Neighbor News
Tweed-New Haven Airport: Simulated Emergency!
Today, HVN conducts a mandatory emergency exercise. This exercise is meant to demonstrate the Airport's Emergency Plan as required by law.
Do you remember?
It wasn’t long ago, that key figures of “Keep Tweed Small” and “10,000 Hawks” helped fan the flames of worry for HVN-area residents and air travelers by falsely perpetrating an aircraft emergency. Read the details here: Keep Tweed Small.
Today, Tweed-New Haven Airport runs its Triennial Airport Emergency Exercise as required by Code of Federal Regulation 14, Part 139. 325. It should be noted that this exercise brings to fruition the Airport Emergency Plan (AEP). The AEP is required under Part 139 and is reviewed and updated yearly. The AEP is a plan that details procedures for responding to an aircraft accident. The AEP also adapts for the myriad changes that occur at airports. The Triennial Exercise is the manifestation of the AEP.
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Will the perpetrators of false, anti-airport airport rhetoric of many flavors be present at today’s exercise? You better believe it! And just what will they see (or conveniently ignore)?
Ready to Respond.
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Today’s exercise will test and demonstrate the Federally mandated response time for HVN’s Crash, Fire and Rescue apparatus (among a plethora of other emergency response plans ). That required response time is 3 minutes. But don’t take my word for it; read here. “Why do I care” you might ask?
It is of great importance that you know this fact (3 minute response time) because Social Media and town chatter are rife with ignorance and pure deceit on this subject. Who can you thank? Anti-Airport groups. That’s who.
In addition to the initial, required 3 minute response time, there is also a 4 minute response time mandated for all other required vehicles.
🔥✈️ The 3 minute response time is provided by the HVN-based Crash, Fire and Rescue Apparatus.
This response time is maintained by HVN Airport by basing the required Response Vehicle and required staff on site. This response time is required to be maintained during all scheduled operations of our resident airline, Avelo. That means every single time an AVELO airplane takes off or lands, the requirement has to be met (and it is). In addition, the staffing and response time are required to be maintained 15 minutes before a scheduled arrival as well as 15 minutes after a departure. Given that we have on the order of 15 departures and 15 arrivals per day, we have a lot of ARFF (Aircraft Rescue & Firefighting) coverage! That’s quite contrary to what some resident experts pontificate about Tweed.
🔥✈️ The 4 minute response time is provided by the East Haven and New Haven Fire Departments. These departments are the Authorities Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) and provide Mutual-Aid to HVN.
Why bring this up?
Remember, Tweed opponents routinely espouse that HVN has no crash, fire and rescue protection services based on the airport. They “support” this allegation when aircraft divert to area airports during abnormal in-flight situations. Further, they make this allegation with no knowledge of the decisions Pilots must make as related to aircraft system abnormalities, in-flight decision factors and of course the regulatory matters related to Crash, Fire and Rescue services.
Interestingly, today’s Emergency Exercise will showcase Tweed-New Haven Airports’ Fire and Rescue Apparatus responding, from of all places, the Airport Operation Center. Will the glory-hound, media-loving opponents of Tweed-New Haven Airport notice this fact? Probably not…even with eyes like a Hawk!
As 25-year Captain of Commercial Aircraft (Jets and Turboprops-props) and a certified Firefighter, I am glad to set the record straight when it comes to this matter. Hopefully, today’s Emergency Exercise will set the record straight and dispel the rampant, unfounded myth promoted by Tweed opponents as well.
Conclusion
Tweed-New Haven Airport foes have zero business making statements about the subject of Crash, Fire and Rescue services. These groups have promulgated lies, misinformation, and rhetoric regarding numerous aeronautical matters. This includes stating that HVN airport does not staff an on-site Crash, Fire and Rescue Apparatus. This anti-Tweed fallacy in particular has and continues to endanger not just the flying public with misinformation, but the residents nearby to Tweed-New Haven Airport as well.
Today’s Emergency Exercise will demonstrate with abundant clarity that a Crash, Fire and Rescue apparatus really does call Tweed-New Haven Airport home!
T. Lorenti, Captain.
Airline Transport Pilot
Flight and Ground Instructor
Firefighter I and II, NFPA 1003
