GACA AC-139-04 - Airport Emergency Plan

ADVISORY CIRCULAR

SUBJECT:

AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN (AEP)DATE:

2022-08-11AC NUMBER:

139-04VERSION:

NOTE: THIS ADVISORY CIRCULAR IS PUBLISHED TO PROVIDE REGULATORY

INFORMATION AND DESCRIBE ACCEPTABLE MEANS OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE

GENERAL AUTHORITY OF CIVIL AVIATION REGULATIONS (GACAR).

CHAPTER 1 – INTRODUCTION

1.1 Purpose.

This advisory circular (AC) provides information to certificated aerodrome operators on the requirements to

be met for the airport emergency plan (AEP) and acceptable means of compliance with the regulatory

requirements related to airport emergency plan (AEP). The information embodied in this AC is additional

and supplementary to the requirements of GACAR Part- 139.

1.2 Applicability.

This advisory circular is applicable to all certificated aerodromes in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under

GACAR Part-139.

1.3 Cancellation.

This is the first official version of this advisory circular, and it cancels no other advisory circulars.

1.4 Related Regulatory Provisions.

(a) GACAR PART 5 – Safety Management Systems;

(b) GACAR Part 139- Certification, Authorization and Operation of Aerodromes;

(c) GACA eBook Volume-2; Safety Management Systems;

(d) GACA eBook Volume-7; Aerodromes, Heliports and Water aerodromes administration.

1.5 Related Reading Material.

The following documents, inter alia, are relevant to the aerodrome requirements necessary to support the

certification of aerodrome:

(a) Introducing the Criteria for Reviewing Emergency Plans issued by National Risk Council, Kingdom of

Saudi Arabia ;

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(b) ICAO Annex 14 – Aerodromes, Nineth Edition, July 2022;

(c) ICAO Doc 9137 – Aerodrome Services Manual Part-1- Rescue and Firefighting services, Fourth Edition,

2015s;

(d) ICAO Doc 9137 – Aerodrome Services Manual Part- 7- Airport Emergency Plan, Second Edition, 1991;

(e) National Fire Protection Association Codes.

1.6 Approval.

This advisory circular has been approved for publication by the Executive Vice President, for Safety and

Aviation Standards Sector of the General Authority of Civil Aviation.

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CHAPTER 2 – AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN

2.1 Introduction.

An airport emergency is any occasion or instance, natural or man-made that warrants action to save lives and

protects property and public health. The airport emergency plan should address those emergencies that occur

on or directly impact, an airport or adjacent property that:

a) is within the authority and responsibility of the airport to respond; or

b) may present a threat to the airport because of the proximity of the emergency to the airport; or

c) where the airport has responsibilities under local/regional emergency plans and by mutual aid agreements.

Section 9.1 of Annex 14; Vol-I; to the Chicago Convention (Aerodromes), states:

"Aerodrome emergency planning is the process of preparing an aerodrome to cope with an emergency

occurring at the aerodrome or in its vicinity. The objective of aerodrome emergency planning is to minimize

the effects of an emergency, particularly in respect of saving lives and maintaining aircraft operations."

As per the provisions contained in § 139.901 Sub Part-L of GACAR Part-139 on Certification,

Authorization and Operation of Aerodromes, it is stated:

“An aerodrome emergency plan should be established at an aerodrome, commensurate with the aircraft

operations and other activities conducted at the aerodrome. “

According to GACAR 139 (139.105) aerodromes are classified as follows:

(1) Civil/Public Aerodrome

(2) General Aviation Aerodrome

(3) Private aerodromes

(4) Flight training aerodromes

(5) General purpose aerodrome

2.2 What is an Airport Emergency Plan.

An airport emergency plan is a document that:

a) Assigns responsibility to organizations and individuals for carrying out specific actions at projected

times and places in responding to an emergency.

b) Sets forth lines of authority and organizational relationships, and shows how all actions should be

coordinated.

c) Describes how people and property will be protected in emergencies and disasters.

d) Identifies personnel, equipment, facilities, supplies, and other resources available – within the airport or

by agreement with external agencies /communities – for use during response and recovery operations.

e) Facilitates response and short-term recovery to set the stage for successful long-term recovery.

f) Should provide for the coordination of the actions to be taken in an emergency occurring at an aerodrome

or in its vicinity.

