Full-scale drill was carried out smoothly in Macau Heliport

To test and train the personnel with the capacity to handle emergencies, the annual full-scale emergency exercise was carried out in the Macau Heliport on 12 December 2013 to simulate a helicopter accident and the response of all relevant entities to cooperate with each other to handle this emergency in accordance with the respective contingency plans. The exercise was deemed smooth.

The exercise started at 23:00 with the participation of 60 people. It simulated the scenario of an accident with a helicopter carrying passengers. An engine failure occurred a short while after the helicopter has taken off; the helicopter lost propulsive power and landed heavily back onto the pad. The accident resulted in the detachment of some parts from the aircraft and caused four injuries. The Flight Operation Control Centre immediately activated the emergency response procedures and notified all relevant entities. The Heliport Emergency Operation Centre was then activated. Representatives of the relevant entities and the rescue team arrived on site in a short time to rescue the injured, evacuate the personnel, maintain order in the terminal, attend to enquiries and so on. The exercise was concluded in an hour.

East Asia Airlines Ltd, the present operator of helicopter services between Macao and Hong Kong, was the coordinator of this exercise. The participants were the Customs Bureau, the Public Security Police Force, the Fire Brigade, the Marine and Water Bureau, and the Civil Aviation Authority.

Four drills relevant to the aviation industry were carried out this year. The other three were carried out at Macau International Airport namely the fuel farm exercise, the illegal seizure of aircraft exercise and the full-scale emergency exercise on dangerous goods.

A full scale emergency exercise was conducted in the Macau Heliport on 12 December 2013 to simulate a helicopter accident and the response of all relevant entities to test their capacity in handling emergencies.