(Idaho Falls, ID) -- On Thursday, May 27, the Idaho Falls Regional Airport (IDA) will be conducting a live emergency exercise as part Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requirements to test the response of emergency services and airport personnel.
The exercise is scheduled to take place at the Idaho Falls Regional Airport from 7:00 a.m. to noon. The exercise will simulate an airline crash and will include volunteers role-playing as passengers that have been injured in the accident as part of the exercise. There will also be emergency response vehicles, smoke, sirens, and other activities as part of the simulation.
All normally scheduled flights, passenger services and other regular airport operations will not be impacted.
The goal of the exercise is to test the initial response of emergency services to an aircraft accident and ensure that local agencies are prepared and able to deploy resources. The IFFD, IFPD, the American Red Cross, EIRMC, and Bonneville County Office of Emergency Management will also participate in the exercise.
The FAA requires that airports such as IDA conduct a full-scale emergency drill once every three years. The exercise was originally scheduled to be held in 2020; however, due to the COVID-19 pandemic exercise planners and participants worked with the support of the FAA to reschedule the exercise until this spring.
Health and safety precautions will remain in place during the exercise, per requirements from the federal government. Participants will undergo a basic health screening, masks will be required, and social distancing will be maintained wherever possible to ensure the health and safety of volunteers and emergency responders.
# # #
Media Note: This exercise is not open to the general public. Any media outlets that would like to observe the exercise must contact City Public Information Officer Bud Cranor for proper badging and access to the controlled areas for the simulation. Please call 208-612-8306 or email bcranor@idahofalls.gov for more information or to arrange attendance.