The Greater Sudbury Airport will be conducting a comprehensive 12-hour Emergency Exercise on site on September 25, 2024

Sudbury, Ontario: Dubbed “Operation Sudbury Safe Skies,” this monumental, large scale, 12-hour exercise will simulate an aircraft incident on the airport grounds. In addition to airport staff, participants will include the Greater Sudbury Emergency Management Division, and local police, fire services, and EMS crews.

The exercise was planned over several months in partnership with the Loomex Group, an organization specializing in emergency management. Realistic scenarios have been developed by the team to challenge all participants. In order for the exercise to be as realistic as possible, the exercise will include role-playing volunteers and simulated injuries. The exercise will also feature an emergency jet simulator, which is a training prop that is used to create an immersive experience for exercise participants.

The goals of the exercise are to evaluate the airport’s emergency response plan and test the readiness of local first responders. “Exercises like these are crucial for ensuring that all response teams are well-prepared and can effectively collaborate in the event of an actual emergency,” said Trent Gervais, president and CEO of The Loomex Group Ltd.

“The safety and security of our passengers and airport community is paramount and always remain our top priorities,” said Giovanna Verrilli, CEO of Greater Sudbury Airport. “Working with The Loomex Group and our valued partners for this exercise allows us to test our emergency preparedness by working together to ultimately enhance our response capabilities.”

This simulated emergency exercise will not impact airport operations or travel plans, and all airline flights will remain as scheduled. While emergency vehicles and personnel may be seen onsite over the course of the 12-hour simulation, they will be engaged and participating in the exercise. Given the nature of this simulation exercise, it will remain a closed drill and will not be accessible to members of the public or media.