Airport simulation a ‘success’

Grantley Adams International Airport Inc. officials are reporting a successful testing of its aircraft emergency events response on Wednesday, although admitting there are “some gaps” in the national response.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hadley Bourne said that the simulation of a plane crash landing at Oistins, Christ Church met the overall regulatory standards of response.

“The nature of the simulation was of an aircraft having a sudden drop descent in the Oistins area with casualties in the water and simulating the national response that could occur by the situation in various forms,” he told Barbados TODAY.

“It was successful. It wasn’t perfect, there are some gaps…in the national response, but all in all, it was successful.”

The airport CEO said the various emergency units were involved on land and at sea.

He said the full-scale exercise was a regulatory requirement which must be conducted on a regular basis in order to test the country’s readiness to respond to aircraft emergencies according to international criteria.

GAIA had put the public on notice late last month that the practical assessment and enhancement of emergency protocols would be conducted within a five-mile radius of the aerodrome. 

(EJ)