FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 7, 2006
For More Information, Contact:
System Planning Corporation
James M. Kudla
703/351-8238
Cell: 571-217-3633
jkudla@sysplan.com
System Planning Corp. Begins Regional Airport CBRNE Planning Project
Arlington, Va. (Dec. 7) – System Planning Corporation (SPC) today announced that its TriData division
has been selected to develop a scenario-based template and related tools that the nation's airport
managers and local government authorities can use to develop regionally-coordinated airport emergency
plans for response to chemical, biological, radiological/nuclear, and explosive (CBRNE) events.
The Airport Cooperative Research Program (ACRP), part of the National Academies of Science, tapped
SPC/TriData for the work on the strength of its proposal and because of the firm's 25 years experience
in fire, emergency planning and response research and analysis.
The ACRP is sponsored by the Federal Aviation Administration and managed by the National Academies of
Science, acting through its Transportation Research Board, in coordination with Airports Council
International-North America, American Association of Airport Executives, National Association of
State Aviation Officials, and Air Transport Association of America.
TriData's current research will identify exemplary efforts of cooperation among airports and local
response agencies.
"We are especially interested in reviewing plans and field exercises where airports have demonstrated
progress in preparing for airport emergencies with fire departments, emergency medical services, law
enforcement agencies, and emergency management offices," said TriData project director, Hollis
Stambaugh.
"Our goal is to incorporate "best practices" from passenger airports of all sizes into a template
that airports can apply directly in meeting both the emergency planning requirements of the Federal
Aviation Administration and the airport's own goals for maximum preparedness," Stambaugh said.
Airport emergencies first and foremost are local events. First to respond typically are the fire and
law enforcement assets based at airports, immediately followed by firefighters, hazardous materials
response crews, law enforcement, paramedics, bomb squads, rescue teams, and other technical units
from surrounding jurisdictions depending on the type of disaster. These stakeholders and their
resources need to be brought together to coordinate the elements of any existing plans and to create
a plan specific to potential terrorist events at an airport.
The ACRP is encouraging airports and their key trade associations to share their experiences for the
study – both noteworthy preparedness programs and lessons learned – so that they can be included in
the analysis.
The Chair of the panel overseeing this ACRP project, Dr. Robert Olislagers, Executive Director of
Centennial Airport (Arapahoe County, Colorado), sees this effort as one that will fill a critical
need that goes beyond planning for airline crashes and enhanced security measures, and tackles a
wide spectrum of potential disasters at airport facilities.
"What we accomplish here will provide enormous help to airport managers as they strengthen action
plans and awareness of regional assets, as well as limitations, for handling a major airport event,"
Olislagers said.
The Vision 100-Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act established the ACRP. The ACRP undertakes
research and other technical activities in response to the needs of airport operators on a variety
of airport issues involving operations, design, construction, engineering, maintenance, human
resources, administration, policy, planning, environment, safety, and security.
About System Planning Corporation/TriData
Founded in 1970 and based in Arlington, Va., System Planning Corporation (SPC) has established a
national reputation as a leader in technology development and national security planning and support
for both government and industry clients.
SPC brings 35 years of unique national security experience to solving defense, homeland security and
domestic preparedness challenges that have reshaped the Nation's security needs.
SPC's TriData division focuses its efforts on studies and analyses of fire, emergency management and
preparedness issues for federal, state, and local government clients. A leader in its field, TriData
has 25 years experience helping government agencies understand and solve complex management challenges.
For more information about SPC/TriData,
visit http://www.sysplan.com/TriData.
-SPC-
