SWO Conducts Mock Emergency Exercise for Preparedness

On the morning of Saturday, March 29, the Stillwater Regional Airport (SWO) will conduct a full-scale mock emergency exercise with local emergency response agencies to evaluate preparedness for potential crisis situations.

Airport Director Kellie Reed said this type of training enables airport staff, local mutual aid partners, stakeholders, airlines, and volunteers to practice emergency response, communications, and recovery as they would during an actual aircraft emergency situation.

“Hands-on practice of a large-scale, realistic aircraft emergency scenario better prepares us all,” Reed said. “Our team works hard daily to maintain safe operating space for aircraft, and we all benefit from walking through this full-scale drill with our mutual aid partners to be fully prepared in the event an accident ever occurs.” 

Residents may notice the presence of police, fire, and EMS personnel and vehicles in the area, along with sounds and sights, including smoke, that are normally associated with an emergency. People are asked not to approach the area and to be prepared to use an alternate route.

Emergency exercises are one component of the airport’s federally regulated safety program, and a live exercise with community partners is held every three years as required by the Federal Aviation Administration.

This training exercise will not affect American Airlines services and flight schedules or overall airport operations. The public will have full access to the terminal and its parking areas via Airport Road.

The training exercise will be on airport property from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m. The roadway will be closed for approximately five hours from Hargis Road at the intersection with Lakeview Road to N. Airport Industrial Access Road, south of the airport terminal parking lot.

If passengers have concerns or questions about the mock emergency exercise, they are encouraged to contact the Stillwater Regional Airport at (405) 372-7881, ext. 4. The exercise area will be closed to the public and those not immediately involved.