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An in-depth look at Lafayette Regional Airport triennial full-scale emergency drill
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)-- The Lafayette Regional Airport conducted its triennial full-scale emergency drill early Thursday morning.
The airport is required to do the drill every three years by the Federal Aviation Administration. Therefore, the next time you are on a flight you can be sure your safety is a priority.
“They know that we're ready in the event that there would be an accident at the airport. Hopefully, we never have it, but we're always prepared,” Steven Picou, executive director of the Lafayette Regional Airport, said.
The airport simulates an accident of an aircraft on the airfield and exercises its response and the response of mutual aid partners such as the FAA, TSA, various local agencies, Acadian Ambulance, the sheriff's department, the fire department and Broussard Fire Department.
The executive director said the different agencies helped build partnerships. Therefore if there is an accident, it is going to take everyone to see it successfully come to an end. They used a school bus rather than an aircraft because Picou said, “Airplanes are expensive. If they're not flying, they're not making money and a bus simulates an aircraft. The aisle in the bus is about the same dimensions as an aircraft. So it's a great simulation.”
“It's for the firemen," he added. "They can get in there and they have their protective gear on in that aisle in a bus is about the same dimension as an aisle in an airplane. So if they're going to bump around with things on their backs, they're going to simulate that in the bus as well. They're going to hit that back of the seat.”
Residents and travelers can be rest assured Lafayette Regional Airport is staying prepared for the community and the airport.
“We meet our standards and we go above and beyond, and we are 100% compliant with FAA rules and regulations," Picou said. "So that should give you peace of mind that the airport's doing everything it can to maintain a safe environment for you to enjoy your flying experience."