Preparing for cargo emergencies

As part of their annual disaster response drill, GMR Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (GHIAL), which operates Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA), Hyderabad, conducted Hazardous Material (HAZMAT) Emergency Mock Drill recently.

For the drill, a scenario was enacted at the cargo apron involving a chemical spillage. Cathay Pacific enacted as the affected airlines during the exercise. As per the Airport contingency plan, various critical zones were invoked to address the situation. The exercise ended with a debrief session, which included sharing of observations and explanations from stakeholders who participated the event.

Commenting on the exercise, SGK Kishore, CEO, GHIAL said, “We keep conducting all emergency exercises as mandated by regulatory authorities, viz. DGCA, ICAO among others. Mock drills are effective ways to keep us ready to tackle any emergency.

Such exercises not only prepare the diverse agencies to effectively address any situation, but also gear them up to work as a team with shared responsibilities. Crisis never comes informed, and it is through participating in such mock dills that we ensure highest level of safety at Hyderabad Airport.”

Anand Yedery, Regional Cargo Manager, South Asia, Middle East and Africa, Cathay Pacific Airways said, “We always prioritise safety during handling of any Cargo shipment. It is also vital we conduct mock drills regularly, to check for any gaps in crisis preparedness.

These exercises also provide an opportunity for all the departments to work together in close sync in the most effective manner. Going forward, we look forward to partake in many similar exercises.”