2.3 Location and impact of emergencies.

An airport incident can occur anywhere, at any time – day or night, under any weather condition, and in

varying degrees of magnitude It can occur instantaneously or develop slowly; it can last only a few minutes

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or go on for days. It can be natural, such as a sand storm or earthquake, or it can be “man-made”, such as a

hazardous materials spill, civil unrest, terrorism, major fire, or power outage. Moreover, emergencies of the

same type can differ widely in severity, depending on factors such as degree of warning, duration, and scope

of impact. The important thing to remember is that, while emergencies can seldom be exactly predicted, they

can be anticipated and prepared for.

The potential for disaster exists everywhere, and the cost in suffering, life, and property can be devastatingly

high. Since emergencies are perceived as low probability events and because preparedness requires cost in

time and finances, the importance of such planning can often be overlooked. However, airports and

communities that experience such disasters can pay a high price if they are not prepared. In addition to health

and safety problems, social disruption, lawsuits, negative publicity, and psychological after-effects may

result. While every contingency cannot be anticipated and prepared for, a strong emergency preparedness

program can assist in limiting the negative impact of these events, including liability and other

post-emergency issues.

2.4 Consideration for preparing an emergency plan.

When preparing for an emergency response, consideration should always be given to the:

a) complexity of the aerodrome operating environment

b) geographical location of the aerodrome

c) type of aircraft that operate at, or are likely to operate at the aerodrome

d) types of emergencies that could occur

e) identification of hazards which could reasonably be expected to initiate or contribute to an emergency

f) equipment, resources and training that may be required.

g) readily availability of and coordination with appropriate specialist rescue services to be able to respond

to emergencies where an aerodrome is located close to water and/or swampy areas and where a significant

portion of approach or departure operations takes place over these areas.

h) Establishment, testing and assessment at regular intervals of a pre-determined response for the specialized

rescue services.

i) An assessment of the approach and departure areas within 1,000 m of the runway threshold should be

carried out to determine the options available for intervention.

2.5 Concepts and Principles of Emergency Planning.

2.5.1 Planning Guidance and Standards

The airport operator has the primary responsibility for airport emergency response. However, it is a fact no

airport has all the sufficient resources to respond to every emergency situation independently. It is therefore

each airport should depend to some degree on the resources from its governmental agencies and surrounding

communities. For this reason, each airport operator is encouraged to involve local communities in the

development of the airport emergency plan and use the collective expertise and resources for the mutual

benefit of all parties. It is therefore, the relationships between on-airport emergency services and other mutual

aid entities should be defined in Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) and Memorandums of Agreement

(MOAs).

Airport access should be in accordance with applicable MOUs and MOAs. Requirements of GACAR &

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Security directives should not be compromised by allowing unlimited (or in some cases even limited) airport

assets to be used in the local system on and off airport response. Airports may “incorporate by reference”

mutual aid agreements and applicable local, regional, plans and to expand on them in the airport emergency

plan only when necessary for compliance.

2.5.2 National Response Framework

The introducing the Criteria for Reviewing Emergency Plans issued by National Risk Council, presents the

guiding principles that enable all response partners to prepare for and provide a unified national response to

disasters and emergencies. It establishes a comprehensive, national, all-hazards approach to domestic

incident response; The Criteria for Reviewing Emergency Plans defines the principles, roles, and structures

that organize how we respond to emergencies.

While most airport incidents are generally handled routinely by the airport operator, there are important

instances in which successful domestic incident management operations depend on the involvement of

multiple agency's emergency responder disciplines. These instances require effective and efficient

coordination across this activity. The command systems approach to integrate the best of existing processes

and methods into a unified national framework for incident management. This framework forms the basis for

interoperability and compatibility that will, in turn, enable a diverse set of public and private organizations

to conduct well-integrated and effective incident management operations.

The Emergency operations center and command post is a designed to enable effective and efficient domestic

incident management by integrating a combination of facilities, equipment, personnel, procedures, and

communications operating within a common organizational structure. A basic premise of incident command

systems is that it is widely applicable and is used to organize both near-term and long-term field-level

operations for a broad spectrum of emergencies, from small to complex incidents, both natural and manmade.

Emergency operations center and command post facilitate activities in five major functional areas: command,

operations, planning, logistics, and governmental officials.

The emergency operations center should be a part of the aerodrome facilities and should be responsible for

the overall coordination and general direction of the response to an emergency. The command post should be

a facility capable of being moved rapidly to the site of an emergency, when required, and should undertake

the local coordination of those agencies responding to the emergency.

2.5.3 Coordination of Airport Emergency Plans with other organizations Emergency plans

As appropriate, consideration should be given to mutual assistance and coordination between local

resources with airport resources. In addition to security and firefighting /emergency services, contingencies

such as, mass evacuation with the airport being the staging and exit point or staging areas assembly areas,

crowd control, shelter, sanitation, feeding, etc.

