Department of Transportation

10/23/12

KAHULUI — The state Department of Transportation (DOT), Airports Division, Maui District, will be conducting a triennial emergency response exercise at Kahului Airport on Wednesday, October 24, between the hours of 9:30 and 11 a.m.

The realistic exercise is a Federal Aviation Administration certification requirement to test airfield disaster preparedness and response and will simulate an airliner crash at the airport.  Approximately 80 volunteers from Kamehameha Schools will play the role of casualties on a Boeing 777.  The exercise will also include a small live-fire drill at approximately 9:30 a.m.

“Maintaining the highest levels of preparedness requires regular exercises to ensure that all responding agencies work efficiently as a team,” said Glenn Okimoto, DOT Director.  “Crash simulations like our triennial exercise will help to keep all of our partners ready in the event of an actual emergency.”

Participating agencies will include Kahului Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting teams, Maui Police Department, Maui Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Maui Civil Defense, Hawaii Air National Guard, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Aviation Administration, American Red Cross, Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, Maui Memorial Medical Center, American Medical Response, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Maui Visitors Bureau, user airlines and other state agencies.

All flight operations will continue as normal during the exercise.  Motorists are asked to be aware of additional emergency vehicles and security personnel along Amala Road and around Kanaha Beach Park.

Aerial view of Kahului Airport.