“Operation Heron” set for tonight

(CNS): A mock aircraft accident, which was postponed last week due to the risk of lightning strikes, will take place tonight (Tuesday, 27 July), the Cayman Islands Airport Authority (CIAA) has confirmed. Following a visit to the proposed accident site at 11:00 am, the CIAA’s Airport Emergency Exercise Committee has said that the “Accident” will be staged at an undisclosed site within close proximity to the airport, though the CIAA noted that the exercise will not take place during rush hour traffic.

However, as part of the exercise emergency vehicles will be entering and leaving the airport area, and although the exact location of the emergency exercise is not being revealed, drivers in the area can expect periodic roadblocks, the CIAA has warned.

RCIPS Superintendent Adrian Seales said, “It will be necessary for the RCIPS to stop traffic at various street lights and junctions along Smith Road, Crewe Road, Owen Roberts Drive and surrounding roads in the Industrial Park area. While these disruptions are necessary to accommodate the passage of emergency vehicles, we will endeavour to minimize the inconvenience to the motoring public.”

Explaining the need for these Exercises to be held, the CIAA’s Senior Manager Airport Operations and Chairman of the Airport Emergency Committee, Kerith McCoy, said it is crucial for airport personnel and supporting emergency responders to test their readiness on a regular basis to ensure they are fully prepared in the event of a real aircraft accident.

The Airport Emergency Committee comprises representatives from the Cayman Islands Airports Authority, Airlines, 911 Emergency Communications, Government Information Services/Joint CommunicationsServices, 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 Red Cross and the Port Authority.