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Airport to close for exercise

Christchurch Airport will he closed to all aircraft for ibout 20 minutes tomorrow norning while emergency services move “bodies” from in “accident.” This will be the annual exercise of all the airport’s emergency support facilities. This year’s exercise will be -ibout twice as big as last gear’s. It will be centred on a disused rail-car body with 150 “passengers” inside. Hostesses will help the walking injured away from the scene, while immobile oassengers will be carried by ambulance to No. 1 hangar — the clearing station. The police will take over the handling of passengers “killed” in the “accident.” To add to the confusion airport Customs officers will try to clear an international flight arrival while the emergency is in progress. The D.S.I.R. wil recover some “radioactive” material from the aircraft involved in the incident. Emergency vehicles will be guided around the airport oy Ministry of Transport officers. Parts of Harewood Road may be subject to blockages causing delays to motorists. The emergency is scheduled to begin at 8.20 a.m. and should be completed by about 11 a.m. The airport will be closed only for aircraft movements for about 20 minutes while the rescue fire tender is away from its base awaiting the arrival of Fire Service engines from Christchurch headquarters. This will affect Canterbury Aero Club flights, as well as domestic flights. The time for the exercise has been chosen carefully to cause the least possible inconvenience to scheduled flights. The exercise has been organised for the airport’s emergency committee by the police, and the civil aviation manager, Mr John Laing.

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https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP19820212.2.76

Bibliographic details

Press, 12 February 1982, Page 14

Word Count
266

Airport to close for exercise Press, 12 February 1982, Page 14

Airport to close for exercise Press, 12 February 1982, Page 14