HYANNIS – Barnstable Municipal Airport conducted a thorough exercise involving safety protocols via a full-scale emergency drill on Wednesday, on airport grounds in Hyannis.
The exercise simulated a completely mock scenario of an aircraft accident. Actual aircraft were not be used in the drill, yet fire departments set fire to several junk cars to test the airport’s emergency response plan. Police, Fire, Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals, US Coast Guard, Federal Aviation Administration, Massachusetts Department of Transportation – Aeronautics Division, Airlines, and Emergency Management all played a role in the demonstration.
Volunteers were also be on hand to play the roles of accident victims. As part of the drill, these volunteers were be transported to Cape Cod Hospital for “medical care.”
“The Federal Aviation Administration requires us to stage a full drill every three years,” said Airport Manager Roland “Bud” Breault. “The ultimate goal of the exercise is to find the strengths and weaknesses of the system and make improvements should a real disaster ever happen. This was a closely monitored and choreographed exercise.”
While the drill took place, between East Ramp and Taxiway B, there was active police, fire and helicopter activity in the vicinity of the Airport Rotary.
The airport remained open to scheduled and charter operations during this exercise.
Media release furnished by Barnstable Police; photos by CWN associate John P. Carroll
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