The safe and orderly movement of vehicles and pedestrians on an airport is essential in airport emergency

planning. Lack of sufficient training for personnel and vehicles on airports has the potential to lead to life

threatening consequences and costly property damage. Airports should work closely with mutual aid

responders to ensure all requirements for each airport to include, but not limited to compliance with all

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GACA regulations applicable to Security enforcement procedures.

2.5.4 Identification of Hazards and Risk assessment

The main purpose for Identification of hazards and risk assessment is to help airport emergency planning

committee to determine what hazards exist, what actions should be planned, and what resources are

recommended.

It is important to include as many people/organizations as possible from both the airport and surrounding

community agencies (Civil Defense, Medical, and Security- Others) when doing the analysis. This provides

information across a broad spectrum and avoids limiting the outcome to only one or two areas of expertise.

Once the hazards have been identified and prioritized, the airport emergency planning committee should

create scenarios and brainstorm needed hazard-specific planning provisions and hazard-specific resource

requirements. Starting with a given intensity of a hazard, the team can imagine the hazard’s development from

initial warning to its impact on a specific part of the airport and its generation of specific consequences (e.g.,

loss of critical services and infrastructure; death, injury). This information can then be further refined through

drills and tabletop exercises.

2.5.5 Comprehensive Emergency Management

There are no typical emergencies and there are no typical or standard preparedness plans that are ideal for all

airports. However, some common phases to preparedness for disasters can provide systematic approach for

planning purposes.

a) Mitigation- Actions that can prevent, alleviate, or diminish the potential effects of a disaster situation.

b) Preparedness- Actions that enhance emergency response capabilities.

c) Response- Time-sensitive actions to save lives and property, reduce the possibility of secondary damage,

and speed recovery operations.

d) Recovery-Actions that restore the airport to pre-emergency conditions.

2.5.6 Human Factors principles

The plan should observe Human Factors principles to ensure optimum response by all existing agencies

participating in emergency operations.

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CHAPTER 3 – AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN COMMITTEE

3.1 General.

a) The aerodrome certificate holder should establish an airport emergency planning committee (AEPC). All

assigned members from both internal and external (off airport) agencies will be participants in the

development, review and exercising of the airport emergency plan.

b) The Head of the Aerodrome, or other appropriate Chief Executive(s) should be a part of the team.

Preparation for a disaster requires team leaders to understand their respective roles during emergencies, Team

leaders should also review information describing past disasters which occurred or similar to those which

could occur on the airport, as well as readiness assessments and exercise critiques, and potential liability

issues.

c) Airport emergency planning committee meetings should be convened at least once a year to ensure that the

annual review of the airport emergency plan is completed. The committee should also consider additional

meetings following:

1. An activation of the airport emergency plan.

2. An airport emergency plan exercise; and

3. Any other circumstances where the currency and procedural validity of the airport emergency plan needs

to be addressed.

d) Airport emergency planning committee should conduct regular meetings. The agenda(s) of the meetings

and minutes thereof should be recorded as evidence of compliance. These records should be maintained for a

period of at least three years.

3.2 Airport emergency plan committee (AEPC) objectives.

a) The airport emergency planning committee is responsible for preparing and maintaining the airport

emergency plan and formulating the relevant procedures that are applicable to its operations and any

arrangements that exist with the emergency services.

b) To ensure that the airport emergency plan complies with all relevant regulations, standards and

legislation.

c) To conduct regular exercises to test the efficacy of the procedures as outlined in the airport emergency plan.

3.3 Airport emergency plan committee Team.

The airport emergency plan comprises representatives of all agencies involved in the response to and

recovery from an emergency on the vicinity of aerodrome and includes:

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CHAPTER 4 – STANDARD PLAN CONTENTS FORMAT

4.1 General.

The Basic Plan provides an overview of the airport’s approach to emergency operations. It generally defines

related policies, describes the response organization, and assigns tasks; the certificate holder should submit

the airport emergency plan to GACA.

4.2 Components of the airport emergency plan.

4.2.1 Plan Management:

a) Plan Information (date of Plan preparation, number of current version, plan approval): General

information about the plan including, for example, department, person in charge of plan preparation, plan

revision, plan approval, dates of preparation, revision and approval, and number of current updated version.

b) Date of next plan revision and persons assigned to the revision: Date of latest revision of the plan,

timeline for plan revision or next revision date of the plan; department information and person in charge of

revision.

c) Record of Changes: A record of changes can be a chart containing a number assigned to any change, a

description of the change, the date of the change, the date of actual entry into the AIRPORT EMERGENCY

PLAN, and the signature or initials of the person(s) responsible for the change.

d) Plan distribution list: Employee information/departments/ agencies that have copies of the plan and have

roles and responsibilities in it, locations of plan copies either electronic or paperback in order to ensure

control of plan circulations, management; and insure validity and symmetry with latest revisions.

