Pearson Airport is Preparing For The Worst

An airplane crash is everybody’s worst nightmare.

But it might be at least a small comfort to know that the crews at Pearson Airport in Mississauga are always practicing for such an event.

The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) will be running an emergency exercise at Toronto Pearson International Airport overnight on Saturday, June 2.

The exercise will run from 10 p.m.on June 2 until 4:30 a.m. on June 3.

It will take place in several locations, including: Runway 24L and some of its affiliated taxiways, Terminal 3 check-in counters, Terminal 1 employee areas, and some airside locations.

During the exercise, passengers and people in the airport area can expect to see volunteers, emergency vehicles, airport equipment and personnel on airport approach roads, in Terminal 1 and 3 and airside. Theatrical effects may be visible and audible.

The GTAA runs one full scale and one tabletop exercise per year to test their responses to emergencies or security incidents. Many organizations are involved in the planning and implementation of these exercises.

The scenario for the June 2 exercise is an aircraft incident on airport property and includes a response from emergency services.

Participants in this exercise include more than 150 airport employees and responders from organizations including Peel Regional Police, Peel Regional Paramedic Services, NAV Canada, and WestJet.

Around 250 members of the public have volunteered to portray passengers and friends and family members for the exercise.