Multiple Agencies Simulate Major Disaster At LAX
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Officials from multiple public safety and emergency agencies converged on Los Angeles International Airport Wednesday for a major disaster drill.
LAX Air Exercise (AirEx) 2013 is a full-scale, simulated aircraft disaster drill designed to test the airport's emergency response capabilities during a two-hour, unrehearsed exercise.
The drill is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to be conducted by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) at least once every three years to evaluate the operational capability and readiness of LAX's emergency management system in a "real-time, stress-filled environment."
Over 100 people simulating accident victims and family members were positioned along the airfield ramp area at the southwest edge of LAX. The scene also included Boeing 777-300 aircraft and simulated "debris field" of aircraft parts strewn about the area.
John Kinney, director of Emergency Management Director at LAX, told KNX 1070 NEWSRADIO said nearby residents can also expect to see some flames during the exercise.
LAX Emergency Mgmt. Director John Kinney
"There will be some pyrotechnics associated with this because we're trying to simulate and create a sense of realism," Kinney said.
An estimated 300 participants representing over 30 organizations will take part in the exercise, including Los Angeles Airport Police; Los Angeles Fire Department; Federal Aviation Administration; National Transportation Safety Board; Transportation Security Administration; American Red Cross, Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Customs & Border Protection; and the Los Angeles City Emergency Management Department.
