The Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) announced in a statement yesterday that the local airport “smoothly” conducted its annual “full-scale emergency exercise” yesterday morning.
According to the statement, CAM-Macau International Airport Company Ltd. coordinated the exercise with the participation of other entities, while the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) observed the exercise.
The statement noted that the scenario simulated an accident occurring on the apron, where the aircraft’s fuselage was damaged and the airport emergency plan was activated as a result.
With 350 participants, the drill started at 2:30 a.m. with a simulation of the aircraft landing hard with two damaged tyres and debris from the main landing gear puncturing a fuel tank, leading to a fire in the left wing. Once the accident was reported, CAM activated the airport emergency operations centre, adding that the Fire Services Bureau (CB) and the rescue team arrived immediately, the statement added.
The statement noted that with the assistance and cooperation between participating entities, the “injured” were promptly rushed to the hospital. The exercise was concluded at 5:30 a.m., with all participating entities acting in accordance with the airport emergency plan and their own contingency plans, the statement pointed out.
The statement said that the Health Bureau (SSM) also used the exercise to examine the rescue team’s coordination for handling passengers from COVID-19 high-risk areas.
The statement highlighted that the airport conducts different exercises every year, aiming to train government entities and operators involved in airport search and rescue to deal with emergencies according to the 2021 plan of the Macau Facilitation and Security Committee.
This handout photo provided by the Civil Aviation Authority (AACM) shows the full-scale emergency exercise being conducted on the apron of the local airport yesterday morning.
