Getting bloody at the Major Accident Response Exercise Published Oct. 5, 2007 By Staff Sgt. Carissa Lee Public Affairs GOODFELLOW AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It was a scene of panic and chaos right in our own backyard. A C-130 Hercules aircraft from Dyess Air Force Base, Texas, made an emergency landing at Mathis Field in San Angelo, and crashed into a small commercial airliner preparing to take off. The scenario Sept. 20 sounds horrific, and it ordinarily would be. Fortunately for the people of San Angelo and Goodfellow Air Force Base, the nightmarish series of events were simply an exercise. The plane crash scenario was put into place to test the working relationship between the base and the city in an emergency, and is an annual requirement for Goodfellow. Several base agencies were put to the test on their ability to work with their downtown counterparts--the fire department, security, medical, communications and public relations, among others. Students from Goodfellow portrayed a variety of injured passengers, as well as members of the media, to make the scenario more realistic for those involved. In addition, dozens of Goodfellow personnel were involved in evaluating the drill. Overall, the exercise was a success in identifying processes that were common as well as unique to our downtown counterparts.
