Accident Simulation Tests Airport Emergency Response
For more than an hour, more than 200 persons made up of Bomberos (firemen), Cruzrojistas (Red Cross workers), Aviación Civil (Civil Aviation), Policía Aeroportuaria (airport police), Aduanas (customs agents) and members of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS),took part in a simulated catastrophe situation at the Juan Santamaría international airport in San José.

The simulated was to test emergency response and protocols used in an emergency and to determine response time by the different institutions that would provide an emergency response in the case of an aviation accident.

The information gathered during the simulation will be used to determined the strengths and weaknesses of the emergency response system and the ability to manage an accident.

Fernando Lara, public relations director of Alterra Partners, the company that operates airport, said that before Alterra assumed management of the airport, there were not types of simulations. Alterra established an emergency response plan in 2004 and is to be carried out every two years.

Fabián Calvo, manager of the airport, explained that the exercise simulated the burning engine of an airplane taking off the runway, then exploding, the airplane losing control and crashing on the tarmac. The clock began ticking when the emergency was declared and the various emergency personnel and response units went into action.

Bomberos and paramedicos (paramedics) were tested on their decision on the necessary calls to control the emergency.

The simulation included some 40 actors who played passengers and crew flying on a D-C aeropostal.

The results of the emergency were the death of seven passengers, one badly injured and several taken to the nearby Alajuela hospital.

The simulation began at 6:30pm and was over by 7:30pm.