EGG HARBOR TWP. -
What looked like a routine helicopter landing was anything but in the eyes of officials with Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City, the 177th Fighter Wing Air National Guard, the FAA and the Atlantic City International Airport as all of the agencies worked together in a simulated aircraft mishap exercise.
As part of the training, a Coast Guard helicopter was said to have collided with an FAA airplane while landing.
"Basically, its an exercise so we can test our safety and mishap plans to make sure they're all functioning well and if there are gaps that we then address them or figure out solutions to get them addressed," said Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City Commanding Officer, Captain Peter Mingo.
The mock emergency began with the water rescue of a stranded pilot. Upon landing, flares and red smoke marked the fictional crash site. As several emergency vehicles hurried to respond, the exercise also helped to strengthen the bond between the neighboring agencies.
"These types of exercises are an excellent way for us to establish relationships, validate our procedures and techniques and to learn and find out areas where we can improve," said Commanding Officer of the 177th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard, Colonel Kerry Gentry.
"This is a good opportunity for us to reach out to our partners here both at the 177th and over at the FAA to make sure those relationships we have on normal occasions function just as well as them when we have mishaps and safety issues," said Captain Mingo.
In addition to emergency response training, Coast Guard officials say this also provides a valuable lesson in decision making. For example, the first responders are unaware of what the fictional injuries are until they respond to the accident. Injuries that included broken legs and ribs, severe back injuries, head trauma and even the simulated death of one of the pilots.
"The magnitude of this is based on how far we simulate the reach and this is about as big as it would get so this is pretty substantial," said Capt. Mingo.
"It's a great relationship. It is great to have th em nearby here. It certainly allows us to do things we wouldn't otherwise do," said Col. Gentry.
Commanding officers say the drill appeared to be a success, and all agencies involved will take a closer look their performances in the coming weeks.
"It will probably take one or two weeks before we can take tease on all the issues on our checklist to make sure we hit them properly."
Coast Guard officials say the training also involved walk-through inspections of the aircraft to help familiarize first responders with the equipment
Fictional training situations that carry a very real value.
http://www.nbc40.net
A.C. Airport disaster drill Tuesday will simulate crash of Coast Guard helicopter, FAA plane
EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP — Authorities will hold a disaster drill Tuesday at Atlantic City International Airport, simulating the collision of a Coast Guard helicopter and Federal Aviation Administration plane.
The multi-agency drill will test the resources of the Coast Guard’s Air Station Atlantic City, the FAA, the New Jersey Air National Guard 177th Fighter Wing and the firefighting unit based at the airport.
Scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to noon, the drill will begin with the simulated crash of a military fighter jet and the rescue of its downed pilot over the ocean. It continues with a Coast Guard helicopter carrying the rescued pilot to the airport, but crashing into an FAA research plane on the ground, Coast Guard Lt. Matthew Kroll said. Airport firefighting and rescue crews will respond to the simulated disaster.
Source: http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com
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