ATW ARFF Site of Emergency Drill

Appleton International Airport leads multi-agency emergency exercise

Friday, August 18, 2023 | By: Daley-Hinkens, Carmelyn M

Fox Valley Technical College recently served as the training site for a large-scale emergency drill that simulated a passenger plane crash.

The drill was led by Appleton International Airport (ATW) which must execute drills like this every three years as mandated by the Federal Aviation Administration.

The exercise began with an emergency response to the ATW Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) facility at the college’s Public Safety Training Center (PSTC). Local fire departments and other first responders were tasked with extinguishing a fire aboard the full-sized Boeing 777 aircraft training prop.

The scenario then transitioned to a search and rescue operation aboard a Boeing 727 fixed training plane on the PSTC grounds.

A total of 24 local and federal agencies representing fire departments, emergency medical services and law enforcement were on-site for the training. They represent the agencies that would respond to a real emergency and training at the PSTC creates a realistic environment in which to train.

“We take immense pride in our commitment to the community and value our partnership with Appleton International Airport,” says Dr. Chris Matheny, president of Fox Valley Technical College. “Serving as the training site of this important emergency response drill illustrates that learning really knows no bounds; our impact extends beyond the traditional classroom setting. Along with the 24+ other agencies involved, we are honored to have played a role in enhancing the safety and well-being of our community.”