Boise Airport to run FAA-required triennial full-scale exercise; volunteers and hospitals to participate

Boise Airport staff said the airport will conduct its FAA-required triennial full-scale emergency exercise tomorrow, using the third runway and staged aircraft and vehicles to test the airport emergency plan.

Rebecca Hough said the exercise will involve local responders including Boise Fire and Boise Police, mutual-aid agencies, and paramedics. "We have over 60 volunteers who will be transporting people to the hospital," Hough said, noting hospitals have their own exercise and transport requirements. She added that staff aim to keep the exercise largely invisible to the general public: "I think it probably will be invisible to most of the community. So the entire event is taking place on our third runway."

Staff described operational controls to minimize community disruption: staged vehicles and aircraft will be used and staff will clearly mark exercise activity as non-emergency; some patients will be transported as part of hospital requirements, and transports likely will not use lights and sirens for visibility or community disturbance reasons.

Support for volunteers: Hough said volunteers will receive logistical support including food trucks and airport swag; she thanked the airport team and mutual aid partners for planning the exercise.

Why it matters: The FAA requires a full-scale exercise at least once every three years; exercises test coordination among the airport, airfield operations, fire/rescue, law enforcement and hospitals and can surface improvements to response plans.

Ending: Staff said they expect the exercise to provide training value to responders and asked commissioners to note the date and volunteer effort.