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ISLAMABAD, Oct 30 (APP): The Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) on Thursday successfully conducted a full-scale airport emergency exercise, codenamed AIRCON-25, at Islamabad International Airport, demonstrating exemplary coordination, rapid response, and adherence to ICAO safety standards.
The large-scale drill was held in line with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Standards and Recommended Practices to assess the preparedness, coordination, and operational efficiency of all emergency response agencies operating at the airport.
The exercise simulated a major aircraft accident involving an Airbus A320, followed by a mock aviation fuel fire, creating a highly realistic emergency scenario.
The objective was to test the airport’s capability to handle a large-scale aircraft incident, including firefighting, rescue, medical evacuation, and inter-agency communication under high-pressure conditions.
The Rescue and Fire Fighting Services (RFFS) demonstrated exceptional efficiency by responding within the ICAO-prescribed timeframe, swiftly extinguishing the simulated blaze and initiating rescue and medical evacuation procedures.
A key feature of the exercise was the participation of an Army Aviation MI-17 helicopter, which carried out an aeromedical evacuation of a critically injured dummy patient to a healthcare facility — a move that highlighted effective coordination between military and civilian emergency units.
The exercise was conducted under the supervision of Syed Aftab Ali Shah Gilani, Chief Operating Officer and Airport Manager, with CFRO Muhammad Tariq serving as Exercise Coordinator. Both officials emphasized that the successful completion of AIRCON-25 underscores Islamabad International Airport’s operational readiness and full compliance with ICAO safety standards.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad Umar (SI, HI), Vice Chancellor of Rawalpindi Medical University and Chief Guest at the occasion, commended the professionalism, teamwork, and dedication of all participating agencies. He noted that such collaborative exercises enhance national capacity to respond to aviation emergencies and play a vital role in protecting human lives.
A wide range of agencies participated in the exercise, including Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), Airport Security Force (ASF), Army Aviation, Rescue 1122, Edhi Foundation, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital, Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Holy Family Hospital, Cantonment General Hospital, Ground Handling Agencies, Airlines Operating Committee, Disaster Management Authority, and other government departments.
Observers and umpires from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), aviation industry, and rescue organizations monitored the exercise closely. They lauded the realism, discipline, and high level of inter-agency coordination displayed throughout the operation, noting that such full-scale simulations are essential for identifying procedural improvements and strengthening response mechanisms.
Reflecting the vision of Director General PAA, Zeeshan Saeed, COO Aftab Gilani reaffirmed that continuous preparedness, realistic training, and robust inter-agency collaboration remain central to PAA’s mission of maintaining world-class standards of aviation safety, operational resilience, and passenger protection across Pakistan’s airports.
Despite the scale of the exercise, all flight operations and passenger services at Islamabad International Airport continued smoothly, with stringent safety measures ensuring that regular airport activities remained unaffected.