November 14, 2007

NWA Emergency Response Drill

Today an Emergency Response DRILL was conducted by the company and the appropriate call down contacts were made, including NWA AFA.  Our internal ER Calldown Protocols provide for specific actions by each member of our ER Team and - for the most part - proceeded as established.  

A DRILL can help identify loopholes and other back-up contacts necessary to ensure everyone who has a "need to know" is provided with the required 'facts' to allow them to proceed accordingly in support of our Members.  Today - we have identified some of these and will be making certain adjustments to our Calldown Protocols.

For your information, the specifics of the DRILL included the following:

• NWA Flight #1351 - CDG/DTW - 14 November 2007
• No. 3 engine caught fire and aircraft crashed on runway upon landing
• 347 passengers - 13 FAs (MSP based) - 3 pilots (DTW based)
• 280 survivors - 45 fatalities confirmed - 105 injured (being taken to 4 area hospitals)
• 3 FAs with serious injuries - 2 pilots injured
• NWA "Go Team" aircraft dispatched to CDG

As some of you may know, we are convening an ER Plan and Calldown Protocols review with the NWA AFA Emergency Response Team on December 12^th, 2007 in MSP.  This review will allow us to identify where we can improve the calldown process, ensure that those who have a 'need to know' are provided with timely facts - and improve our overall 'preparedness'.

If you have any questions on our ER Call Down and/or the specifics of the DRILL, please let the Local and MEC AFA Air Safety Committee know.

Jeanne Elliott

Principal Investigator/Go Team

NWA AFA MEC Chair - Air Safety, Health and Security

425-647-6455