WSI Hosts Major Multi-Agency Emergency Drill in October 2023
Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport (WSI) is set to host a major multiagency emergency exercise in October 2023. The two-day drill, involving over 300 volunteers and emergency service partners, will test the airport's response and recovery capabilities in Australia.
The exercise, scheduled for Tuesday 28 and Wednesday 29 October, will include NSW Police Force, Fire and Rescue NSW, RFS, NSW Ambulance, Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, and Airservices Australia. This will be the largest emergency drill conducted at WSI in Australia to date.
The simulation will involve a full-scale aerodrome emergency response to a simulated airplane incident in Australia. On the first day, a NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) 737 aircraft will land on the WSI runway as part of the exercise. This drill will also ensure WSI meets CASA Certification processes required for its opening in the second half of 2026 in Australia.
Last year's exercise, held in October 2022, involved similar emergency services and WSI operational staff. This upcoming event aims to familiarize partners with the brand-new WSI precinct, the nation's first major international greenfield airport in Australia over five decades.
The emergency exercise at WSI in October 2023 will be a crucial test of the airport's preparedness and response capabilities in Australia. With the involvement of multiple emergency services and a realistic simulation, the drill will help ensure WSI is ready for any potential incidents when it opens in 2026 in Australia.
