03/24/2026
We’ll be joining our allied partner agencies on March 27th at the Redding Airport for the Triennial Exercise—a full-scale, live simulation of an aircraft crash.
Exercises like this are critical to ensuring seamless coordination and preparedness across all responding agencies. We’re proud to stand alongside our partners as we train for the moments that matter most.
The public may notice a large Fire, Law, and EMS presence at the airport during that time—this is part of the planned training exercise, and there is no cause for concern.
The Redding Regional Airport will be conducting a Mass-Casualty Incident (MCI) training exercise, known as the Triennial Exercise, on Friday, March 27, in coordination with local public safety agencies. Preparations will begin on Wednesday, March 25, and Thursday, March 26, and will include the staging of equipment and the presence of fire and law enforcement personnel.
Members of the public should not be alarmed if they see emergency personnel, equipment, or smoke in the vicinity of the airport during this time, as these activities are part of the planned mock emergency exercise.
“This training exercise is an opportunity to ensure airport staff, airport contributors, and local first responders are trained for a mass-casualty event like a plane crash at the Redding Regional Airport,” says Andrew Solsvig, Redding Airport Manager. “We hope to never have to put this kind of training to use, but it's important that everyone involved knows their role in an emergency and that we can identify any response issues in a controlled space rather than during a critical incident.”
The exercise is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) every three years for commercial service airports. While the training will largely take place in a discreet location on the US Forest Service’s ramp at the far northern portion of the airfield, away from the main terminal, passengers may notice activity from the tarmac or the air.
This training exercise is NOT open to the public.
This simulated MCI emergency training will include first responders, mutual aid partners, and other agencies closely aligned with airport operations. The Redding Fire Department, the Redding Police Department, and other regional fire agencies will be conducting training on a mobile aircraft mockup prop that will produce some light to moderate smoke in the area.
Volunteers will participate in the simulation to replicate real-world emergency conditions, allowing first responders to train on coordinated response efforts, including fire suppression, scene management, and medical care.
“Even the first responders from the Redding Fire Department, Redding Police Department, and other agencies are not aware of the specifics of the training exercise to ensure the response is as authentic as possible,” says Solsvig. “Because it’s designed to look like a real emergency, we need the public to be aware that this is just a drill.”
There will be no impacts to airport operations, streets, or parking during this emergency training, but there will be additional activity at the airport.
Solsvig says, “Our goal is to ensure airport personnel and emergency responders are fully prepared for worst-case scenarios. This type of training is critical and requires a high-level of coordination and collaboration from multiple agencies. We are especially grateful for our regional partners, whose support and participation are essential to carrying out an exercise of this scale successfully.”
📸: Triennial Exercise, 2023
