People wailing, weeping, coupled with occasional outbursts are scenes straight out of a disaster movie. Alas, our fellow AMS students were right in the heart of it! Thankfully, our students were only taking up the roles of Next- Of- Kins (NOKs) during the annual Changi Airport CAAS- CAG Search & Rescue Exercise, Ex Bobcat 2.
Search & Rescue operations are normally a joint effort of the Republic of Singapore Air Force, Republic of Singapore Navy, CAAS, CAG and other government bodies. However, during Ex Bobcat 2, the simulation involved CAAS, CAG, & other staff departments, as well as AMS. Its focus was on crisis management in the Relatives Holding Area (RHA), which can be found in the airport premises.
The day began when students were each assigned a relative who was on a flight of Bobby Airways, BX 168. After a short briefing by CAG staff, the simulation began.
We took a deep breath and made our way to the RHA. After registering our assigned identities, we were led into a specially prepared room. The realistic exercise even involved hordes of "reporters" and "journalists", who were denied access to the RHA by airport police officers.
Tempers flared among the impatient relatives and, some individuals started arguments. At one time, chairs were even thrown about. The airline representative was hounded relentlessly for details on the crash. Nevertheless, the Ministry of Community Development, Youth & Sports (MCYS) counsellors were very professional and dealt with every incident promptly and appropriately. The presence of the airport police and CISCO officers also helped ensure that order was maintained in the RHA. Thankfully, airport staff were more than sympathetic to the relatives’ plight and provided refreshments to the weary NOKs.
The exercise finally ended after a few ‘relatives’ were called upon to identify’ their NOKs. The students were then debriefed by the airport staff and were complimented that they were the one of the most realistic acting- NOKs they have ever encountered.
No doubt, this was an experience unlike any other for the students for AMS. It was also a first collaboration between CAG and CAAS as separate entities in a SAR-EX.
While the contingency planning for an air crash is perhaps one of the most well rehearsed events in any airport operator’s Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) manual, it is also the one event where no one wishes that their skills will ever be put to test. However, should disaster strike, we can be confident that the authorities are well-prepared.
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