DOHA: An emergency response exercise at Doha International Airport was held jointly by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority and Qatar Airways. The drill simulated an aircraft incident and over 20 response agencies to evaluate the emergency readiness of all stakeholders. It also tested the ability to efficiently mobilise personnel, equipment, and rescue services without disrupting airport operations.
"It is vitally important to practice the operational and management responsiveness in crisis situations in a stressful, and real-time environment," said Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi, Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Chairman.
Akbar Al Baker, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar Airways said: "It is the first time that an emergency exercise of such large scale involving over 20 local entities has been conducted in Qatar. The result was a successful coordinated cooperation effort."
More than 700 volunteers and official spectators participated in the emergency exercise. Among them were airport and airline personnel, members from the Civil Defence, Ministry of Interior, Qatar's Emiri Air Force, Hamad Medical Corporation Emergency Medical Services, Gulf Helicopter Company, Qatar Aviation Services and students from the Aeronautical College in Qatar.
Police, fire brigades, four helicopters and ambulances were deployed and simulated passengers and crew were evacuated through emergency slides of the plane. Fire and rescue services were immediately activated and arrived at the scene in less than two minutes. As part of the exercise, the response teams also dealt with passengers in an injury scenario, the "next of kin" of victims, as well as passengers.
© The Peninsula 2010
