iscover
Western Sydney International Airport (WSI) has wrapped up emergency exercises that saw its first jet aircraft landing this week.
The multi-agency exercise saw WSI staff participate alongside around 300 volunteers and emergency services personnel, as well as federal agencies, and included a full-scale response to a simulated aircraft incident. 50 emergency services vehicles were also on scene.
This content is available exclusively to Australian Aviation members.
A monthly membership is only $5.99 or save with our annual plans.
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
- Unlimited access to all Australian Aviation digital content
- Access to the Australian Aviation app
- Australian Aviation quarterly print & digital magazines
- Access to In Focus reports every month on our website
- Access to our Behind the Lens photo galleries and other exclusive content
- Daily news updates via our email bulletin
“The roles and protocols of frontline agencies, including immediate response, incident notification, forward command management, ambulance triage, disaster victim identification and registration, passenger welfare, crisis management and recovery arrangements were all tested as part of the program,” the airport said in a press release.
Taking place across two days, the exercises began with the arrival of NSW Rural Fire Service (RFS) 737 Large Air Tanker N138CG Marie Bashir at around 8:30am on Tuesday, the first jet aircraft to land at the new airport.
Chief executive of WSI, Simon Hickey, hailed the 737’s arrival as “the first of many jets that will be coming in for landing at Sydney’s new 24-hour airport” ahead of its opening late next year.
“This week’s exercise comes as we ramp up our broader live trials at WSI, which gives us the chance to flex our operational muscles and importantly, train staff for the ever-dynamic environment of a 24-hour airport,” he said.
“At the same time, emergency simulations alongside other live tests and trials ensure we’re meeting critical CASA certification requirements, all of which will continue over the months ahead.
“I thank the state and federal agencies for their close collaboration and the hundreds of community partners and local volunteers who’ve supported this week’s successful two-day program.”
Speaking to media ahead of the event, NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said the exercise was about “more than just symbolism”.
“We want to plan for a worst-case scenario, and hopefully it never eventuates. We want to make sure that all of our systems are working, that all of our systems are integrated, and all of our emergency services are working together,” he said.
“I thank all of our emergency services for coming together and for spending some time together, making sure that they check the systems, do all the practice, but more importantly, for making sure that we’ve got an incredibly safe environment.”
WSI saw its first “official” aircraft landing late last year, with a light aircraft in October 2024 conducting test flights for the airfield’s ground lighting system.
The Piper PA-30 Twin Engine Comanche aircraft, VH-8MN, was tasked with taking off and landing at both ends of the runway in daylight, dusk and nighttime conditions to ensure the airport’s 3,000 aeronautical ground lights were fit for purpose ahead of the 2026 opening.
WSI also saw flight path testing by a twin-engine Cessna Conquest this month, ahead of the exercise.
