A pilot lies on the tarmac beside his crashed plane at Lismore Airport, a passenger sits a few metres away, and another wanders, dazed, in a field nearby. Emergency services are racing under siren to reach them.
It’s not a real life tragedy unfolding, but rather an emergency services exercise, practising in the event a real crash occurs at the airport.
To create a realistic scenario, a Beechcraft Baron aircraft with simulated damage was used, and actors and mannequins simulated specific injuries.
Several emergency agencies were involved, including the NSW Police, NSW Fire Brigade, Rural Fire Service, NSW Ambulance, SES, Red Cross and Lismore City Council.
The task was designed to replicate a realistic scenario, allowing all agencies to showcase and test their response capabilities and coordination.
Lismore Airport Manager Mark Davis said it was a Civil Aviation Safety Authority requirement that every certified airport must conduct on airport exercises every two years.
Mr Davis said the exercise was a learning exercise that reinforced each of the different agencies skillset and their roles they play in an emergency such as a plane crash.
“It’s been great. It really does show that these guys and girls know what they are doing and co-operate really well, and shows they all know their place in the scenarios. They do a great job,” Mr Davis said.