The Nanaimo Airport doesn't expect any changes to regular operations when it conducts a live exercise this Thursday.
The airport plans to test its emergency response plan with a live exercise on Thurs., Oct. 18, starting mid-morning.
“Safety is our No. 1 priority, and exercises like this provide the opportunity for multiple local agencies and the airport to test their individual response plans and gain key learning to respond to an emergency situation involving an aircraft,” Mike Hooper, the airport's president and CEO, said in a news release.
Transport Canada regulations require all Canadian airports to host a full-scale live exercise regularly. Participating agencies in Thursday's exercise will include the Cranberry Fire Department, Airport Security and Operations, RCMP, NavCanada and BC Ambulance.
The scenario planned for Thursday will simulate an aircraft crashing while attempting to land.
While travelers will notice signage, emergency response vehicles and Public Address announcements throughout the exercise, no impact to regular operations is anticipated, according to the Nanaimo Airport.