LIA holds emergency drills

By Dominic B. dela Cruz

Staff reporter

Laoag City—Gearing for its Aerodrome Certification, Laoag International Airport (LIA) officials and employees staged a successful series of emergency drills on August 31, 2016.

The drills are part of the requirements for LIA’s application to become Aerodrome-certified.

LIA manager Ronald Estabillo said this is the first time the local airport officials and employees have staged this kind of drills. He added that the drills were successful though there were also some recommendations and suggestions from the evaluators.

He explained that the drills aim to ensure LIA’s preparedness, along with their mutual aid partners, to effectively and safely respond to an aircraft accident at the airport or areas within its vicinity.

The drills also hone LIA’s capabilities on “alert and alarm”; communications; onsite incident management (ICS); rescue, triage and treatment; transportation to medical facilities; and site security.

The drills assumed that an Airbus emergency landing occurred inside the aircraft maneuvering area. The scenario further details that the plane reported trouble on its right engine. Emergency and rescue staff immediately deployed into action; firefighters stopped the fire and medics attended to the injured.

Mr. Estabillo disclosed that the Critics Committee’s evaluation included recommendations and suggestions to further improve LIA’s capabilities.

The said committee was composed of officials from the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) and the Aerodrome and Air Navigation Safety Oversight Office (AANSOO). They served as critics who evaluated the exercise based on “Primary; Incident; Command; System; Function; Management by Objectives; Unity of Commands; Organization Flexibility; Span of Control; Common Terminology; Accountability; Integrated Communication; Resource Management; Incident Action Plan and Forms and Tools.”

The Aerodrome Certification will mean LIA has completely undergone and complied with all the requirements set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to become an “Internationally Standard” airport.

Mr. Estabillo added that he plans to hold the drills at least once a year. This, he said, will be done with or without any certification as it is needed to protect and secure passengers. He stated further that this would also be inculcated in the minds of LIA personnel so they would always be ready for any incidents.

Other participants

Mr. Estabillo thanked all those who participated including the Philippine Red Cross, the City and Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Councils, the Bureau of Fire Protection, the Laoag City Dept. of Public Safety, Governor Roque B. Ablan Sr. Memorial Hospital, Mariano Marcos Memorial Hospital and Medical Center, Laoag City General Hospital, Ranada Hospital, the Philippine Army, the Philippine Coast Guard, the Laoag police office; CAAP, Cebu Pacific and Philippine Airlines personnel; and the volunteers and those who served as “victims”.

Laoag CDRRMC chief Melvin Manuel disclosed that the Laoag government fully supports the drill. He added that they are always ready to help in case of any emergency at the LIA.

Mr. Manuel further divulged that the Laoag government and CAAP already has a memorandum of agreement where the city government would assist them in cases of emergencies.

First time

CAAP division chief IV Deogracias Pulmano Jr. in the exit conference shared his observations and at the same time recommendations during the exercise.

Mr. Pulmano said that since this is LIA’s first drill of this kind, it is expected that there would be recommendations for further improvements.

He, however stressed that the drills were successful even if it was the first of its kind for LIA. He noted that this further proves that the Laoag airport is serious in getting an Aerodrome certification.

Mr. Pulmano was joined by Air Navigation Safety Oversight Office’s (AANSOO) Engr. Nepthalie Velasco; Johnel Lorenzo and Ernesto Gorgonio.

Mr. Estabillo welcomed the recommendations. He said he will study them carefully to further improve LIA’s capabilities and to bring it closer to its Aerodrome certification.

Earlier audit

Earlier, the AANSOO conducted a five-day Aerodrome Certification and Audit Plan for LIA on June 20-24, 2016. 

During the said audit, AANSOO audit team leader Engr. Velasco said all ICAO standard requirements should be met by all international airports aspiring for Aerodrome certification.

Mr. Velasco said the certification focuses on airport and passenger safety; the strict implementation of safety manuals, including operations, well-trained personnel on emergencies; and well maintained buildings, among others.