Melbourne Airport Annual Emergency Exercise 2008

[CV Thian 0]

On the 22nd of October 2008, I participated in the annual Melbourne Airport Emergency Exercise as a volunteer passenger.

 

Here are some chronological pictures of that event.

 

About 60 volunteers gathered in the International Terminal (T2) at 8.00 am for a briefing. We were given visitor Aviation Security Identification Cards (ASIC) before being divided into two groups, "passengers" and "meeters/greeters". This was done randomly and I was fortunate enough to be a "passenger". We were all given a card which states our fake "name" and role.

 

Once done with the safely and operational briefing, officials escorted us airside, past security to loading dock 1, where a bus was waiting to transport us to the mock-up aircraft at the end of Runway 27.

 

The aircraft was a scrap Fokker-28 and here are a few interior shots:

 

 

 

Once everyone was seated, smoke began to fill the cabin through vents on the side of the fuselage. Apparently the plane has "crash landed" and is now "on fire"

 

 

A few people started coughing and sneezing and it took only 30 seconds for the first emergency vehicles to respond to this "accident"

 

 

The aircraft was evacuated as four foam tenders from the ARFF (Aviation Rescue and Firefighting) services based in MEL sprayed foam down both sides of the aircraft.

 

 

 

It took another 5 minutes before local fire trucks from surrounding areas of Melbourne Airport started rolling into the accident scene.

 

 

This massive train of fire trucks was truly a sight to behold.

 

 

 

Firefighters then guided us across the field to the command post where paramedics assessed our condition and check for any injuries. Some of us were "injured" and needed treatment before being taken to hospital. The others were put on a bus to be transported back to the terminal. In the bus, Police officers gathered information from passengers to find out their name and age.

 

I took the opportunity to snap some photographs on the trip to the terminal. Sorry for the quality guys, used my mobile as cameras were not allowed and the slight drizzle which dirtied the windows of the bus did not help as well.

 

Qantas Terminal (T1)

 

International Terminal (T2)

 

When the exercise was underway, one particular aircraft arrived from LAX...

 

 

 

 

Nancy-Bird Walton (VH-OQA), Qantas' first A380 just arrived from her long trip back from Los Angeles. The bus stopped right in front of her and we were patted down by security before being allowed into the terminal. The first people who greeted us were AQIS (Australian Quarantine and Inspection Services) personnel and the first thing they asked were "Sir, have you been to Africa or South America in the past 6 weeks" and "Do you have any plants or seeds on you". I was thinking, the last thing someone who just survived an air crash wants was to go through Australia's strict quarantine regulations. Details about passengers were then taken down by customs personnel and then we were made to wait in this holding lounge while the match details with our "meeters/greeters".

 

 

After about 45 minutes, my "given name" was called and I was told that my greeter was found and I was escorted to the departure lounge of Gate 9 to meet my greeter. Gate 9 was also the only A380-capable gate at Melbourne Airport. This enabled me to grab these shots:

 

 

 

After the "meet-up", we were then taken to loading dock 1 to board the bus again, this time for a special tour of Melbourne Airport's airside.

 

 

QF Boeing 747-300

 

The tour took us around the airport through all 4 terminals and as we were heading to the MRO section, I spotted this:

 

 

 

9M-MRJ which arrived in the morning waiting to depart as MH148 to KUL. The reason why this aircraft is sitting on the taxiway is because Melbourne Airport is currently undergoing major expansion plans and aircraft have to be towed in and out of certain gates for embarkation and disembarkation. This happened to several other aircraft including:

 

EK Boeing 777-300

 

SQ Boeing 747-400

 

After the tour around the maintenance facilities, which included Virgin Blue's latest asset:

 

DJ Embraer E-190

 

we were then taken on a tour on Runway 27.

 

Entering Runway 27. Ground vehicles have to change radio frequencies to the tower before entering any runway.

 

YMML Runway 27

 

Piano keys

 

 

We then had to stop as we approached the intersection with Runway 16.

 

Jetstar A320 with Go Roo's livery landed right in front of our noses.

 

 

After exiting the runway, we were taken back to the terminal for a debrief and that marked the end of this very interesting experience.

