--MEDIA ADVISORY-- LOS ANGELES AIRPORT TO PRACTICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN FULL-SCALE EXERCISE

04/15/2004 12:00 AM

--MEDIA ADVISORY--
LOS ANGELES AIRPORT TO PRACTICE EMERGENCY RESPONSE IN FULL-SCALE EXERCISE

 

WHAT: Air Exercise (AIREX) 2004is an unrehearsed, full-scale aircraft incident drill designed to test Los Angeles International Airport's (LAX) Emergency Plan. This exercise is required under FAA regulations to be conducted 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. In addition, United Airlines personnel will practice the activation of its family assistance program in this real-time setting. Approximately 700 participants scheduled to participate, this is considered one of the largest full-scale drills among all U.S. airports.

Scenario:A passenger jet collides with a cargo aircraft on a runway. Debris from the collision impacts a passenger terminal. Emergency response and resources are applied for firefighting, rescue, triage for the injured, dispatch of injured by ambulance and helicopter, fatalities, property damage, airline assistance for family and friends, security and control of the incident perimeter, and other contingencies as they develop during the unrehearsed exercise.
WHO: Approximately 700 participants from the Los Angeles Fire Department; LAX Airfield Operations; Los Angeles Airport Police; Los Angeles County agencies; El Segundo Police Department; federal aviation and law enforcement agencies; American Red Cross; local area hospital emergency rooms, medical units, and ambulance services; other mutual-aid organizations; United Airline emergency response teams; and Los Angeles World Airports divisions including emergency services coordination, construction and maintenance, public relations, ground transportation, and risk management. Of the total participants, over 200 volunteers have signed up to serve as "victims." Additionally, representatives from the airport-wide community, as well from other airports, are expected to observe the full-scale exercise.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Media briefing at 8:30 am at parking lot.
Air exercise simulation scheduled from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Los Angeles Fire Department representative will provide real-time explanation of response
WHERE: Air exercise site is on the restricted airfield on the west side of the airport (dignitary arrivals area) in a very large area established to simulate a runway and passenger terminal complex.
MEDIA PARKING: No media vehicles other than those in the media pool will be allowed to access the restricted airfield.Please park all media vehicles across the street from 7407 World Way West. Take westbound I-105 to westbound Imperial Highway. Turn north (right) onto Pershing Drive, turn east (right) onto World Way West. Signs will indicate media parking and check-in.
VISUALS:
  1. Tens of firefighting units, ambulances, airport operations and law enforcement vehicles respond to scene.
  2. Over 200 "victims" in make-up will role-play injuries, including fatalities.
  3. Medical triage on scene
  4. Injured dispatched by ambulance and helicopter.
  5. Airline assistance to family and friends, as well as grief counseling.
WHY: AIREX 2004 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 RESERVATIONS: Due to airfield security restrictions and the need to transport media to the drill site, all media wishing to attend AIREX 2004 MUST notify the LAX PR Division by 4:00 pm Monday, April 19, to reserve a space on the shuttle bus. Media vehicles will not be allowed on the airfield. Media shuttle bus pick-up from the media parking to AIREX site will be at 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. The first shuttle bus will depart the AIREX site to return to the media parking lot beginning at 11:15 am.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS: All media credentials will be honored.
MEDIA POOL COVERAGE:
 Ground coverage:LAX Public Relations is arranging a media pool that will be escorted INTO the incident site during the emergency response. The media pool will view activities close-up at the Incident Command Post, patient triage, medical evacuation by ambulance and helicopter, airline's family assistance, and other areas that may develop during the course of the exercise.

Aerial coverage:Due to the high-volume of air traffic at LAX and the exercise site's proximity to the noise-impacted residential areas of the City of El Segundo and Westchester, LAX Public Relations is arranging a media pool helicopter to provide aerial coverage during the exercise.
CONTACT: LAX Public Relations at (310) 646-5260.

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