CIAC to hold Air Crash Drill
March 10, 2008

The state-owned Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) will conduct a four-day Air Crash Drill dubbed in the 2nd Airport Full Scale Exercise to be held at the 2,300 hectare Civil Aviation Complex of the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport (DMIA) from March 25 to 28.
Clark International Airport Corporation (CIAC) President Victor Jose I. Luciano as guest of honor will lead the opening ceremonies of the four-day Air Crash Drill to be held at the compounds of the United Parcel Service area at DMIA in Clark Freeport. Luciano will give his message during the ceremonies.
Executive Vice President Alexander Cauguiran and Vice President for Operations and DMIA General manager Bienvenido Manga will also grace the opening rites.
Luciano said the exercise is being conducted to further enhance the readiness of the DMIA in airport related-emergencies as it lays the groundwork for its transition into the country’s premier airport in accordance with the pronouncement of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo last January.
At least 400 firefighters will take part in the Air Crash Drill. Among the participants are firefighters from Angeles City, Mabalacat, and Tarlac Provincial Disaster Coordinating Council as well as those from the Philippine National Police (PNP) Philippine Air Force (PAF), Angeles University Hospital, Ospital Ning Angeles, Mimosa Clinic Mimosa Fire Department, Clark Development Corporation Fire Department, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Medical Center, Tiglao General Hospital Dee Hwa Leoung, Mabalacat District Hospital, Department of Public Works and Highways Pampanga, Department of Social Welfare and Development, Philippine Information Agency and Spectrum Communication Group.
CIAC Emergency Services Department Manager Federico Primero Jr. said that the Crash Fire Drill will enhance the capabilities of the participants in confronting airport related emergency disasters and will hone their skills to compete with the global community.
“This event will not only improve the skills of our ESD personnel but as well improve the skills of other firefighters and emergency rescue teams in Central Luzon,” he added.
A retired Firefighter from Sacramento California in the United States will join the event this coming March 25 to 28 to be held at the compounds of US based firm United Parcel Service (UPS) inside the civil aviation complex.
Carl Burke who had served his 27 years as a firefighter of the Sacramento International Airport will join this year’s event to share his expertise in firefighting capabilities including his experiences in responding to emergency cases involving airport disaster.
“It’s a pleasure to be here in your country especially in Clark, I read it in the newspaper about the event, and I immediately contacted Jaime and told him that I wanted to join the fire drill exercise,” Burke said.
“I am a retired firefighter from the Sacramento International Airport and I may be able to share my experiences to my fellow Filipino firefighters,” Burke said during his visit at the CIAC corporate office.
Primero said the full scale exercise is part of the requirements of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
“This event is held every two years as part of the requirements of ICAO because the DMIA is ICAO-compliant Category 9. Especially now since no less than President Arroyo has declared the DMIA a premier airport, we must continuously hone the skills of our personnel through the conduct of such exercises to enable us to efficiently handle any disaster or emergency following global standards,” Primero stressed.
The first Airport Full Scale Exercise was held at CIAC in 2003 participated in by 350 participants that demonstrated fire drills in coordination with the CIAC Emergency Services Department (ESD) and Air Transportation Office (ATO).
“This year’s event would be much bigger than the previous one. This is being spearheaded by CIAC and we expect a much bigger participation,” Primero said.
He said the four-day event includes lectures, emergency drills and critiques at the United Parcel Service (UPS) Building in the first three days while on the fourth day, the full-scale disaster exercise where a disaster scenario involving an aircraft crash will be held at the North-end of the Runway 20 left of DMIA.
CIAC Fire Department will utilize two major foam vehicles, two rapid intervention vehicles and two ambulances while the guest participants will bring their own fire trucks, ambulances and medical staff for the event.