THE Cheddi Jagan International Airport Corporation (CJIAC) will today stage a ‘Full Scale Emergency Exercise’ involving a simulated ‘Aircraft Crash’ on the aerodrome.According to the airport’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ramesh Ghir, the emergency exercise is a requirement for International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) standards.
The CJIAC’s last full-scale emergency was conducted on November 6, 2013.
“International Airports are required to conduct such exercises at least once every two years, since it allows for testing of responses by all personnel involved, emergency plans and procedures and emergency equipment and communication,” Mr. Ghir explained.

The exercise will have approximately 300 persons from responding agencies – CJIAC,the Guyana Defence Force,the Guyana Police Force, Airport Fire Service, Customs and Immigration, Airport Security Unit, the Guyana Civil Aviation Authority,the Diamond Diagnostic Centre,the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation, Airport Operators/Airlines, the Civil Defence Commission and Port Health.
The exercise is scheduled to start at 11:00 hrs with an “aircraft crash” being reported inside the aerodrome with 41 persons on board, after which the various agencies will be notified to respond to the accident.
The Aerodrome Fire Service will be the first agency to respond. The area will then be cordoned off by the airport security officers (CJIAC and Special Constabulary Officers) with support from the police. The injured persons will be assessed on site in a tent set up by the army and transported to the CAM Hangar (care area) which will serve as a “mini- hospital” managed by doctors and other medical personnel.

The most critical will be transported to the Diagnostic Centre at Diamond. The army will form an outer cordon to protect the area. A senior CJIAC staff member will assume the role of the ‘On Scene Commander.’
The Emergency Operations Centre will be activated and representatives from the agencies and the Emergency Committee members will report to the EOC to assist with the coordination of any request for resources and assist with decision-making.
The Red Caps and other volunteers from other agencies will act the role as casualties.
The duration of the exercise is expected to be approximately two hours.