Airport emergencies are not common, but if they occur it’s important for our first responders to know how to handle the situation. Cherry Capital Airport does monthly trainings but every 3 years they have a larger simulation that mirrors emergencies on the airport grounds.
“It’s an experience that I’ve not had before and I hope to not have in real life, of course,” said Rachel Kornoely, volunteer. “Definitely unique and a new experience that I can use hopefully in my life.”
TVC Airport hosted a training exercise with volunteers from around the community from EMS, the airport and Northwestern Michigan College School of Aviation. Rachel Kornoely a student at NMC signed up to act as one of the victims.
“I was Gail and I had some pretty major leg lacerations, so I got to lay in the grass kind of moaning until I got picked up and rescued,” said Kornoely. “I think that it was definitely really valuable to see what happens after an accident. In a lot of my classes, we talk about how accidents occur and kind of the breakdown of the reflection that’s looked at months afterwards. Getting to be in the moment definitely changes the perspective a little bit.”
The simulation represented an airplane crash on the tarmac and first responders had to work together to get everyone to safety.
“If you don’t train in a real-world scenario, when the real-world events happen, you’re not going to be ready for it,” said Kevin Klein, Cherry Capital Airport CEO. “So we want to make sure we’re ready to be able to give as much experience as we can, without the real thing happening.”
This specific training occurs every 3 years, Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office, Grand Traverse Metro Fire, EMS, TVC Fire Department and staff, take this time to collaborate.
“It also allows us to take each step by step, each training exercise, to be able to focus in, on understanding what are the possibilities,” said Klein. “I think its community relationships. When you’re working with your different partners today, you get to work hand-in-hand with your partners. It’s not just phone calls and text messages and meetings. It’s hand in hand. You’re going to be out doing real world action.”