Sarasota/Bradenton, Friday, April 11, 2014

For Immediate Release Sarasota/Manatee Distribution

 

2014 SRQ PASSENGER AIRCRAFT DISASTER RESPONSE EXERCISE (PADRE)

The Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ) will conduct their triennial Emergency Disaster Drill on Wednesday, April 16, 2014, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with mutual aid partners from both Sarasota and Manatee Counties. Local Media is invited to attend this two-hour drill to observe, record, and pass information to the public about the protocols and procedures used during actual aircraft or airport emergencies.

Background Information

In order to maintain its FAA airport operator certificate, the Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority (SMAA) must conduct a full-scale exercise every three years. The drill allows the airport and responding outside agencies to evaluate their emergency response procedures, take any corrective action, and be prepared in case of an actual aircraft emergency. The drill will involve approximately 250 people and more than 20 difference mutual aid partners. Volunteers will act as crash victims with various injuries, while airport personnel and Sarasota and Manatee County employees will conduct the tasks related to emergency response.

The SMAA will also explore another aspect of an aircraft incident situation and set up a “Friends & Family Center” which will allow airlines to take a more active role and train their respective employees on company procedures in similar emergency situations. A mock media center will also be included. This part of the exercise will take place at the Dan P. McClure Auditorium (DMA) with “actors,” students from New College of Florida and Manatee & Sarasota County high schools, and members of the Community Emergency Response Team playing the parts of friends, family and/or media.Agencies participating in the exercise include SRQ’s Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighters (ARFF), Airport Operations, Airport Police, Airport Facilities, the FAA Air Traffic Control, Emergency Response Services from both counties (Fire/EMS), Emergency Management teams from both counties, Manatee and Sarasota Counties’ Sheriff’s Offices, The Sarasota Police Department, the New College Police Department, The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), U.S. Customs & Border Protection, SRQ’s air carriers (Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, and Air Canada), Servisair (SRQ Ground Handler), the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and the Civil Air Patrol.

During the exercise, Public Information Officers will provide briefings throughout the exercise and escort the media to the different scenes.

For Further Information Contact:

Lionel A. Guilbert, Manager, Airport Operations

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport (SRQ)

Tel. (941) 359-2770, extension 4258

Cell (941) 302-5781