Joyce Namugambe
The Uganda Civil Aviation Authority (UCAA) together with the security, United Nations and all stake holders on Thursday October 26th conducted a full-scale exercise to test stakeholders’ readiness to respond to a security bomb threat at Entebbe International Airport.
The exercise simulated a scenario involving flight No. AF 347, with 40 passengers and 3 crew on board, that notified Air Traffic Control of a bomb threat note discovered by a member of the crew in the aircraft lavatories, as the aircraft was taxiing for take-off.
All concerned airport stakeholders, including Airline operators, Ground handling agents, joint security operatives, United Nations, UCAA staff, health personnel and other government agencies, have been involved to test their response in accordance with the security contingency plan.
According to Fred Bamwesigye, UCAA’s Director General, the security exercise is a mandatory requirement for international airports of Countries of Contracting Member states of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to test their emergency contingency response plans and evaluate the communication processes, procedures, and methods in working with valued partners, stakeholders and government agencies.
He says that a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) was issued to operators of commercial flights in and out of Entebbe International Airport, alerting them that the exercise would be going on between 2.00 – 4.00 pm.
The civil aviation authority spokesperson Vianney Luggya noted that all concerned Airport stakeholders including Airline operators, Ground handling Agents, joint security operatives , United Nations, UCAA staff, health personnel and other government agencies were involved to test their response in accordance to the security contingency plan.
He added that the security exercise is a mandatory requirement for international Airports of countries of contracting member states of Civil Aviation organisations (ICAO) to test their emergency contingency response plans to evaluate the communication processes, procedures and methods in working with valued partners, stake holders and government agencies.
UCAA last conducted such a full-scale security exercise on November 4, 2019, but in 2022, they conducted another test of putting off fire when the plane involves in an accident.
