Sedona, Az — In a recent November meeting between Sedona Airport and Sedona Fire District senior leadership, the first steps have been taken to formalize an Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) for the Sedona Airport. Although the FAA does not require airports with Sedona’s volume and type of traffic to have such a published plan, recent improvements such as our new state-of-the-art fuel farm and increased jet traffic in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic makes it prudent to have such a plan in place.
The AEP will integrate the Airport’s Response Team, the Sedona Fire District, local law enforcement, emergency healthcare and other agencies as necessary to efficiently respond to anticipated incidents. The plan will use the National Incident Management System (NIMS) adopted by Federal and State Emergency Management Agencies as well as first responders.
Once complete, the AEP will become the basis for actual response as well as tabletop or full-scale exercises between all appropriate responding agencies. In the past, the airport has provided regular space for first responder driver training and annual aircraft familiarization of aircraft commonly using the airfield.
Airport Director, Ed Rose stated: “The collaborative effort between the Sedona Airport and Sedona Fire District on an Airport Emergency Plan will better educate and prepare first responders and other agencies for aircraft emergency incidents.”
Fire Marshal, Dori Booth stated, “The commitment of SOCAA to emergency preparedness, planning, and training is a welcomed collaboration to improve the overall readiness of the airport, first responders, and other community partners for an emergency event on the airport mesa. We look forward to continued collaboration on planning, training, and events with the SOCAA team.”
For additional information contact:
Sedona Airport:
Ed Rose: 928-440-2514/ ed@sedonaairport.org
Instagram @sedona_airport
FaceBook Sedona Airport
Sedona Fire District:
Dori Booth: 928-204-8926 / dbooth@sedonafire.org
Instagram @sedonafire
FaceBook Sedona Fire
2 Comments
The picture shows an Osprey which has been grounded for too many accidents. I tried to get the city to ask the airport not to have them fly over our city, but I was rebuked.
They are permitted to fly over but how they do so is strictly regulated and tactical low level, high speed maneuvering by military aircraft is forbidden by Military Regulations over residential areas. Sonic booms are also prohibited unless determined to by a necessity to counter a real world threat like that of 9/11. They cannot fly however, wherever or whenever they wish too. They must file flight plans just like any other pilots in America and they MUST follow STRICT guidelines and flight paths (filed in advance) when flying over residential areas. Just Google-US military regulations for flying over residential areas. Or Flight Safety regulations for US Military Aircraft flying over residential areas.
I question the necessity for any military aircraft to be landing in Sedona in the first place except in the following circumstances:
•Medical Emergencies
•Mechanical Failure Issues
•Humanitarian Assistance to local communities
• Search and Rescue assistance
• Political VIP escorts (i.e. Presidential Visits)
Practicing “carrier landings” is a non sensical excuse frequently used to practice fighter aircraft landings here because of the extremely slight similarity between the Mesa the airport sits upon and an actual carrier (which are abundantly available in San Diego which is located just as close to their home bases as Sedona is) and they are on the water with far more realistic conditions for the pilots to train upon such as the waves and swells of the ocean which create some of the most challenging conditions for pilots to land.
The Sedona Airport has residential areas in close proximity and in all directions of its location so their practicing landings here violates military regulations which prohibit training over residential areas in the first place.
Attack Helicopter squadrons that are frequently seen flying into the airport have absolutely zero justification for utilizing the airport unless they have one or more of the circumstances I’ve noted above. Landing there for brunch or lunch, photo ops etc. is or any similar reason is Fraud, Waste and Abuse no matter how you slice it!
Please report violations to your Congressional representatives as I have and will continue to do.