Vnukovo Airport held a comprehensive emergency response training exercise entitled «Actions of rescue teams and agencies of Vnukovo International Airport in the event of an aviation incident transitioning from Code Green to Code Red.»
The purpose of this special training exercise was to practise the correct actions of airport management personnel, rescue teams and other organizations in response to an unexpected aviation incident at the airport, as well as to improve skills in organizing rescue activities, to test the warning system in the event of an emergency threat or aviation-related incident at the airport or on its premises.
According to the training scenario, a Tu-134 aircraft was flying from Mozambique to Vnukovo Airport with four passengers, five crew members and dangerous cargo on board. While taxiing after landing, the Tu-134 skidded off the taxiway, resulting in a fire. In accordance with the action plan, a warning signal Code Green was announced, which then changed to Code Red. The aircraft skidded off the paved taxiway causing a threat to the lives and health of the passengers and crew on board. The exercise plan assumed that there were casualties among the passengers and a threat of the fire spreading into the cockpit and cabin.
The training exercise lasted three hours, and involved Vnukovo International Airport’s special equipment and heavy-duty fire-fighting vehicles — a Rosenbauer Panther 6×6 and an OSHKOSH Striker 6×6.
We would like to highlight the efficient and professional work of the emergency rescue teams of the Aviation Safety Service and UTG Vnukovo LLC, who participated in the exercise.
We would also like to express our gratitude for the cooperation of units of the RF Ministry of Emergency Situations, who carried out the task of extracting hazardous chemical items (cargo) from the aircraft. Rescuers from «Lider», a high risk rescue operations center, and «Centrospas», an aerial rescue unit, coped perfectly with their tasks.
Alexander Minaev, Head of ARFFS at Vnukovo International Airport, said: «Our employees are ready to respond immediately and professionally to emergency situations. The exercise held today demonstrated the high standards of fire-fighting and emergency rescue operations in the event of an incident at the airport, as well as the coordinated and prompt arrival of additional forces and resources who can professionally perform high-risk rescue operations. In order to be sure that we can deal with real aircraft incidents, it requires hard work and practice on the part of the rescue service and emergency teams of Vnukovo Airport, together with federal, municipal and territorial emergency services. At the end of the exercise, we evaluated the results and elaborated areas for further improvement in terms of our performance in emergency situations. Observers from airlines, law enforcement and supervisory authorities praised the coordinated work of rescuers, drivers, medics, technical personnel and the other organizations.»
During the comprehensive training exercise, Vnukovo Airport continued to operate as normal, with full fire-fighting and flight rescue support. All flights operated to schedule.
Vnukovo International Airport is one of Russia’s largest air transport hubs. Each year the airport handles approximately 200 000 flights by Russian and international airlines. Its network covers the whole territory of Russia as well as short- and long-haul destinations, Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa. In 2019, Vnukovo International Airport served over 24 million passengers, breaking its own record. Vnukovo airport terminal, with a total area of about 300,000 square meters, can handle up to 35 million passengers annually. Vnukovo International Airport is the only airport in Russia to have received a Letter of Commendation from the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin for its professional achievements and high performance. Moreover, Vnukovo Airport was recognized as the Best International Airport by Air Gateway of Russia award and Best Airport: overcoming challenges 2020 at National Aviation Infrastructure Show (NAIS) for three years running.
