MEDIA ADVISORY, April 15, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) --
WHAT: Air Exercise (AIREX) 2004 is an unrehearsed, full-scale
aircraft incident drill designed to test Los Angeles
International Airport's (LAX) Emergency Plan. This exercise
is required under FAA regulations to be conducted at least
once every three years to evaluate the operational
capability of the airport's emergency management system in a
real-time, stress environment, in which personnel, equipment
and materiel are mobilized and deployed. In addition, United
Airlines personnel will practice the activation of its
family assistance program in this real-time setting.
With approximately 700 participants scheduled to participate,
this is considered one of the largest full-scale drills
among all U.S. airports.
Scenario: A passenger jet collides with a cargo aircraft on
a runway. Debris from the collision impacts a passenger
terminal. Emergency response and resources are applied for
firefighting, rescue, triage for the injured, dispatch of
injured by ambulance and helicopter, fatalities, property
damage, airline assistance for family and friends, security
and control of the incident perimeter, and other
contingencies as they develop during the unrehearsed
exercise.
WHO: Approximately 700 participants from the Los Angeles Fire
Department; LAX Airfield Operations; Los Angeles Airport
Police; Los Angeles County agencies; El Segundo Police
Department; federal aviation and law enforcement agencies;
American Red Cross; local area hospital emergency rooms,
medical units, and ambulance services; other mutual-aid
organizations; United Airline emergency response teams; and
Los Angeles World Airports divisions including emergency
services coordination, construction and maintenance, public
relations, ground transportation, and risk management. Of
the total participants, over 200 volunteers have signed up
to serve as "victims." Additionally, representatives from
the airport-wide community, as well from other airports, are
expected to observe the full-scale exercise.
WHEN: Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Media briefing at 8:30 am at parking lot.
Air exercise simulation scheduled from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Los Angeles Fire Department representative will provide
real-time explanation of response
WHERE: Air exercise site is on the restricted airfield on the
west side of the airport (dignitary arrivals area) in a very
large area established to simulate a runway and passenger
terminal complex.
MEDIA PARKING: No media vehicles other than those in the media
pool will be allowed to access the restricted airfield.
Please park all media vehicles across the street from 7407
World Way West. Take westbound I-105 to westbound Imperial
Highway. Turn north (right) onto Pershing Drive, turn east
(right) onto World Way West. Signs will indicate media
parking and check-in.
VISUALS: 1. Tens of firefighting units, ambulances, airport
operations and law enforcement vehicles respond to scene.
2. Over 200 "victims" in make-up will role-play injuries,
including fatalities.
3. Medical triage on scene
4. Injured dispatched by ambulance and helicopter.
5. Airline assistance to family and friends, as well as
grief counseling.
WHY: AIREX 2004 is being staged to ensure LAX's readiness in case
of an emergency and to comply with Federal Aviation
Regulation 139, which requires commercial air carrier
airports to develop and maintain emergency plans.
MEDIA RESERVATIONS: Due to airfield security restrictions and the
need to transport media to the drill site, all media wishing
to attend AIREX 2004 MUST notify the LAX PR Division by 4:00
pm Monday, April 19, to reserve a space on the shuttle bus.
Media vehicles will not be allowed on the airfield. Media
shuttle bus pick-up from the media parking to AIREX site
will be at 8:45 a.m. and 9:15 a.m. The first shuttle bus
will depart the AIREX site to return to the media parking
lot beginning at 11:15 am.
MEDIA CREDENTIALS: All media credentials will be honored.
MEDIA POOL COVERAGE:
Ground coverage: LAX Public Relations is arranging a media
pool that will be escorted INTO the incident site during the
emergency response. The media pool will view activities
close-up at the Incident Command Post, patient triage,
medical evacuation by ambulance and helicopter, airline's
family assistance, and other areas that may develop during
the course of the exercise.
Aerial coverage: Due to the high-volume of air traffic at
LAX and the exercise site's proximity to the noise-impacted
residential areas of the City of El Segundo and Westchester,
LAX Public Relations is arranging a media pool helicopter to
provide aerial coverage during the exercise.