Inter-institutional drill strengthens air security and response coordination in the country.
Pilancón, Monte Plata. –The Dominican Institute of Civil Aviation, Idac, in coordination with the Air Force of the Dominican Republic, Fard, the Emergency Operations Center, Coe, and the Commission for the Investigation of Air Accidents, Ciaa, conducted the air accident drill “Operation Falcon”Sarex 2025, with the aim of strengthening the country’s response capacity to aeronautical emergency situations and ensuring compliance with national and international safety regulations.
The activity took place in the community of Pilancón, municipality of Bayaguana, where a plane crash scenario was recreated under controlled conditions.
This simulation allowed for the practical application of the Standards and Recommended Practices, Sarps of the International Civil Aviation Organization, Icao, as outlined in Annex 12, and to comply with national regulations regarding Search and Rescue, Sar.
The exercise included simultaneous operations for locating, rescuing, and assisting simulated victims, as well as the activation of communication protocols, inter-institutional coordination, and information management for the media and families.
As part of the response, the pseudo-injured were evacuated with the arrival of two helicopters, two ambulances, and personnel from the National Emergency and Security Response System 911, who provided immediate assistance on site.
Operational units from Idac, Fard, Coe, Ciaa and other support entities participated, executing maneuvers that ranged from aerial coordination for rescue aircraft, the establishment of security perimeters, and the use of specialized equipment, to emergency medical care.
In representation of the general director of the Idac, Igor Rodríguez Durán, the director of the Air Navigation Directorate, Dina, Augusto Pérez Cuevas, attended, highlighting that Annex 12 of the Icao establishes that States must have plans and procedures to coordinate search and rescue activities within their Flight Information Region, Fir.
Also present were Dr. Cruz Guillén, head of the Aeronautical Medicine Department of the Fard; Colonel Pilot Miguel Torres Rodríguez, Director of Operations of the Fard; Miguel Isacio Díaz, aviation accident investigator – airworthiness; Colonel Pilot Joaquín Feliz, aviation accident investigator in operations; Edwin Olivares, Deputy Director of Emergency Operations; Ramón Antonio Pirón Bautista, in charge of the Search and Rescue Coordination Division; Ángel Cuevas Garabito, in charge of the Air Traffic Management Department; and Juan Alberto Henríquez Ramos, Search and Rescue Supervisor.