'Exercise Mockingbird' - Sangster airport emergency test this week

MBJ Airports Limited will conduct a full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise, titled 'Exercise Mockingbird', at the Sangster International Airport (SIA) on Thursday.

The activity is to be confined to designated areas within the operational footprint of SIA.

Exercise Mockingbird will involve the simulation of an aircraft safety incident, requiring coordinated responses from MBJ's emergency response teams, the Jamaica Fire Brigade, the Jamaica Constabulary Force, the Jamaica Defence Force, the Ministry of Health, among others.

The full-scale emergency simulation is being conducted as part of requirements of the Jamaica Civil Aviation Authority and the International Civil Aviation Organisation, which prescribe the staging of such events at two-year intervals.

Exercise Mockingbird will evaluate all facets of MBJ's emergency response plan as well as test the functionality and robustness of coordination efforts with principal first-response agencies, particularly at night.

MINOR DETOURS

This is not expected to affect the use of airport facilities by visitors or arriving and departing passengers; however, persons in the immediate vicinity of the activity may experience emergency-related noises along with minor detours for which appropriate directions will be provided.

In addition, a group of actors and volunteers will participate in the exercise, allowing first responders to practise important processes such as cordon, control, triage, treatment and transportation.

Members of the security forces, firefighters, other emergency workers and airport personnel will conduct themselves as they would during a real emergency.