport Staff
Date: 5/7/2018 10:42:27 AM

The San Luis Obispo County Regional Airport and many community partners will conduct a full-scale airport emergency response exercise from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Thursday May 10. The purpose of the disaster exercise is to test and evaluate the preparedness and capabilities of the Airport and local response agencies.

Although the drill will be staged within the airport boundaries, members of the public may see smoke, numerous emergency vehicles and unusual airport activity during the drill.  The exercise, including local volunteers and emergency responders, will evaluate coordination between agencies, mass-casualty response, public information dissemination, victim and family care, security and communications.

Federal Aviation Administration regulations require a full-scale exercise once every three years to test the airport’s emergency plan.  This drill is an excellent opportunity for everyone to evaluate their skills.

The airport will continue in normal operations throughout the exercise, which will last about three hours.

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 Collage students and community volunteers will be role-playing aircraft crash victims.

MEDIA NOTICE:  This drill will occur in locked, secure areas of the San Luis Obispo Regional Airport.  Reporters or photographers seeking access to the drill must contact Carolyn Huber at 805-781-5205, by 4 p.m. Tuesday, May 8 to arrange for site access.  Because of the nature and location of the drill, all media will be escorted during the event to ensure their safety and the security of the facility.  Airport Director Kevin Bumen will be available for media interviews on May 10, from 9:00 – 11:00am. Please call 805-781-5205 to make an appointment.