Fake aircraft collision prepares responders for Utah air show

Aviation • Simulation precedes show and open house Memorial Day weekend at Hill Air Force Base.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Firefighters and first responders carry

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Firemen and first responders get

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Firemen and first responders get

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Fireman points

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Actor in

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, just before first responders arrive. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
First responder talks to actor around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Firefighter helps actors to a triage area away from a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, just before first responders arrive. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hill Air Force Base personnel work with local paramedics and ambulances running a triage area to evaluate and treat

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hill Air Force Base personnel work with local paramedics and ambulances running a triage area to evaluate and treat

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat

Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune
Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat

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Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Firefighters and first responders carry "victim" from a simulated jet crash site to a triage area at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Firemen and first responders get "victims" from a simulated jet crash site to a triage area at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Firemen and first responders get "victims" from a simulated jet crash site to a triage area at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Fireman points "injured" actor to safety and help at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Actor in "shock" wanders around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, just before first responders arrive. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, just before first responders arrive. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune First responder talks to actor around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Firefighter helps actors to a triage area away from a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012, just before first responders arrive. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Actors get into place around a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hill Air Force Base personnel work with local paramedics and ambulances running a triage area to evaluate and treat "victims" at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hill Air Force Base personnel work with local paramedics and ambulances running a triage area to evaluate and treat "victims" at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat "victims" at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat "victims" at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident. Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune Hill Air Force Base personnel run a triage area to evaluate and treat "victims" at a simulated jet crash site at Hill Air Force Base on Wednesday, March 21, 2012. Emergency response officials from Hill Air Force Base and city/county agencies tested their ability to jointly respond to a simulated aircraft accident.

By Kristen Moulton The Salt Lake Tribune

· March 21, 2012 10:39 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Emergency responders in northern Utah practiced for the worst Wednesday — a midair collision between two performing aircraft — so that visitors to Hill Air Force Base can see the best on Memorial Day weekend.

For the first time since 2009, HAFB is planning one of its massive air shows and open houses on May 26-27. The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, the premier air demonstration team, will perform in F-16s, and there will be other aerobatic performances as well.

More than 400,000 people attended the last air show three years ago.

To ensure responders are ready in case of an accident, HAFB and area fire and police crews on Wednesday simulated a midair collision over the base, with one of the aircraft falling on base and the other not far away, on Clearfield Job Corps property.

"This is a tremendous opportunity to show the communities we serve what their Air Force is all about, and we encourage the public to see firsthand the training and professionalism of our airmen," Lt. Col. Juris Jansons, 75th Operations Support Squadron commander and this year's event coordinator, said in a news release from the base.

The Top of Utah Military Affairs Committee is helping to organize the event and pay for aerial performers, including Tim Weber, Dan Buchanan, the Red Eagles, the Red Bull Team, Erickson Air, and Smoke and Thunder.

The air show also will be given a permanent name, "Warriors Over the Wasatch," according to a news release from the base.

"We want the 'Warriors Over the Wasatch' trademark to become a household name in Utah, as well as the aviation community across the country who participate in these events," said Kevin Ireland, Ogden Weber Chamber of Commerce development director and air show coordinator for the military committee, according to the release.

Base information about the open house and air show can be found at http://www.hill.af.mil/warriorsoverthewasatch. Event and sponsorship information can be found at http://www.theutahairshow.com.

kmoulton@sltrib.com