4.2.2. Plan Introduction:

a) Promulgation Document: This is letter or form signed by the aerodrome operator authority. It gives the

AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN official status and provides both authority and responsibility for

organizations to perform assigned tasks. The promulgation document can also discuss the tasked

organizations’ responsibility to prepare and maintain SOPs and commit them to the training, exercises, and

plan maintenance efforts needed to support the AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN.

b) Signature Page: A signature page of airport emergency planning committee to show that all response

organizations tasked in the airport emergency plan have coordinated in the plan’s development and are

committed to its effective implementation.

c) Determination of plan objective: The strategic purpose of responding to emergency situations and

recovery after emergency response, the plan is aiming to achieve.

d) Determination of plan framework: This part of the plan specifies potential risks that might result in

emergency situation that demands plan activation.

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e) Determination of plan goals: The group of goals that the plan is aiming to achieve the main purpose

through.

4.2.3 Events and Scenarios in the Plan Framework. Determination of events and scenarios undertaken in

the plan: A list of planning presumptions based on risk analysis including emergency situations demanding

plan activation, its causes, consequences, impact on society, health, environment, security, country’s

reputation, economic development, or the continuity of basic services or vital businesses.

4.2.4 Roles and Responsibilities:

a) Appointment of members of emergency situation response team: In this section, members of the main

team responsible for performing the tasks and responsibilities mentioned in the plan are appointed; data of

the team is attached with supporting documents in the appendixes.

b) Assignment of roles and responsibilities for the emergency situation response team: In this section,

roles and responsibilities for the emergency situation response team are assigned:

1- Appointing the main committees for the event leadership, location of meeting, and the alternative location.

2- The assignment of roles and responsibilities for teams and committees.

3- Determining the mechanism of obtaining logistic support to ease the response teams and committees’

work.

4- Instructions that are associated with filling related forms, reports preparation, meetings records and

symbols and abbreviations used in them.

5- Connection between teams or committees with emergency operations centers.

c) Structuring of emergency situation management team and its correlation with other teams and

departments: This section explains:

1. The administrative structure of response to emergency situations and its extent of correlation with other

administrative structures inside the organization

2. It also provides an explanation the way in which roles are distributed inside and outside of the agencies

associated with response.

3. It is also essential to support this section of the plan by attaching the details of roles and responsibilities

of each department by placing the supporting documents in the appendices.

4. Identification of Key responders in the Incident Command System should be readily identifiable through

an identification system such as reflective vests, functional badges, safety hard hats, or other distinguishing

markings that clearly indicate their respective function.

5. This section explains command personnel Identification system in the Incident, which be readily

identifiable through an identification system such as reflective vests, functional badges, safety hard hats, or

other distinguishing markings that clearly indicate their respective function. Identify Emergency Operations

Center to response and deal with disasters, emergency situations, and temporary closure of the airport or

runway and is subject to the supervision and management of the Airports Authority, identify attendees of

this center from the departments operating at the airport, when the airport authority considers that their

presence is necessary.

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4.2.4.1 Roles and responsibilities of related parties (inside and outside the organization) and personnel

in charge: Roles and responsibilities are explained to departments and agencies related with plan

implementation according to pre-planned presumptions, including roles and responsibilities which are

divided as follows:

1- Inside the organization: such as emergency watch centers or report receiving call centers, other operations

centers within the organization, mutual support services.

2- Outside the organization: all parties participating or supporting in the plan implementation.

3- Aerodrome operator should include a copy of the signed Mutual aid agreements between the Aerodrome

operator and the organizations that provide emergency response services to the airport in the emergency plan

and reviewed annually.

4- The plan should include the availability of and coordination with appropriate specialist rescue services

to be able to respond to emergencies in difficult environments where an aerodrome is located close to water

and/or swampy areas and where a significant portion of approach or departure operations takes place over

these areas.

4.2.5 Main Requirements for Response and Recovery Operations. Required logistics and necessary

abilities to enable the response and recovery team to perform its tasks: This section of the plan includes

requirements and enablers necessary to provide logistic support for response and recovery operations within

the plan framework, including but not limited to: providing primary operations rooms and centers for

management of emergency situation and alternative locations for them, providing support for teams and

committees reporting, transportation and continuity of work 24 hours if needed, in addition to providing

technologies, communication means and procedures that ease coordination of teams and committees work,

and providing support and services for report preparation and meetings records and its distribution,

approval and sharing.

