Emergency responders come together to build communication and test skills at the Fredericton International Airport
Safety first. We hear that a lot, but what does it really mean? At the Fredericton International Airport, it means that our people train year-round to continually upgrade their skills and practice a safety-first approach to daily operations (one example: always keeping an eye out for FOD – foreign object debris – when they’re on the airfield).
Emergency response isn’t just about the staff of the Fredericton International Airport Authority (FIAA), though, and putting safety first means working together with other organizations in the region to test our coordinated response. We hold emergency preparedness exercises every year, as mandated by Transport Canada, and these events allow us to bring together organizations such as our local fire departments, RCMP, Department of National Defence, 911, and hospitals to test how well we communicate and coordinate – and to identify ways to improve our processes so that we’re always prepared should a major incident occur.
That’s why, on the afternoon of October 11, 2017, fire trucks, ambulances, aircraft rescue vehicles, and police cars came together on the airfield for a planned emergency preparedness exercise. Working together, we practiced response protocols for a major incident and identified ways that we can continue to improve.
The FIAA appreciate the support of our partner organizations: Oromocto Fire Department, Fredericton Fire Department, 911, Ambulance New Brunswick, RCMP, Horizon Health Network, York Sunbury Search and Rescue, New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization, NavCanada, our airlines, the Commissionaires, and the Department of National Defence. As always, it was a privilege working with you.
The Fredericton International Airport (YFC) serves over 377,000 passengers annually and offers direct daily service to the major hubs of Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa, and Halifax, along with seasonal service to sun destinations. Through direct, indirect and induced economic activity, YFC brings 513 jobs, $8.5-million in taxes, and $24-million in GDP to New Brunswick every year.