Last night, the Airport Authority hosted a major safety exercise to test its emergency response plan. The exercise scenario involved an aircraft that was hit by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV or drone). The strike damaged the aircraft and caused it to crash on the airfield, resulting in significant loss of life and injuries. The exercise was led by the Airport Authority’s Security and Emergency Management Team.

Airport Authority staff worked with the Ottawa Police Service, Ottawa Paramedic Service, Ottawa Fire Services, Air Canada, and students from Algonquin College, MedVent and La Cité Collégiale, in all 220 people, to make the exercise a success. There were also observers on-site from a variety of agencies and organizations with an interest in an emergency exercise of this size and scale.

The scenario was intended to test several areas of the response plan, including public safety, coordination among responders, passenger care, airfield operations and health and medical, among others. It took place at night, adding the challenge of responding to a major emergency in the dark.

The exercise went very well from everyone’s perspective. Communication among the various agencies was effective, and the interoperability with our emergency response partners was well practiced. Most importantly, lessons are learned in a training environment rather than during a real emergency.

“The successful coordination of many responders is of critical importance during a real emergency” said Mark Laroche, Airport Authority President and CEO. “Bringing these groups together to practice puts the entire airport community in an increased state of readiness. We will review the outcomes together and address any areas that require attention or change”.

Airports are required, by Transport Canada legislation, to conduct full-scale safety exercises based on scenarios that relate to a major aircraft incident that include fire-fighting, policing and medical services organizations. In the Ottawa Airport’s case, safety and security exercises are planned in alternating years going forward.

About the Airport Authority
OMCIAA operates Ottawa International Airport without government subsidies under an 80-year lease transfer agreement with Transport Canada. The OMCIAA’s mandate is to manage, operate and develop airport facilities and lands in support of the economic growth of Canada’s Capital Region. More than 4.5 million passengers are served each year, generating more than $2.2 Billion in total economic activity in Ottawa and Gatineau.