Hawaii Aviation

KONA — The Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports Division, Hawaii District, will be conducting a triennial emergency response plan exercise at Kona International Airport at Keahole on Wednesday, December 10, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

The realistic exercise, a Federal Aviation Administration certification requirement, tests airfield disaster preparedness and response and will simulate an airliner crash at the airport.  Approximately 120 student volunteers from the West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA) charter school and the Kanu o ka Aina Learning Ohana will act as casualties and injured aboard a Boeing 777-300ER.  The exercise will also include a fire suppression drill at approximately 10 a.m.

Participating agencies will include the Kona International Airport at Keahole Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) team, Hilo ARFF, Kona & Hilo Airport Staff, Federal Aviation Administration, Transportation Security Administration, Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii County Civil Defense, Emergency Medical Services, American Medical Response, American Red Cross, USAF 15th Wing – Hickam, Hawaii Air National Guard, U.S. Army Pohakuloa, the University of the Nations and Kailua-Kona Community Emergency Response teams (CERT), Delta Airlines, other tenant air carriers and other state agencies.

All flight operations will continue as normal.  Motorists are asked to be aware of additional emergency vehicles, police and security personnel along Keahole Airport Road and to please drive carefully.