4.2.6 Detailed Plans (Procedures) for Each Phase of the Response and Recovery Operation:

4.2.6.1 The detailed plan of the alerting and notification phase: This section of the plan includes

information of:

a) The mechanism of monitoring, prediction, and early alert.

b) Alert of upgrade and downgrade of level of situation, and the source of alert.

c) Agencies in charge of alerting the audience.

d) The mechanism of reporting sharing inside the organization and outside.

4.2.6.2 The detailed plan of information and reports collection, evaluation and analysis: In this section,

the following details are clarified:

a) The mechanism of collection of the information related to the emergency situation description and its level.

b) The mechanism of decision making of response to emergency situation and plan activation.

c) The mechanism of increasing the public awareness of the procedures that should be taken by each person

in the society, and the determination of authorized persons.

4.2.6.3 The detailed plan for the response and containment: This section of the plan includes the

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mechanism of execution and implementation of tasks and procedures, and providing support to the people

effected as a result of the emergency situation in accordance with the pre-planned presumptions determined

prior.

4.2.6.4 The detailed plan for recovery phase-returning back to norm: The inclusion of standards and

procedures for evaluation of the termination of the response situation and the transition to recovery phase

and the return back to norm and determining the mechanism of reporting to agencies inside and outside of the

organization about the transition to the recovery phase, including the estimation of costs accompanying

with the recovery phase and providing technical and financial consultations about it, along with the

clarification of the roles of participating committees and agencies in this phase.

4.2.7 Reference Documents.

a) List of internal and external communication information: The list includes a statement showing the

persons in charge of management of the plan elements or cooperation and support from inside or outside the

agency according to the plan’s framework which includes for instance:

1- Name of the main member and the substitute.

2- Name of the agency/department/center.

3- Primary or alternative communication means.

b) Maps of alternative locations:

Presenting detailed description of the alternative locations for the main emergency management center in

order to ensure readiness for emergency situation management and communication with sectors related to the

agency and the other agencies associated.

c) Data list of critical infrastructure exposed to effects of events and scenarios included in the plan:

d) The list contains a statement of all information necessary about the infrastructure expected to be

affected according to the scenarios determined prior.

e) Relation with emergency plans and related documents: Providing description of the plan correlation

with other emergency plan and documents.

f) Media and information management plan: Presenting detailed description about Media and

Information Management Plan, includes public information officer should be designated, and specific place

for Media Centre, for release of accident information, escorting the news media to the accident/incident

location.

g) Family assistance plan: Aerodrome policy and procedures for providing support facilities and resources

to the “Air Carries Family Assistant Program, includes air Carriers Responsibilities, Aerodrome Supporting

Responsibilities & Requirements (facilities & communications, resources, staffing).

h) Emergency Medical management Plan: Aerodrome policy and procedures for providing emergency

medical care in time of emergency, to include specifics on triage areas, permanent care facilities, (holding

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areas), and activation / request of assistance and medical transport requirements.

4.2.8 Evaluation of response and recovery procedures, and determining the lessons learned and chances

for improvement:

In this section, it is mandatory to explain:

a) The mechanism of documentation of response and recovery procedures implemented.

b) Forms related to the documentation of response and recovery procedures.

c) The mechanism of collecting, archiving and sharing of information and documents with stakeholders.

d) The mechanism of studying the results of response and recovery evaluation and taking advantage out of

them in improving response and recovery operations during the plan revision process.

4.2.9 Training and Exercises:

a) Training mechanism for agencies on plan tasks:

This section includes clarification of training mechanism on tasks assigned to participating agencies outside

of the organization, including training of agencies' envoys and correlation elements on mutual tasks and the

method of reports preparation, providing information, statistics, passing of reporting, and more.

b) Mechanism of exercise implementation, convening periods and training types:

Mechanism of exercise implementation aims to examine efficiency of emergency planning with all agencies

assigned with tasks and responsibilities in the plan, including:

1. Examining the extent of comprehension and the availability of capabilities among all agencies for the

implementation of tasks and responsibilities assigned to them efficiently.

2. Scheduling and periods of training convening, and its type (e.g.: tabletop, hypothetical, practical… etc.).

c) Evaluation mechanism for exercises and examinations, and determination of lessons learnt,

documentation, and improvement of plans: This section includes the mechanism of exercises and

presumptions evaluation, evaluation committees, and forms related to determination of strengths and

weaknesses and chances of improvement and lessons learnt from exercises, with determining the mechanism of

investment from those lessons in improvement of emergency plans and the efficiency of response and recovery

procedures.

