Gladstone Airport Safety Concerns Resolved After Report

Safety concerns over runway safety at Gladstone airport have been addressed in a report by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).

An investigation by the ATSB found in May this year, at least three aircraft took off at night while the runway lights were switched off.

The report says the lights are pilot controlled, and both Virgin Australia (Skywest Airlines) and QantasLink have put measures in place to prevent future incidents. 

Meanwhile, if an emergency situation were to occur at Gladstone Airport, emergency service workers and airport staff would be ready.

The region's emergency plans were put to the test last month when about 70 local emergency service workers, airport staff and local students took part in a simulation exercise.

The scenario involved a fabricated jet crash which occurred on the Gladstone runway after the plane attempted to land in a crosswind.

Emergency service workers responded to the accident as if it had eventuated and were tasked with dealing with five fatalities and many severely injured passengers.

The Gladstone Airport Corporation said the exercise enabled airport and emergency staff to examine how their emergency response plans and procedures worked together.

The exercise ensures an effective, coordinated response by all those who would be involved in an incident at Gladstone Airport.