Reagan Airport Emergency Exercise Until Noon

If you hear sirens and helicopters in a remote part of Ronald Reagan National Airport this Saturday, don't be alarmed -- it's just a drill.

Reagan National Airport will be conducting a full-scale emergency preparedness exercise from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, according to a statement from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.

"A simulated aircraft accident will give the airport's first responders an opportunity to put their emergency plans into action while providing hands-on training to airport and airline staff, hospitals, local jurisdictions and other emergency personnel," the statement reads. "During the exercise, emergency personnel will respond as in a real emergency, including the use of sirens, firefighting equipment and helicopters."

The exercise will take place in a remote part of the airfield and won't affect normal airport operations, so don't worry if you have a flight leaving around that time. In fact, the site won't even be visible to passengers.

However, some of the exercise elements may be visible from areas surrounding the airport, especially near Route 1 or the George Washington Memorial Parkway, as well as from I-395 and along the Potomac River.

"The full-scale emergency preparedness exercise, which is the culmination of months of planning and coordination across multiple jurisdictions and disciplines, is part of Federal Aviation Administration-mandated safety training to ensure airports are prepared for real-life aircraft emergencies," the statement notes. "Airports are required to conduct a full-scale exercise every three years in order to be certified by the FAA."

The statement noted that the simulated emergency will include the following elements for realism:

• Participation by Airports Authority Fire and Rescue, Police and Airport Operations personnel
• Numerous emergency vehicles responding as mutual aid support from surrounding communities
• A brief period of fire and smoke
• Conversations between dispatchers and responders on emergency radio frequencies
• About 120 volunteer role players, moulaged to simulate injuries sustained from the incident
• Support helicopters responding to the emergency exercise
• A river rescue emergency response

Image via Wikimedia