‘Operation Heron’ postponed
(CNS): Updated Tuesday 4:40 pm – Due to inclement weather and concern about the occurrence of lightning and the safety of volunteer passengers, the Cayman Islands Airports Authority (CIAA) and the Airport Emergency Exercise Committee have voted to postpone the planned mock aircraft accident scheduled for tonight. Weather permitting, the exercise will take place on Tuesday, 27 July, the CIAA said Tuesday afternoon. “Operation Heron” was scheduled to be staged this evening in the vicinity of Owen Roberts International Airport on Grand Cayman, and motorists were warned to expect to encounter periodic traffic disruptions.
The staging of the exercise will inevitably result in some minor but essential inconvenience to the public and the CIAA is asking for understanding and cooperation. The Airport Emergency Committee comprises representatives from the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, Airlines, 911 Emergency Communications, Government Information Services/Joint Communications Services, Hazard Management Cayman Islands, the Royal Cayman Islands Police Service, the Cayman Islands Fire Service, the Cayman Islands Health Services Authority, the National Roads Authority, the Department of Environmental Health, the Port Authority, the Red Cross and the Port Authority.
Category: Local News
We are an amazing people! Please us if you dare!
If the Government or Airport Authority had ignored the impact on traffic or the weather and held the exercise under conditions of more impact or risk; and if someone had gotten hurt or even inconvenienced, there would have been a howl about "them" not considering "us, the"public". Decisions were taken by professionals who had the facts unlike "us, the public" but yet we still howl at what they should have done!
Go stand in the lee of Thrashmore and take a good inhale, and find something on which to focus your detracting comments.
Aircraft accidents never occur during the rain.
If you believe that ask American Airlines about their crash in Kingston, Jamaica.
Government never ceases to amaze us.
I find it funny that the are asking people to stay away during the test so they don’t interfere. In a real emergency there is likely to be lots of traffic and many gawkers hanging around watching.
Since in a real emergency they would have to deal with it, they should in the test also. Otherwise they will not be prepared for what will really happen.
Sir Henry Morgan, it’s not about a "little rain". What if you or your son or daughter volunteered their time and involvement and perchance a lightning bolt struck them? Would it be worth it? The responders who are paid to do this would be equally at risk but the CIAA would be quite irresponsible risking the safety of volunteers as well. I’m looking at the weather now and it does not look threatening but I’m sure the Committee acted on official weather reports.
So while hindsight is twenty-twenty, to err on the side of caution and safety is wise.
One would think that the inclement weather would be the ideal time for the emergency exercise. As an emergency is probably more likely to occur in inclement weather. Unna just fraid of a little rain!
The simulated aircraft accident will take place at night to minimise the impact on traffic. While there will be some traffic disruptions, these will be coordinated by the RCIPS to lessen the impact on motorists. The Cayman Islands Airports Authority reminds the public that this exercise is essential to test the readiness of airport personnel and emergency response agencies in the event of a real aircraft accident.
This is off topic but can someone do something about the bees at the airport? I was there on Sunday picking someone up and they had the stairs blocked off to the viewing deck due to swarms of bees. You had to take the elevator. Great impression for tourists – come to Cayman and get stung by bees on your arrival!
I suppose one can say that all practice is good!
However, announcing an emergency procedures exercise in advance is like having a chance to review the questions and correct answers before a test.
Nice picture before Chucky saw the need to change it.
Lets hope they had the sense in terms of timing to do this after the rush hour and not during it!
Actually, a good argument could be made to have it during rush hour – another complicating factor for them to work out when its not real. If public opinion matters here’s my vote for CAA to keep these drills ‘randomly timed’. This is one disruption to my morning I would feel justified sitting through.
Think you are on your own there……I’d prefer to be with my family.