On Thursday, May 16, 2024, the Middle Georgia Regional Airport will be holding an emergency preparedness exercise at the airport (1000 Terminal Drive) at 10:00 a.m. The Triennial Full-Scale Emergency Exercise will include our Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Fire Department, Sheriff’s Office, ambulance services from Atrium Health Navicent and Community Ambulance, and volunteers. They will be simulating a plane crash with 20-30 passengers on the airport’s runway.

“We hope we never have to apply this exercise in real life, but we need to be prepared for everything,” says Aviation Director Doug Faour. “This will allow us to make sure our airport staff and partnering agencies are ready for any incident that may happen at our airport.”

The Federal Airport Administration (FAA) requires every airport to maintain an Airport Emergency Plan and run through this live exercise every three years. The goal is to give the airport, mutual aid partners, and emergency responders the opportunity to train for a real aircraft emergency in a safe and controlled environment.

Smoke grenades will be going off as part of the simulation. There will also be responders dressed in full protective equipment and mock accident victims.

Media is invited to attend and shoot the exercise. Interviews will also be available upon request.