Mackay Airport No Go drill will test the region’s emergency coordination

A simulated plane crash complete with theatre actors playing the part of injured passengers to put Mackay’s aviation emergency personal to the test.

Mackay Airport will be propelling into a drill of epic proportions complete with ‘injured passengers’ and more than 80 emergency personnel launching into action.

Exercise No Go will feature a plane with smoke billowing from the cabin to set into place a mock emergency field simulation to test the coordination and communication of the Airport.

Actors from Kucom Theatre will also be involved, putting their skills to the test as they play the part of injured passengers.

North Queensland Airports Chief Operating Officer Garry Porter said the exercise followed months of planning and was an important part of the Airport’s ability to test its plans and decision making in airport emergencies in a practical way.

“The exercise allows us to run through our procedures and implement our training in a realistic environment testing our Airport Emergency Plan and first-responder actions as well as communications between the agencies,” Mr Porter said.

“We can only conduct an exercise like this with the help and assistance of all the agencies involved as well as volunteers, and its their support that enables us to refine our crisis management on airport and we’re incredibly thankful to all those involved.”

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority mandated drill is played out biannually with involvement from Airservices Australia, Queensland Police Service, Queensland Ambulance Service, Aviation Rescue Fire and Fighting Service, Queensland Fire and Emergency Service, Australian Red Cross, Mackay Base Hospital. Mackay Hospital and Health Service (MHHS) Emergency Management team.

The drill will kick off at 1.30pm, Thursday, September 16.