Airport Emergency Exercise

Darwin International Airport has a unique Joint User deed with the Department of Defence, which has been in place since 1998. The airport is required to undertake an Airport Emergency Exercise every 2 years to meet Federal Airport legislation, and test and assess their Aerodrome emergency Plan (AEP) with all responsible agencies.




2021 Exercise Hornet’s Nest had more than 80 personnel, contractors and volunteers take part in the simulated exercise.


Teams from Air Traffic control, RAAF 13 SQN, Aviation Rescue & Fire Fighting Service, NT Police, NT Fire and Rescue Service, St. John Ambulance, NT Emergency Services, Australian Red Cross, Australian Federal Police all took part.


Airport Development Group Executive General Manager Operations Rob Porter advised the Exercise would highlight any gaps in the Emergency Plan, clarify roles and responsibilities, improve inter-agency coordination, create greater awareness and improve individual competency.


‘It is vitally important the aerodrome remains safe. We have 100 percent focus on the safety of people that come and go from this airport and it’s really important we test our plans and test our response to any kind of aviation emergency,’ he said.


‘Darwin airport is prepared for growth: we’re ready so that when people are able to freely move around the country post covid, we are good to go.”


He said the two-hour simulation had been ‘absolutely outstanding’ and everyone was pleased with the response. ‘It’s about co-ordination, communication and working more closely together.’



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