The Biggest Airport Full-Scale Emergency Exercise In The Maldives Taking Place At Velana International Airport

 To prepare for an emergency crisis at the airport, Maldives Airports company (MACL), in collaboration with the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), has scheduled a full-scale emergency exercise for today local time from 1600 hrs to 1800hrs at Velana International Airport. The exercise is required to be conducted every two years in accordance with international civil aviation organization (ICAO) and Maldives Civil Aviation Authority regulations (MCAA).

This simulated exercise will be the largest of its kind ever held in the aviation history of the Maldives which will involve over 30 organizations and institutions with more than 400 participants actively engaged as players, facilitators, observers and as core responding agencies.

The purpose of this exercise is to validate Velana International Airports’ Airport Emergency Plan and Standard Operating Procedures of responding agencies, participating airline and Airport Emergency Operations Center (AEOC). This exercise will evaluate the coordination between Velana International Airport’s various cells, airport stakeholders, multi agencies and participating airlines in the areas of operational readiness, casualty management, next-of-kin and media management. Emergency plan of the five major hospitals in the Male city area will be activated and tested during the exercise. Also, the exercise will help to coordinate the rescue and firefighting efforts of both airport community and the mutual-aid agencies during airport emergencies.
 

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As Velana International Airport is undergoing a massive expansion and modernization of its facilities and services, this exercise will evaluate the airport's expansion, development, and infrastructure improvements. Similarly, the exercise will take place at the recently completed Code-F runway to evaluate the runway for an emergency. Presently, the runway serves as an interim taxiway.

Emirates airline will participate as the exercise official airline partner. The airline's safety operation plan will be activated during the exercise. This is the first time an international airline has participated in a full-scale emergency exercise at Velana International Airport.

During the simulation, an aircraft mock-up will be wrecked on southern side of Velana International Airport's runway. From the airport, flames and smoke will be visible. We ask the public not to worry, since this is a simulated event with all safety precautions.

During the exercise runway operations will be closed from 1600hrs to 1800 hrs. However, passenger check-in and seaplane operations will continue at the time of the exercise. We plan to resume our normal ground operations from 1800hrs. Additionally, significant adjustments to the highway and bridge's transportation routes will take place throughout the exercise time. The bridge's north lane will be reserved for emergency vehicles exclusively. The south lane will be reserved only for necessary transportation. Traffic police of the Maldives Police services will coordinate the routes from and to the major hospitals at Male’ and Hulhumale’.