Department of Transportation

LIHUE – The state Department of Transportation (DOT), Airports Division, Kauai District, will be conducting a triennial emergency response exercise at Lihue Airport on Thursday, May 9, between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.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 volunteer employees from the Lihue Airport community will play the role of casualties on a Boeing 717.  The exercise will also include a fire suppression drill at approximately 10:45 a.m. 

Participating agencies will include the Lihue Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting teams, Lihue Airport Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, Kauai Police Department, Kauai Fire Department, Kauai Civil Defense, Emergency Medical Services, Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, American Medical Response, American Red Cross, Wilcox Memorial Hospital, Healthcare Association of Hawaii, Kauai Visitors Bureau, Hawaii Air National Guard, US Coast Guard, 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 Ahukini Road.