TRENTON—Front-line responders from more than a dozen Mercer County, state and municipal agencies, as well as other emergency stakeholders, took part in a federally required Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) Review conducted by Trenton-Mercer Airport.

The purpose of the event held May 25 at the Township of Ewing’s conference center was to fully review and discuss the AEP to ensure that the document continues to be maintained in a manner consistent with the National Incident Management System/Incident Command System. A “Table Top” review also was performed, where participants discussed a fictional emergency scenario and their agencies proposed responses to it.

“Should a major incident occur at Trenton-Mercer Airport, agencies at the local, state and federal levels must be able to provide a seamlessly coordinated response,” said Mercer County Executive Brian M. Hughes. “This review allows emergency stakeholders to familiarize themselves with the plan and each other, thereby increasing the effectiveness of our response in the event of an actual airport emergency.”

In addition to Trenton-Mercer Airport staff, TTN Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF)-Station 34, and Mercer County Sheriff’s Office, Airport Division, a number of other County agencies were represented, including the County Executive’s Office, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), Emergency Services Communications Center, County coordinators for EMS and Fire, and the Prosecutor’s Office. Representatives from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Transportation Security Administration, FBI, New Jersey State Police Aviation Unit, New Jersey Office of Homeland Security, New Jersey Office of Emergency Management, Midwest Air Traffic Control Services, New Jersey Division of Aeronautics, Ewing Township Police Department, Ewing Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Ewing OEM, West Trenton Fire Company-Station 33, Prospect Heights Volunteer Fire Co., Ewing Township Fire Co., Capital Health, Frontier Airlines, Philadelphia International Airport, and Worldwide Flight Services also participated.

Under FAA regulations, Trenton-Mercer Airport must complete an AEP review annually. In 2023, the airport will conduct a full-scale emergency drill, which it does every three years as mandated by the FAA.

Photo: Trenton-Mercer Airport Manager Melinda Montgomery leads a review of the Airport Emergency Plan on May 25, 2022.