 

Thanks for reading!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Wilber Tan 0]

haha..this must be fun..

btw, is tad Proton arena on the last pic..i mean the car..if it is red than it will make me think that someone is there...haha..

[Walter Sim 1]

Proton Jumbuck!

[Hon Kit 3]

haha. That Jumbuck featured in Top Gear Australia.

[Pieter C. 5]

Thanks for sharing this interesting exercise

 

Good to see those 'behind the scenes' pictures...

 

Anyone who can brief us on the history of the Fokker 28 Fellowship ? Apparently ex-Ansett...

[Ignatius 4]

I couldnt help it , I have to say this "OMG I love that Yellow Jumbuck!!!!!!" Wilber, if the colour is red how leh? You gonna curse my name? kekekke

Nice sets of pics!! Enjoyed everybit of your pics... would be lovely to see things like these happening on our own Malaysia Boleh soil

[CV Thian 0]

Thanks for the comments guys!

 

The Jumbuck is owned by Melbourne Airport Operations and they have like 10 of those moving around the airport.

[LeeTZ 1]

I couldnt help it , I have to say this "OMG I love that Yellow Jumbuck!!!!!!" Wilber, if the colour is red how leh? You gonna curse my name? kekekke

Nice sets of pics!! Enjoyed everybit of your pics... would be lovely to see things like these happening on our own Malaysia Boleh soil

 

If it's red..... u better lock your door

 

nice pics! thanks for sharing

[Karlm 0]

Nice Report Chow!

 

I saw all this happening on that day, as I drove down past the Sunbury Rd after snapping the A380 arriving.

 

How did you get chosen to do this? Would have been a great expericance!

[CV Thian 0]

Thanks Karim!

 

Yup all this happened right after the A380 touched down.

 

Melbourne Airport sent an email to my university faculty looking for interested individuals and I responded without hesitation =)

[Yusoff 1]

Huh.... look at MH's MRJ's rudder. Hard right. It's like leaving your car's tyres turned when you park it...

 

 

haha. That Jumbuck featured in Top Gear Australia.

How did it spared? OK? Bad?

 

 

Thanks Chow! Very nice...

[Walter Sim 1]

hydraulics off i think thats why.. must be the wind hehehe

Edited October 26, 2008 by Walter Sim

[CV Thian 0]

QUOTE (Liew Hon Kit @ Oct 24 2008, 11:40 PM)

haha. That Jumbuck featured in Top Gear Australia.

How did it spared? OK? Bad?

 

The Jumbuck was up against a Ford Falcon Ute and a Nissan Navara 4WD in a challenge to see which vehicle can carry the most loads. Well, the Jumbuck came in third =P

[Yusoff 1]

The Jumbuck was up against a Ford Falcon Ute and a Nissan Navara 4WD in a challenge to see which vehicle can carry the most loads. Well, the Jumbuck came in third =P

See, third. Number 3. Still got number what... right?... *run and hide*

[Chung 0]

I was on that aircraft too!!! It was an amazing day. Seated in row 2 and was assigned to have bad stomach cramps. OQA was on short finals just as we got off the Skybus. I was the very last person to be called because there was conflicting decisions between the airportrep and AFP. When my "brother" was called up to greet "dad", I wasn't allowed to follow him upstairs but was later questioned by the AFP. Inconsistencies Hope the pictures show up! Are you from Swinburne? Did you go to the Aviation AeroNAUGHTIcal Booze Cruise the night after?

 

 

Regards,

Chung

[CV Thian 0]

Cool stuff Chung!

 

Yeah I remember you from the exercise. I'm not from Swinburne. Doing Aviation in RMIT instead. Can't believe they actually held you back after that long wait in the terminal!

[EricD 0]

A lot of us are at Melbourne, keen for a meet up sometime in the future before the year ends?

 

Edited October 28, 2008 by Eric Dragon

[Pieter C. 5]

OMG, that Fellowship has been really scrapped of all usable parts (look at cockpit)

[Chung 0]

There weren't any parts to take home as a souvenir; though I would love that entire beast in my backyard and convert it into my own little playground. Noticd the First Officer is a huge balloon with a party hat. Well, we need a Melbourne get together so hopefully that'd happen in the not too distant future.

 

Chung