4.2.10 Escalation:

a) Upgrade of emergency situation standards and procedures:

This section includes presentation of detailed description on:

1. Standards of upgrade of emergency situation.

2. Sequence of on-site leadership.

3. Mechanism of upgrade to a higher level, if necessary (or when the situation exceeds capabilities and

authority for each level), for example:

• Number of casualties.

• Number of harmed persons.

• Amount of expected financial losses.

• The effect of the situation over more than one sector.

• Geographic space effected.

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• The effect of the situation on political and diplomatic relations.

• Expected time period of the breakdown of services.

• The effect of the situation on general opinion.

• The effect of the situation on the country’s reputation.

b) Downgrade of emergency situation standards and procedures:

This section includes presentation of detailed description on:

1. Standards of downgrade of the emergency situation.

2. Return of leadership to local levels after control of the situation or after receiving support or required

authority.

4.2.11 Forms:

a) Reports passing forms, exchange of data and reports, upgrade and downgrade of emergency

situation:

The plan should include unified forms for reports passing, data and reports exchange, upgrade or downgrade

of emergency situation, and request of assistance and support.

b) Events record form used by the agency to document activities and works accomplished during the

response and recovery phases: The plan should include unified forms for events record that the agency uses

to document the activities and works accomplished during the response and recovery phases.

c) Damage evaluation form: Attaching a form for the purpose of evaluation and conceiving of damage

resulted from the emergency situation.

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CHAPTER 5 – AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN EXERCISE

5.1 General.

5.1.1 The plan should contain procedures for periodic testing of the adequacy of the plan and for reviewing

the results in order to improve its effectiveness, training, drills, and exercises.

5.1.2 The on and off-airport emergency first responders who respond to emergencies are the most vital

elements of an airport’s emergency response capability. Their training is essential for responding effectively

to emergencies by making optimum use of facilities, equipment, and vehicles. The emergency procedure

guidelines address the following issues:

a) Airport personnel’s knowledge of the airport emergency plan its facilities, equipment and vehicles.

b) Emergency response organizations’ (e.g., fire, medical, and security officials) knowledge of their

responsibilities relative to the airport emergency plan its facilities, equipment, and vehicles.

5.1.3 Familiarization. There is a need for on- and off-airport emergency first responders to be familiar with

each other’s equipment and facilities. It is especially important that off-airport personnel become familiar

with the unique operating environment of an airport (e.g., security requirements, the hazards of moving

aircraft, communications, etc.). This familiarization becomes critical during nighttime operations and other

periods of low visibility.

5.1.4 Initial training of airport personnel should be primarily devoted to Standard Operating

Procedures (SOPs).

This general training should be provided to all airport employees. Certain airport, as well as other emergency

response personnel, should receive specialized training based on their individual job responsibilities. many

times, and often due to lack of manpower resources, individuals may be assigned a job for which they are not

emotionally prepared or capable (e.g., maintenance personnel assigned to carry stretchers or otherwise help

at an accident site may end up being “victims” due to the emotional trauma experienced by proximity to

severely injured people). Further, periodic training should be scheduled in order to prevent loss of

knowledge and skills over time.

5.1.5 Initial training . A goal of initial training should be to ensure all airport employees are familiar with

the following:

a) Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Airport operators should establish guidelines for handling all

normal, abnormal, and emergency operations.

b) Layout of Facilities. Familiarization with the airport’s facilities is critical. Walking and bus tours should

emphasize the location of normal and emergency exit controls (Assembly points), to include security

procedures, communications equipment, and other safety features of the facilities.

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5.1.6 Specialized Emergency Training.

Airport operators should conduct a cycle of specialized training courses, followed by periodic refresher

training for those personnel/support staff, task to be assigned additional duties in time of emergency

incident/crises. Simulation drills should be used to provide training, as well as to determine additional

training needs.

5.1.7 Emergency Response Organization Personnel Training.

To ensure a coordinated response, the airport operator should offer training in airport emergency procedures

to local security, rescue & firefighting services, ambulance personnel, paramedics, emergency management

agencies, the media and other off-airport emergency response organizations /external governmental agencies,

civil defense, MOH. The training should include the following:

a) Orientation Seminar. This seminar involves bringing together those with a role or interest in the airport

emergency plan (e.g. airport, ARFF, security officials, EMS, air carriers, media, airport tenants, etc.) to discuss

the AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN and initial plans for upcoming drills and exercises, as well as to

become familiar with the roles, procedures, responsibilities, and personalities of all those involved.

b) Drill. A drill is the lowest level exercise and tests, develops, or maintains skills in a single emergency

response procedure. A drill may focus, for example, on the emergency notification process to determine the

effectiveness and timeliness of notifying participating personnel/organizations. A drill is considered a

necessary part of ongoing training.

c) Emergency response personnel should be train and become familiar with each aircraft normally using the

airport including cargo /transit /military if applicable aircraft. This training will include access, flight

crew/passenger locations, hazard locations, and emergency shut down procedures. To include and not

limited to, ARFF tactics, strategies, and fire extinguishment application.

