In an attempt to ensure the island’s sole airport complies fully with international regulatory requirements, management of the Grantley Adams International Airport (GAIA) will be conducting a full-scale exercise sometime next month.
With the support of the Department of Emergency Management, the exercise will be conducted on an undisclosed date in October.
Beyond the practical assessment and enhancement of emergency protocols within a five-mile radius of the aerodrome, GAIA Inc. said the exercise is paramount in reiterating the airport’s compliance with the International Civil Aviation Organisation’s requirements as well as all appropriate regulations observed nationally and internationally.
“Periodically, it’s essential but also mandatory from a regulatory perspective to conduct these exercises to evaluate and enhance our preparedness should any incident or disaster occur,” Chief Executive Officer of GAIA Inc. Hadley Bourne said at a media briefing on Thursday morning.
“In recent years we have not undertaken such activities as our emergency response has been actively engaged in real-life scenarios as recognised with the unforeseen impact of volcanic ash due to the eruption of La Soufriere in St Vincent, and other weather phenomena such as the freak weather system which occurred in June 2021 and passage of Hurricane Elsa which resulted in a major fire in our electrical distribution systems. These occurrences afforded us opportunities to identify areas of strength and areas for improvement.
“This upcoming full-scale exercise will be the first intentional exercise since these events and better positions the airport to maintain its alignment with international regulations and safety standards,” he added.
The Barbados Defence Force will provide simulated victims and along with the Barbados Defence Force Field Medical Team (BDF FMT) will be instrumental in the assessment.
Bourne said the exact date of the exercise will remain undisclosed as the upcoming exercise is designed explicitly to test the airport’s response systems as well as that of associated entities.
“As such, you can appreciate that sharing the exact date will compromise our ability to conduct an accurate assessment,” he said.
“I am emphasising that this exercise is a simulation and not a real event…. During this exercise, the public within the vicinity of the aerodrome and our final approach path will notice heightened activity that may include increased presence of emergency vehicles, simulated emergency scenarios, and potential traffic adjustments or delays. We urge the public to remain calm, and cooperative and follow the instructions of the authorities. I reiterate that these activities are planned, controlled, and essential for enhancing our readiness,” the airport CEO added.
(BT)
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