Albany, N.Y. (September 13, 2002) - - - The Albany County Airport Authority will conduct an emergency preparedness exercise on Sunday, September 15th. The exercise will involve personnel from 39 agencies and will take place at the Airport's Cargo Building located at the end of Sicker Road in the northeast quadrant of the Airport. The exercise will begin at 9:15 a.m.

Albany International Airport is required by the Federal Aviation Administration to review its emergency plan every 12 months and to conduct an emergency exercise every three years.

"This exercise is designed to test, evaluate and improve the response of the Albany County Airport Authority, our airlines and the regional public safety and healthcare agencies that would be called on to respond to an actual emergency at the Airport," said Rev. Michael A. Farano, Chairman of the Albany County Airport Authority.

Motorists traveling in the area of the Airport this Sunday between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m. should be aware of the movement of emergency vehicles participating in the exercise. Individuals monitoring aircraft and public safety radio frequencies should also be cautioned that certain radio transmissions by emergency personnel participating in the exercise will sound real.

The simulation will involve the local staff of United Airlines. United Airlines will be evaluating its critical incident procedures during the drill. United Airlines officials from other airports in New York and New England will also be participating.

A C-130 provided by the 109th Airlift Wing of the Stratton Air National Guard Base will be used in the simulation. The event will include over 60 volunteers who will participate as casualties. EMS teams from the Town of Colonie, Rensselaer, Saratoga and Schenectady counties will transport the "injured" to area hospitals for emergency treatment.

Media planning to cover the exercise should report to the Albany County Airport Authority Maintenance Facility located at Sicker Road by 9:00 a.m. Sunday to obtain security clearance before proceeding to the airfield.

The following agencies are scheduled to play an active role in the exercise:

Albany County Airport Authority
Albany County Health Department
Albany County Sheriff's Department
Albany Fire Department
Albany Medical Center
Albany Memorial Hospital
American Red Cross
Bethlehem Ambulance
Capital District Transportation Authority
Clifton Park/Halfmoon Ambulance
Colonie Emergency Management
Colonie Emergency Medical Service
Colonie Police Department
Delmar Fire Department
Emergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group/Dept. of Veterans Affairs
Federal Aviation Administration
Glens Falls Hospital
Guilderland EMS
Healthcare Association of New York State
Mohawk Ambulance
New York State Health Department
New York State Police
North Greenbush Ambulance
Rochester Regional Healthcare Association
Regional Training Site, Medical, Fort McCoy, Wisconsin
Samaritan Hospital
St. Mary's Hospital
St. Peter's Hospital
Shaker Road-Loudonville Fire Department
TBI Airport Management, Inc.
Troy Fire Department
Stratton VA Medical Center
Town of Colonie
United Airlines
VA Medical Center Syracuse-Police
Verdoy Fire Department
West Albany Fire Department
109th Airlift Wing, Stratton ANG Base, Scotia, NY 348th General Hospital
(HUS)

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