Syracuse, NY – Fourteen members of the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base Fire Department participated in the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority’s triennial disaster preparedness exercise at Syracuse Hancock International Airport on August 10, 2024.

The exercise is ordered by the Federal Aviation Authority, which requires the airport to conduct a comprehensive exercise to implement and refine its emergency plan.

“This year’s scenario involved a simulated collision between an Air National Guard HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter and a regional passenger aircraft,” said Senior Master Sgt. Derek Natoli, deputy fire chief of the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base Fire Department.

The fire department, which consists of uniformed security guards and federal civilian firefighters, began full-time operations in 2022. Previously, the Syracuse City Fire Department provided firefighting services for the airport.

“This is our first time at the top of the three-year exercise,” said Natoli, who has participated in every exercise since joining the unit in 2010. “My first exercise in 2013 was the most memorable. I had to deal with 30 to 40 people screaming for help and process everything. It was a good eye
Opener for me.”

Having only been on the force full-time for two years, this year’s exercise was the first for many of the department’s firefighters. “Training like this helps the Soldiers understand why we’re here, and it gives them an understanding of what we would do if an accident like this happened,” Natoli said. “Training like this is important to hone your skills. To know what you did well and what you need to work on. To identify your best practices.”

While the exercise was led by the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority (SRAA), several state and local agencies were involved to ensure a productive training environment. In addition, more than 60 volunteers participated in the event, playing the roles of victims, family members and media representatives.

“The preparation fostered by the triennial large-scale exercise is essential to ensure a rapid and targeted response in the event of a real emergency,” said Jason Terreri, executive director of the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority. “We greatly appreciate the support and volunteerism of all participating members of the airport ecosystem – both on and off airport property – who help make this triennial event a success.”

More than 40 members of the local volunteer fire and rescue services participated in the exercise as mutual aid partners. “It’s nice to see them and it’s nice for them that they came and participated in the exercise,” said Natoli. “Hopefully it’s a good
Opportunity for them to spread their wings a little bit, come together with us and work together as one.”

Conducting the triennial exercise required months of coordination between the SRAA, the squadron and various other participants. “The airport, outside agencies and our staff here at the 174th put a lot of time and effort into planning this exercise and often their efforts go unnoticed,” said Natoli. “We
are grateful for their time and support because we are the ones who see the chaos when it actually happens.”

The 174th Attack Squadron is one of five squadrons of the New York Air National Guard. The squadron operates the MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft and is headquartered at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, NY.