5.1.8 Procedure: Important that the plan contain procedures requiring that the airport emergency plan be

tested. This test should correct as many deficiencies as possible and familiarize all personnel and agencies

concerned with the airport environment, the other agencies and their role in the emergency plan, The plan

should be tested by conducting:

a) Full-scale exercise, conducted at least every two years;

b) Partial exercise, conducted once each year that the full-scale exercise is not held;

c) Tabletop exercise, conducted once each six months, except during the six-month period when the full-scale

exercise is held.

5.2 Full-scale exercise: Full-scale aerodrome emergency exercise at intervals not exceeding two years and

partial emergency exercises in the intervening year to ensure that any deficiencies found during the full-scale

aerodrome emergency exercise have been corrected.

5.3 Partial exercise: Partial emergency exercises may be required for some of the participating units in order

to train new personnel, evaluate new equipment or techniques, or to comply with mandatory recurrent

training requirements. These drills are economical because of their limited scope and can be repeated as often

as required in order to maintain a high standard of proficiency. They may involve only one unit, such as

rescue and firefighting services or medical, or a combination of several units, as desired. These exercises

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should be held at least once each year that a full-scale exercise is not held to ensure that any deficiencies

found during the full-scale airport emergency exercise have been corrected.

5.4Tabletop exercise:

a) The tabletop exercise is a test of the integration and capability of emergency response resources without

the expense and disruption of services incurred by a full-scale exercise. The exercise may be held as a

co-ordination exercise prior to the full-scale exercise, or it may be held at intervening times in order to

reconfirm procedures, policy, telephone numbers, radio frequencies, and changes in key personnel.

b) The tabletop exercise is the simplest type of drill to stage, requiring only a meeting room, a large-scale map

of the airport, and a senior representative of each participating unit in attendance. A probable accident

location is selected on the map and each participant describes what actions their unit would take to respond.

This exercise will quickly reveal operational problems, such as conflicting communications frequencies, lack

of equipment, confusing terminology and areas of jurisdiction. These exercises should be held semiannually,

but not coincidental with other exercises.

5.5 Preparing for an emergency exercise:

a) Needs Assessment: The first step in the process is to identify difficult areas of the emergency preparedness

program. Hazards Analysis can determine these needs. The drill/exercise priorities may be better placed on

those hazards, which present the highest vulnerability factor. However, for the purpose of GACAR Part 139

the exercise should be an aircraft accident indicative of the airport’s categorization.

b) Statement of Purpose: It is recommended that a statement of purpose be developed which clearly and

concisely explains why the drill/exercise is being conducted. At this point the drill or exercise can be

announced, the necessary coordination accomplished, and the date and location established. This step may

be modified, as needed, i.e. it may be an unannounced drill/exercise; therefore, the information released, if any,

would be limited.

c) Goals/Objectives. One of the most important steps in the drill/exercise program is deciding exactly what

should be accomplished by efforts of airport and community emergency planners and responders. The needs

assessment, scope, and Statement of Purpose should be examined very closely during this process. Caution

should be exercised in determining the number of goals/objectives for any given exercise; to avoid confusion

and frustration they should be limited and focused. Further, any goals/objectives established should be

specific, credible, and realistic, yet challenging, results-oriented, and measurable.

d) Public Awareness/Notification. Airport emergencies, whether real or simulated, are highly visible events

that of great interest to the public, airport operators should notify the community in advance that a drill

would be in progress, make periodic announcements during the exercise, including in the terminal; a

NOTAM should be issued concerning the full-scale exercise. At least 120 days prior to the scheduled

full-scale emergency exercise, the Aerodrome operator should hold a meeting of all key supervisory

personnel of principal participating agencies. At this time, the aims of the exercise should be outlined, a

scenario formulated, work tasks assigned, and duties of all agencies and personnel defined. In addition,

exercise time schedule submits to GACA Safety & Aviation Standards Sector.

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D -120 daysSupervisory personnel of participating agencies hold organization

meetings to outline aims, formulate the scenario, assign work tasks, and

select emergency plan coordinators;

-- GACA Safety & Aviation Standards Sector should be notified

officially of proposed timelines.

