Long Beach, CA – Long Beach Airport (LGB) held a full-scale emergency response exercise today, Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023. The preparedness drill, known as the Triennial, is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and tests the speed and effectiveness of emergency personnel and LGB staff in the event of an aircraft accident.

“I would like to commend all of the agencies and volunteers who took part in this emergency exercise, which enhances LGB’s working relationship with multiple local agencies and tests their readiness to deploy personnel and resources,” said Mayor Rex Richardson. “This is a unique opportunity to train for a real aircraft emergency in a safe and controlled environment.”

Commercial airports, such as LGB, must hold a drill every three years to maintain their Part 139 Airport Certification which allows commercial flights to operate out of the airport.

The exercise provides the opportunity to test components of the Airport's Emergency Plan with other agencies and first responders, including the Fire and Police Departments, the Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Communications Department, Long Beach Search and Rescue, American Red Cross, Dignity Health St. Mary's Medical Center, Long Beach VA Hospital, U.S. Air Force Reserves, and ambulance services.

The drill is observed and evaluated by other peer agencies along with the FAA. After action reports and recommendations are then incorporated into future versions of the Airport’s response plan.

More than 400 participants and a C-130 military aircraft took part in the simulated mass casualty incident. Participants acted out multiple roles that ranged from emergency responders to injured or deceased victims. Responders and airport staff were then scored on their response efforts.

“Safety and efficiency of our airport operations is of the utmost importance, and the Triennial is a valuable opportunity for LGB to be as prepared as possible,” said Long Beach Airport Director Cynthia Guidry.  “While we hope such a crisis never occurs, it’s imperative that we are always ready to take action.”

The exercise did not cause any delays or interruptions to normal Long Beach Airport operations.

About Long Beach Airport 
Founded in 1923, Long Beach Airport (LGB) is the oldest airport in California. Among its many awards, LGB was named one of the 2022 Top Ten airports in the country by readers of Condé Nast Traveler magazine. LGB offers non-stop service to several U.S. cities while supporting a healthy general aviation community with more than 300,000 annual operations. The Airport is also a source of substantial economic activity and employment, with the LGB Aviation Complex generating $8.6 billion in economic impact and supporting 46,000 jobs. LGB is a self-supporting enterprise of the City of Long Beach and does not receive local tax dollars. The Airport prides itself in preserving its esteemed historic legacy and maintaining a safe, sustainable, and environmentally responsible operation. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LGBAirport.

About the City of Long Beach
Long Beach is nestled along the Southern California coast and home to approximately 466,000 people. As an award-winning full-service charter city, Long Beach offers the amenities of a metropolitan city while maintaining a strong sense of individual and diverse neighborhoods, culture and community. With a bustling downtown and over six miles of scenic beaches, Long Beach is a renowned tourist and business destination and home to the iconic Queen Mary, nationally recognized Aquarium of the Pacific and Long Beach Airport, award-winning Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center and world-class Port of Long Beach.

For more information about the City of Long Beach, visit longbeach.gov/. Follow us on social to keep up with the latest news: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.  For more information about the Long Beach Airport visit lgb.org and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @LGBAirport.