A 10-seat charter plane is coming in fast, the wind is strong and it hits the runway hard.
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The pilot tries to keep it on course but the plane veers off the tarmac, slamming into the ground, killing two and injuring eight.
That’s the scenario emergency services had to deal with at Portland airport last night — but for all the gore and sirens, the crash drama was just a trial to put everyone to the test.
The operation, held at Portland airport but actually run by the Mount Gambier airport committee, involved nearly 70 personnel from Portland District Health, Sharp Airlines, Glenelg Shire and the major emergency services.
“It’s unique because it’s giving the Portland hospital a chance to test their procedures,” Mount Gambier airport compliance officer Paul MacFarlane said.
“Hopefully we’ll learn a few things from it.
“We ran the same exercise two years ago but we’ve stepped it up a notch.”
The trial took things a step further by giving victims graphic injuries.
“The Greater Green Triangle University Department of Rural Health prepared simulated patients with realistic injuries, abdominal wounds ... just to add an extra layer of realism,” he said.
The university’s clinical educator Lauren Newman said the intensive training exercise tested communication between agencies.
“All services need to plan for potential emergency situations resulting in one or more casualties,” Ms Newman said.