CALGARY, AB – A mock emergency response training exercise, Operation Paratus, took place this morning at Calgary International Airport (YYC). Operation Paratus, which simulated the collision of fictitious airlines Vega Airlines 123 and Vega Airline 987, provided multiple agencies with the opportunity to practice their emergency response plans and coordinate communication between airport, airline and emergency agencies that would be involved in the event of aircraft incident.

Numerous government and support agencies responded including the City of Calgary’s Fire Department, Emergency Medical Services, Calgary Police Service, Transport Canada, NAV CANADA and the Transportation Safety Board. Emergency response personnel treated and triaged a number of volunteer ‘casualties’ who were in full make-up and were given pre-scripted visible and hidden symptoms.

United Airlines tested their emergency response plan by playing the airline’s role, with volunteer airline staff assisted ‘family and friends’ meeting both Vega Airline flights.

“Training exercises like Operation Paratus are an essential part of assessing how YYC’s plans work during an incident, in addition to how they work in partnership with the numerous agencies that also play a role in emergency response at the airport,” said Garth Atkinson, President and CEO of The Calgary Airport Authority. “Operation Paratus required months of planning by the Authority and our partners, and I am confident that lessons learned here today will only make our collective emergency response plans even stronger.”