TOWNSVILLE AIRPORT PTY LTD & RAAF BASE EXERCISE TAIPAN – 23 TO 25 SEPTEMBER 2014

EVALUATOR BRIEFING

Introduction These notes have been developed in order to provide you, the Evaluator, with a general overview of the emergency exercise and the role that you are being asked to play.

The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) requires all airport operators to hold a full scale Airport Emergency Exercise, at least once every two years. Furthermore, CASA requires that the exercise involves all airport emergency support services as well as the off airport emergency services.

‘Exercise Taipan’ is planned for Tuesday 23 September 2014 – Thursday 25 September 2014. The Field component of the Exercise will occur on Wednesday 24 September 2014 at 0900 to 1300.

Role of the Evaluator Evaluators are crucial to the critiquing of the emergency exercise. Evaluators must watch and listen to the exercise with the particular brief of measuring whether activities are happening in the right place, at the right time and involving the right people. Evaluators are free to roam and encouraged to ask exercise participants what they are doing and why they are doing it.

Evaluators are provided with an ‘ Emergency Exercise Evaluation Checklist’ that must be completed during the exercise and returned to the Exercise Umpires at the end of the debriefing on the 25 September 2014.

Evaluators have no responsibilities for the mechanics of the exercise. However if a volunteer approaches them for safety related assistance they must notify an airport representative or contact one of the Exercise Umpires/Exercise Safety Officers. Refer to Exercise Plan for contact details and or Emergency Contact list provided in this pack.

Exercise Aim The aim of Exercise Taipan is to practice the implementation of the Townsville Aerodrome Emergency Plan. The Exercise will also practice the RAAF Base Townsville and Pty Ltd (TAPL) response and interoperability with civilian emergency agencies as a result of an aircraft crash incident on Townsville Airport/RAAF Base Townsville.

The primary purpose of evaluation, in addition to gaining insight into airport emergency management, is to determine the adequacy of the response, enable reflection post exercise and assist in the identification of future change.

The evaluation is for the field component of the exercise only.

Objective Exercise Objectives are: a. To test the validity of the Aerodrome Emergency Plan. b. Practice the medical response to the casualties at the crash site and hand-over between 1EHS, THC, QAS and TTH. c. Stand up the Incident Control Point and Emergency Operations Centre to practice personnel in the operation of the centre with the addition of multiple emergency services organisations. d. Explore and practice the response to a HAZMAT incident occurring in conjunction with the crash. e. Explore and practice the response to an incident involving ammunition at the crash site. f. Explore and practice the set up and operation of a Terminal coordination Centre IAW the AEP. g. Explore and practice the set up and operation of the Media Centre IAW the AEP. h. Explore the effectiveness of interaction and communications between all agencies command and control structures.

Note: It should be emphasised that this exercise is not designed to ‘test’ participating units but is an opportunity to ensure the procedures details in the Aerodrome Emergency Plan (AEP) are operationally effective.

Scenario On Tuesday 23 September, 2014 at 0900hr, at the end of 01, a civilian aircraft, with four crew and 97 passengers, is readying for take-off. A MRH90 (helicopter) is leaving from 5 AVN REGT, taking troops to High Range. A tail rotor drive shaft failure occurs and the MRH90 crashes next to the aircraft causing damage to both aircraft and multiple casualties. The troops on the aircraft are carrying ammunition and a substance is visibly leaking from the MRH90.

Logistics during Exercise All Evaluators must be at Building 51, RAAF Base Townsville at 0830 Wednesday 24 September 2014.

Please wear covered shoes and a hat for the times you may be out in the sun. You will be provided with water, sunscreen and hearing protection.

TAPL will provide Hi-Vis Vests will be provided by Defence Support- (DS-Q). These are to be returned to DS-Q after the exercise. Evaluators will be provided with hearing protection.

You will be transported by bus to the location you are evaluating.

Safety Exercise evaluators are invited to attend a safety briefing in the Harry Cobby Centre, RAAF Base Townsville at 1600-1630 Tuesday 23 September 2014.

Full safety measures will be maintained during the conduct of the exercise. The Exercise Umpires and Safety Officers are appointed to ensure safety standards are observed. Remember at all times your safety is

the number one priority. Please ensure that you take reasonable care of your own safety and that of others during the exercise.

Should any person suffer a real injury or should a real emergency occur during the exercise, calls for assistance must be prefixed by the words ‘NO DUFF, THIS IS A REAL EMERGENCY’. If you hear someone say ‘NO DUFF’ you must repeat it loudly so it can be heard. The Fire Commander or the Exercise Safety Officer will come to your assistance ASAP.

Security Those participants holding ASIC or Defence Identification must display them. All Evaluators must stay in the area they are evaluating.

Exercise Debrief The evaluator role in the subsequent de-briefing is crucial to improvements to airport emergency response.

An exercise debrief will be held on Thursday 25 September 2014 at 0830 to 1200 at the Harry Cobby Centre, RAAF Base Townsville.

The purpose of the debrief is to critically examine the exercise. Evaluators are to provide a short debrief of the exercise from the notes taken from the ‘ Aerodrome Emergency Exercise Evaluation Checklist’ and positive advice as to where emergency planning, facilities, response and recovery might be improved.

The completed ‘ Aerodrome Emergency Exercise Evaluation Checklist’ must be signed and returned to the Exercise Umpires or RAAF/TAPL representatives.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation. I hope you enjoy the day and benefit from participating. Townsville Airport Pty Ltd/ RAAF Base Townsville appreciates your participation and we realise that you are crucial to the success of the emergency exercise at Townsville Airport.