D – 90 days First progress report on arrangements;

D – 70 daysFirst meeting of all participating agencies (individual committee

representatives);

D – 60 daysComplete arrangements for full-scale emergency exercises site or staging

area. Written scenario completed;

-- GACA is officially provided the scenario and exercise target date.

D – 50 daysTraining for moulage team begins. Second meeting of individual

committee representatives. A moulage chairman can be selected from

hospitals, rescue and firefighting personnel, civil defense, military

personnel, etc.’

D – 40 daysArrangements for transportation, feeding, stretcher bearers and volunteer

workers completed;

D – 30 daysThird meeting of individual committee representative. A preliminary

“warm-up” communication exercise is held;

D – 21 daysFourth meeting of individual committee representatives. Make-up for

members who missed previous team training and arrangements for

volunteer casualties completed;

D – 14 daysFinal meeting and briefing for all participants, including critique team;

-- GACA deserves the right to provide oversight in briefs.

D – 7 days Final meeting of supervisory personnel to review assignments.

D – 0 daysThe exercise.

-- GACA deserves the right to provide oversight during the exercise.

D – 1 to 7 daysA critique following the exercise so that all participants may hear the

observers’ reports; and

D + 30 daysSupervisory personnel meet to review written critiques submitted by

observers and participants; revise procedures to correct mistakes and

shortcomings indicated in the exercise and should submit report and

corrective action plans relating to an exercise to the Aerodrome

Standards Department of the GACA Safety & Aviation Standards Sector.

e) After each exercise, the Aerodrome operator should conduct a debriefing with all the organizations

identified in the plan and a representative of the airport personnel who participated to evaluate the

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effectiveness of the emergency plan and identify deficiencies.

f) The Aerodrome operator should implement an corrective action plan to correct any deficiencies in the

emergency plan that were identified during a debriefing session.

g) The Aerodrome operator should submit report and corrective action plans relating to an exercise to the

Aerodrome Standards Department of the GACA safety and Aviation Standards Sector.

h) In preparing the scenario, the use of real names of aircraft operators should be avoided. This will prevent

any possible embarrassment to civil aviation companies or agencies.

i) Recognized quality assurance procedures should be established to identify, collect, index, store, update

and maintain exercise records necessary for the safe provision of service. The procedures should ensure that

legible and permanent exercise records and a traceable history are keep. Exercise records should be

maintained and available for called upon by GACA and any other agency.

j) In planning for a full-scale exercise, the minimum number of “casualties” to be used should be based on the

following:

Aerodrome category Minimum Casualties

9 100 or more

10 100 or more

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CHAPTER 6 – FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

6.1 Contact Details.

The Aerodrome Standards Department can be contacted at the following coordinates:

In person:

General Authority of Civil Aviation

Safety & Aviation Standards Sector

Aerodrome Standards Department

Riyadh, KSA

By mail:

General Authority of Civil Aviation

Safety & Aviation Standards Sector

Aerodrome Standards Department

P.O. Box 47360 Riyadh, 11552

Email:

FRD@gaca.gov.sa

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APPENDIX 1 – AERODROME RESPONSIBILITY

The __________________________ acknowledges that the Emergency Plan has been reviewed, updated

and tested in accordance with the instruction of the Airport Emergency Plan Committee, as well as the

approval to comply with the requirements stipulated in the ((GACAR PART 139 - CERTIFICATION,

AUTHORIZATION AND OPERATION OF AERODROMES)) and emergency procedures followed and

applied by all the inside agencies and all the supporting outside agencies.

The Airport Emergency Plan Committee is committed to develop and maintain the Emergency Plan under the

terms of reference granted to it, in order to ensure that it keeps abreast of development in updating and testing

the emergency plan at the airport.

Head of the Aerodrome In charge

Name:

Signature:

Date:

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APPENDIX 2 - MUTUAL AID EMERGENCY SUPPORT AGREEMENT

1.PURPOSE.

2.SCOPE.

3.RESPONSIBILITIES.

•Endorses the _________________________ Airport Emergency Plan, associated

document (currently plan xx dated yy), and attached procedures, and agrees to comply

with all the procedures and instructions, and fulfill all applicable responsibilities contained

therein.

•The ___________(Agency)_____________ endorses the attached procedures and

agrees to comply with all procedures and instructions herein and fulfill all applicable

responsibilities, insofar as it is capable so to do.

Note: The tasks and responsibilities of the agency providing support and the tasks and

responsibilities required from the airport operator should be attached.

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APPENDIX 3 – AIRPORT EMERGENCY PLAN TRAINING RECORD

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