Airport emergency response tested

The exercise will be witnessed by guests from the Middle East

A major live exercise is being planned at Norwich International Airport to test the response of staff and their co-ordination with emergency services.

The exercise forms a compulsory requirement of the airport's licence from the Civil Aviation Authority.

Airport staff, police, paramedics and fire and rescue workers will be taking part in the drill on Saturday.

The exercise, lasting for more than two hours, will be witnessed by a number of guests from the Middle East.

About 150 civilian volunteers will take part, playing the roles of passengers on board an aircraft and families arriving in response to an incident.

Safety is priority

It is being coordinated by the Norfolk Major Incident Team (NorMIT), which is part of Norfolk County Council's emergency planning unit.

NorMIT manager Sarah Alcock said: "This exercise, which will involve a simulated incident air-side, has been planned to meet CAA needs, as well as exercising some of our emergency arrangements in Norfolk.

"It is essential that organisations have emergency plans in place to ensure the best response possible."

She said the guests from Oman are interested in witnessing the exercise in order to learn better emergency response techniques.

Richard Jenner, the managing director of Norwich Airport, said: "All our staff are highly trained in emergency procedures and safety at the airport is top priority for everyone who works here.

"Having said that, there is no better way to test the training and our emergency procedures than through a real exercise."