Airsafe 2016 Emergency Exercise at Columbia Metropolitan Airport

(West Columbia SC, September 14, 2016) – Columbia Metropolitan Airport will conduct AirSafe 2016, an airport emergency plan exercise, on Wednesday morning, September 14th beginning at 9:30 a.m. The exercise will take place near West Dunbar Road at the end of Runway 5/23, which is currently closed for rehabilitation.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires that commercial airports conduct an emergency exercise every three years to test the effectiveness of their emergency plans. The exercise, which will include a simulated aircraft accident, will provide airport emergency personnel along with airport staff and airline personnel, the opportunity to put the emergency plan into action.

AirSafe will be a joint effort and exercise between the airport and various agencies in Lexington and Richland Counties to include Law Enforcement, Fire, and EMS as well as the local hospitals and Red Cross.

The public should be aware that this is a practice drill and should not be alarmed if they see emergency vehicles near the airport on the morning of Wednesday, September 14. Airport and airline operations will operate as normal – there will be no disruptions to flight schedules.