Emergency exercise at Kelowna airport Tuesday to simulate aircraft incident

Kelowna International Airport will conduct a full-scale emergency exercise Tuesday, with simulated flames, smoke and emergency crews expected on the airfield.

The exercise runs from noon to 4 p.m. on Oct. 27 and will simulate an aircraft emergency at the south end of the airport’s secure airfield.

The public may see emergency vehicles with lights and sirens, smoke and flames from training aircraft, and volunteers acting as injured passengers.

Airport CEO Sam Samaddar says the exercise will test emergency response systems and coordination among the airport and partner agencies.

The drill is part of Transport Canada’s requirements for certified airports under the Canadian Aviation Regulations. It will test YLW’s emergency plan and clarify the roles of agencies responding to an aviation incident.

Participating agencies include the Kelowna, Ellison and Lake Country fire departments, RCMP, B.C. Emergency Health Services, Interior Health, Kelowna General Hospital, Transport Canada and other airport and community partners.

Regular airport operations will not be affected, and signs will be posted in the terminal to alert passengers to the exercise.

Officials say the public should not call 911 about activity directly related to the planned training exercise.