Chapter 14
Review of the Airport Emergency Plan
14.1
GENERAL
14. 1.1 Evaluating the plan. Exercises
provide airport operators and exercise planners an excellent opportunity for
evaluating the effectiveness and efficiency of the plan. To maximize the usefulness
of evaluation, planners should carefully design the system of evaluation.
14.1.2 Planning. In accordance with the
objectives of the exercise, planners should develop an evaluation system that
includes feedback, identifies benefits, and obtains the services of evaluators
well before the exercise takes place.
(a) ‑Feedback loop‑‑‑. Figure
14‑1 illustrates the classic project management system for project
planning and implementation. A project is planned, implemented, and then
evaluated (given feedback). The feedback leads to the development of
modifications, where needed, after which the cycle begins anew.
(b)
Benefits. Planning an effective evaluation system for any size airport
emergency response exercise is important not only for detecting problems in the
exercise itself, but more importantly, for finding areas of the airport or
community emergency response plans that may need refinement.
(c) Evaluators. The exercise should be
totally open to a select group of knowledgeable evaluators, identifiable by
distinctive clothing. The evaluators should not be involved in the planning or
conduct of the exercise. Normally, government agencies, other airports, and
private aviation organizations can provide experienced evaluators which can
benefit both the airport holding the exercise and themselves. Evaluators need
to be identified well before the exercise and familiarized with the airport
plans, including evaluation and reporting guidelines.
14.1.3 Preparation. Evaluators experienced
in airport operations, emergency response, and emergency exercises require no
training by drill planners. However, a preliminary meeting detailing the scope
and objectives of the exercise enables the evaluators to do their jobs
effectively and thus yield the greatest benefit to the airport.
(a)
Preparing evaluators. Evaluators should receive information packets and
critique sheets well before the exercise takes place. Assigning evaluators to
assess command, control, and communications and the emergency response
functional areas ensures that the key elements of emergency response are
observed in detail. Other evaluators should be assigned to critique the entire
exercise. They will move about the site and observe all of the functional areas
and response efforts. Outside evaluators often have preferences or certain
areas of expertise, such as security or medical, which planners should
determine before making evaluation assignments.
PLANNING IMPLEMENTATION
EXERCICE
EVALUATION
(FEEDBACK)
Figure 14‑1. Evaluation
system for airport emergency exercises
(b) Critique sheet. A
critique sheet is a considerable aid in the evaluation of an emergency
exercise. It is most effective if it is divided into separate sections
addressing each of the distinct functional areas with sufficient space for
taking notes. Questions asked should be general since being too specific may
consume evaluators' time with details and prevent them from seeing the drill
from a larger perspective. Sample critique sheets are provided in Appendix 9.
(c) Briefings. Planners
should brief evaluators' on their functions and last‑minute changes the
day before the exercise. At that time, planners may give them final copies of
exercise information and critique sheets and distribute distinctive vests,
apparel, hats, badges, or other means of identification. Evaluators should also
attend media and response unit briefings, at which they can raise questions
about the plan, identify the exercise participants, and familiarize themselves
with the marking or clothing that identifies each emergency response function.
14.1.4 Feedback. Three systems of feedback common
in exercises are on‑site or immediate feedback, critique conferences, and
written reports. One or more of these systems should be used.
(a) on‑site or immediate
feedback. On‑site feedback involves assembling representatives from all
participating groups immediately after the exercise to get their comments
while the exercise is fresh in their minds. Naturally enough, many details may
escape as an evaluator tries to summarize several hours of intense activity in
a five‑minute oral report. Evaluators will overlook other details until
later, when they compare notes with other response personnel. The great
advantage of on‑site feedback is that everyone's interest is at its peak;
the most critical problems will likely be discovered immediately. To conduct an
on‑site feedback session, airport operators and exercise. planners should
set up rules of order to ensure uninterrupted speaking opportunities. A
stenographer or tape recorder should record the session for later review.
(b) Feedback
conference. The feedback conference will usually involve planners and managers
of the various emergency response units involved in the exercise and the plan.
Planners should schedule it no sooner than one week after the exercise.
Managers will probably need at least a week to hold feedback sessions with
their own personnel and gather valuable information to share at the conference.
Local emergency co‑ordinators should attend the feedback conference, both
to benefit the airport in its use of community resources and to ensure that the
community benefits from the airport's experience.
(c)Written reports. Evaluators experienced in exercises and critiques
should write reports of their observations. Planners may also ask other
personnel for written reports. Written reports are often more candid than
comments made in the on‑site feedback sessions, where participants might
be sensitive to outsiders' comments.
The airport authority should make every effort to
contact other airport authorities who have been involved in actual aircraft
accidents and those who have conducted full‑scale emergency exercises to
acquire data and procedures to correct and upgrade their airport emergency
plan.
14.2 REVIEW FOLLOWING AN
ACCIDENT
As soon as practical K16wing an accident,
responding agencies should obtain oral or written reports from all of their participating
personnel and complete a document covering the entire response operation. A
tabletop meeting should then be held to consider these documents and, if
required, make changes to the emergency plan considered necessary to improve
the response capability for future emergencies