RIC Conducts Full-Scale Triennial Emergency Response Exercise
May 14, 2025
Richmond, Va – Richmond International Airport (RIC) will conduct a full-scale emergency response exercise starting at approximately 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 15.
The airport anticipates no impact to normal operations during the training exercise and will post signs in the terminal building and broadcast announcements over the public address system in the terminal building to advise airport customers that an emergency response simulation is in progress.
As mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), airports must conduct full-scale tests of their Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) every three years. Such tests create a real-time practice environment for multi-agency, multi-jurisdictional response coordination that would be necessary in the event of an actual incident.
Emergency response measures are built upon the National Incident Management System (NIMS) which provides a consistent and scalable template for managing incidents.
Participants may include RIC Airport Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF), RIC Police (RICPD), other Capital Region Airport Commission staff, the Altria Group, Southwest Airlines, various public safety units such as Henrico County Fire/EMS/Rescue, Hanover County Fire/EMS, Chesterfield County Fire/EMS, Richmond Ambulance Authority, Metro Richmond Flying Squad, the Central Virginia Healthcare Coalition, American Red Cross, Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Virginia Department of Health (Office of the Chief Medical Examiner), local hospitals, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and more.
Multiple scenarios will evaluate emergency response and coordination during the event. The exercise is expected to be finished early Thursday afternoon.
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About Richmond International Airport (RIC)
Richmond International Airport’s vision is to move people, business, and commerce to advance the Richmond region. Ten passenger airlines and four dedicated cargo carriers offer domestic service from RIC with connecting options to points around the globe. According to the Commonwealth of Virginia, activities attributable to the Airport create nearly 16,000 jobs and contribute about $2.1 billion in annual economic activity to Virginia’s Capital Region. To learn more, please visit RIC on the web, X, Facebook, Instagram, Threads, or LinkedIn.