PITTSBURGH – The Transportation Security Administration will be conducting several training exercises at Pittsburgh International Airport May 2 nd and 3 rd in conjunction with several local law enforcement and emergency responder agencies. Residents should not be alarmed if they see emergency vehicles or hear some noises associated with the exercise during this timeframe.
The training will offer the Allegheny County and the Pennsylvania State Police Bomb Squads the opportunity experience scenarios in the cabin of an aircraft. This series of exercises will be used to train and test bomb squad responses to explosives-related incidents at the airport, and offer training opportunities for federal, state and local public safety explosives experts.
“This is a valuable opportunity to partner with like-minded public safety agencies as we work together to train and drill during an exercise that is specifically designed to test capabilities in an aviation environment,” said Karen Keys-Turner, TSA’s Federal Security Director for PIT. “This will enable us to develop best practices, test the capabilities of all emergency response personnel and foster stronger working relationships and familiarity among the participants.”
Agencies participating in the exercises include the Transportation Security Administration, the Allegheny County Police Department, Allegheny County Airport Authority, Pennsylvania State Police and JetBlue Airlines.
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The Transportation Security Administration was created to strengthen the security of the nation’s transportation systems and ensure the freedom of movement for people and commerce. TSA uses a risk-based strategy and works closely with transportation, law enforcement and intelligence communities to set the standard for excellence in transportation security.
For more information about TSA, please visit our website at tsa.gov .