The Seve Ballestries-Santander Airport has carried out today a general aeronautical simulation with the objective of evaluating the procedures of action and coordination established in its Self-Protection Plan and the updates incorporated therein, in addition to analyzing the response time to an accident and the degree of knowledge and integration of the groups involved in the care of an airport emergency.
The exercise simulated the accident of an aircraft with 150 people on board in an area of difficult access. When landing, there is a failure in the electronic systems that govern the aircraft and the plane takes ground off the runway: the rear falls in the Bay, while the central front falls inside the airport enclosure, burning after the impact.
From the Control Tower, the Fire Rescue and Extinguishment Service (SSEI) is notified and the Airport Emergency Plan is activated to summon all internal media and, through 112, mobilize external media. From Civil Protection of the Government of Cantabria the Territorial Emergency Plan (PLATERCANT) is activated and, once they arrive at the Airport, those responsible for the Civil Protection Service take charge of the emergency management.
At the site of the disaster, the Advanced Command Post is established, to which all internal and external means are incorporated. In addition, the 061 installs a field hospital for the care of the wounded. Emergency rooms are also activated for the care of the relatives of the victims of the accident. (From the very beginning there have been people in the terminal building waiting for their relatives who, upon hearing the roar, have asked what has happened, both to Aena’s staff and to the airlines.)
The entire exercise has been coordinated from the Main Command Post (PMP) where representatives of different institutions have met.
Participating groups
In addition to the Rescue and Fire Fighting Service of the Airport and the other staff of Aena, airlines, handling agents, units of State Security Forces and Bodies located in the terminal and the other companies that carry out their work at the airport, the realization of this simulation has been possible thanks to the participation of:
- Emergency Care Center 112
- DG Civil Protection and Emergencies – Government of Cantabria
- Civil Protection Unit
– Government Delegation
- 061/ Emergency Service Primary Care/ Management Primary Care (061/SUAP/GAP)
- Firefighters of the City of Santander
- Camargo Fire Department
- Red Cross
- Vueling
- Iberia
- Ryanair
- Civil Guard
- National Police Force
- Local Police of Camargo
- Port Authority of Santander
- Maritime Rescue
- Maritime Captaincy
- Institute of Legal Medicine and Forensic Sciences of Cantabria
With this exercise, the Cantabrian airport complies with the regulations of the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) in the field of emergency planning at airports, and attends to the legislation applied by national, regional and local administrations, which obliges the manager of an airport installation to have a Self-Protection Plan. This practice is also due to Aena’s commitment to offering a quality and safe service.
All Aena airports have a Self-Protection Plan, aimed at minimizing the consequences that an air accident or any other incident would have on airport facilities, ensuring the safeguarding of human lives and operational continuity.
The conclusions drawn in this simulation will be used for the elaboration of the Special Plan of Civil Protection by Aviation Accident of the Government of Cantabria that is currently in the drafting phase.