(Governor’s Harbour, Eleuthera, Bahamas) Emergency personnel from several government agencies, descended on the Governor’s Harbour airport on Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 at about 1:30 pm in response to a major emergency scenario designed to evaluate their response capabilities.
Civil Aviation officials in cooperation with NAD (Nassau Airport Development Company) Safety Coordinator, Cyril Bullard, staged an impromptu emergency response simulation exercise at the airport in Central Eleuthera, ahead of a TSA (Transportation Security Administration – USA) airport and air carrier audit scheduled for the week of January 13th.
Emergency vehicles at the Governor’s Harbour Airport on standby.
The detailed exercise began with the Bahamasair Island Manager reporting a suspicious package at a ticket counter within the Governor’s Harbour airport, followed by the evacuation of all airport employees from the cordoned off premises.
A key function being tested during the exercise was response time by first responder teams.
Mr. Anthony Mcphee, Island Manager for Eleuthera airports, commented that they were very pleased with the times clocked, which saw the first teams arriving at the airport from Governor’s Harbour within seven minutes of the call which went out at 1:30 pm.
Simulation of bomb squad unit arriving on scene to determine the extent of the threat.
Passing motorists would have seen emergency personnel and vehicles from the Royal Bahamas Police Force, Department of Health, Fire Department, Customs, Immigration and a number of other cooperative government agencies, assembled in response to the staged bomb report at the airport.
The remainder of the simulation included a bomb squad isolating the package, retrieving it to a safe location and determining the extent of the threat; while medical personnel had set up a triage area where several employees who had received mock minor injuries during the evacuation were treated. Police nearby prepared a tented command post where they could set up on site communications capabilities for the duration of the incident, while emergency fire trucks and other agencies stood ready to assist where needed. The local media was also contacted and engaged during a press and stakeholder briefing – to share timely and accurate information with the public.
Medical personnel treating the injured during the exercise.
Press and stakeholder briefing held to disseminate accurate information to the public.
Participating agencies assembled after the drill for a photo moment.
Once the bomb squad gave the all clear, employees were allowed to return to the airport, and operations resumed as normal.
One day earlier, the very same agencies were engaged in a table top emergency response and contingency planning meeting, held at the local government building on Cupid’s Cay in Governor’s Harbour. The meeting which began at 10:30 am was hosted by local Civil Aviation authorities with presenters, Wendell Carey – Sr. Aviation Security Inspector, Kevin Rudon – Aviation Security Inspector, as well as NAD Safety Coordinator – Cyril Bullard.
Mr. Carey fielded comments on issues and concerns at both the Governor’s Harbour and Rock Sound airports, and remarked that his role at the meeting, was to make sure that all the relevant stakeholders were aware of their responsibilities and to make recommendations as it related to security measures to the Department of Civil Aviation.
Attendees engaged in discussion during the table top meeting.
NAD representative, Mr. Cyril Bullard, facilitated the table top discussion exercise, where agency heads and representatives were given an emergency scenario, and asked to outline their role in the response and actions that would be taken. This exercise was done, said Mr. Bullard, to bring an awareness of the requirements for safety emergency response and security contingency plans.
“I think the group effectively touched bases with all those aspects, and we can see positive things coming out as a result”, commented Mr. Bullard about the morning’s exercise.
When asked about remarks made during the discussions about the possibility of NAD taking over management of airports in Eleuthera in the future, Mr. Bullard replied, “Just like everyone I’ve heard these rumours , these recommendations… Certainly I think the country is undergoing an upgrade in some civil aviation facilities and requirements, and as such that is within the realm of possibilities.”
Front Row (L-R): Eleuthera Airports Manager, Anthony McPhee; NAD Safety Coordinator, Cyril Bullard; Aviation Security Inspector, Kevin Rudon; Sr. Aviation Security Inspector, Wendell Carey; South Eleuthera Administrator, Margaret Symonette; and Central Eleuthera Sr. Administrator, Charles King; accompanied by participating local government agency heads and representatives standing behind.
