The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) successfully carried out its second Airport Emergency Full-Scale Simulation held last Friday at General Santos International Airport (GSIA).

According to CAAP, this emergency drill assessed responses to two critical scenarios: an airplane crash on airport property and an unlawful interference act.

Jhoel Gavina, the airport manager, stated that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was sent out two weeks in advance, announcing the closure of Runway 35/17 from 2 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on the day of the simulation in order to minimize disruption and inform all stakeholders.

The drill began with an urgent notice from the Air Traffic Control Tower alerting the GSIA Airport Manager to an unlawful interference incident involving an aircraft traveling from Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila to Francisco Bangoy International Airport in Davao.

A thorough emergency response was initiated when the flight was diverted to GSIA in order to assess the effectiveness of cooperation, communication, and crisis management.

The simulation involved key members from the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, CAAP’s Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Service, and the Philippine National Police Aviation Security Unit.

The significance of these drills was emphasized by CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo, saying, “This event reaffirms CAAP’s commitment to safety and security. We make sure that all staff and agencies are equipped to handle emergencies in the real world by holding realistic drills. Protecting lives while maintaining airport operations is our top responsibility.”