MEDIA ADVISORY -- LAX, LAFD TO PRACTICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN FULL-SCALE AIRPORT EXERCISE
| WHAT : | AIREX 2001is a full-scale simulated aircraft incident drill designed to test Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) Emergency Plan. This full-scale exercise is required under federal law at least once every three years to evaluate the operational capability of the airport's emergency management system in a real-time, stress environment, in which personnel, equipment and materiel are mobilized and deployed.
Scenario :An arriving passenger aircraft taxiing to its gate collides with a stair truck. The aircraft comes to an emergency stop and initiates passenger evacuations. The collision results in damage to the wing, fuselage, and passenger compartment. Fuel spilled from the wing fuel tanks creates a fire hazard. The stair truck continues on and collides with ramp workers and vehicles on the adjoining ramp, resulting in a hazardous material spill. Personal injuries, fatalities, property damage, and contamination result from this accident.
|
| WHO : | Approximately 700 participants from the Los Angeles Fire Department, LAX Airfield Operations, LAX Airport Police Division, El Segundo Police Department, federal aviation and law enforcement agencies, American Red Cross, hospital emergency rooms and medical units, Los Angeles World Airports administrative staff, and other mutual aid organizations.
|
| WHEN : | Wednesday, April 11, 2001 Media briefing at 8:30 am (LAFD Captain Steve Ruda and LAWA Public Relations Manager Tom Winfrey) Air exercise simulation scheduled 9 am to 11:00 am
|
| WHERE : | Air exercise site is on the restricted airfield adjacent to the LAX Imperial Terminal
Directions to Imperial Terminal media parking :Westbound I-105 to westbound Imperial Highway. Turn north (left) onto California Street. Turn west (left) onto the frontage road parallel to Imperial Highway. Signs will indicate media parking.
|
| VISUALS : | Over 20 LAFD units will respond to incident. Fire-suppressant chemicals will be sprayed on aircraft. Nearly 100 "victims" in make-up will role-play injuries, with some fatalities. Emergency helicopter will perform medical airlift. One of LAX's and LAFD's new, state-of-the-art hazardous material decontamination units will be deployed and "victims" of hazmat incident will be processed through showers and medical treatment.
|
| WHY : | AIREX 2001 is being staged to ensure LAX's readiness in case of an emergency and to comply with Federal Aviation Regulation 139, which requires commercial air carrier airports to develop and maintain emergency plans.
|
| MEDIA CREDENTIALS : | Media with credentials issued by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs and Los Angeles City Police Departments will be allowed on the restricted airfield for this AIREX. Media without these specific credentials MUST notify LAWA Media Relations to arrange clearance.
|
| NOTE TO TV STATIONS WITH HELICOPTERS : | Due to the high-volume of air traffic at LAX and the exercise site's proximity to the noise-impacted City of El Segundo, Los Angeles World Airports is asking TV stations to designate a pool helicopter to provide aerial coverage.
|
| CONTACT : | LAWA Media Relations at (310) 646-5260
|
(GLG - 4/9/01)
