Emergency drill planned for Wednesday at Pittsburgh International Airport

Nearly 500 airport employees, volunteers and first responders will launch a government-mandated, emergency training exercise Wednesday evening at Pittsburgh International Airport — and officials there said they will take multiple measures to ensure travelers aren’t alarmed that something has gone wrong.

The drill is scheduled to take place from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Findlay airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires airports to conduct such drills at least once every three years, airport spokesman Matt Neistein said Tuesday.

Normal airport operations won’t be impacted by the exercise, and planes will continue to arrive and depart during the drill, Neistein said.

Airport staff also have worked to ensure they can respond to an actual emergency, if one occurs during the drill, he said.

Volunteers will play the role of victims in the drill’s scenario. Passengers in the terminal might see them conducting the drill on the airport’s northernmost runway. Emergency vehicles will be active nearby.

Signs about the drill will posted throughout the terminal, and incoming aircraft will be told that the drill is occurring.

Airport officials also plan on Wednesday to make public-address system announcements in the terminal every 10 to 15 minutes.

The drill tests Pittsburgh International Airport’s emergency management system, Neistein said. The exercise measures readiness, as well as how effective the airport’s emergency plan is at mobilizing resources and staff in the event of a real emergency.