Toronto Pearson Airport is set to conduct its annual emergency exercise this weekend, starting at approximately 11:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 24, and continuing into the early morning hours of Sunday. Since 1991, this exercise has been an integral component of the airport’s emergency preparedness strategy. The goal here is to test and improve emergency response capabilities of the wider airport community.
The federal government agency Transport Canada requires this annual drill. Most importantly, it underscores the need to train airport personnel, first responders, airline stakeholders and other agencies that play a crucial role in emergency situations. This year’s drill is especially poignant in wake of the serious incident on a Delta Air Lines flight. The aircraft went down as it attempted to land amid the worst conditions of a savage winter storm in early February. Indeed, the aircraft was reported to have inverted (flipped onto its back) at impact. At that time, seventy-six passengers and four crew members.
The exercise will recreate different emergency situations and include up to 200 volunteer “victims” in addition to airport employees and first responders. According to airport officials, the event is “designed to test the emergency response capabilities across the airport community, involving airport staff, first responders, airline and agency partners, and about 200 volunteers.”
In the upcoming exercise, officials said in a press release. Not least, it serves as a key component in Toronto Pearson Airport’s long-term commitment to ensuring that safety and preparedness are always among its core attributes. The exercise helps identify areas for improvement in emergency protocols, ensuring that all personnel are equipped to manage real-life emergencies effectively.
