This is only a drill — there is no actual danger

information released

The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority is advising the community that a planned emergency response exercise will take place at Pangborn Memorial Airport on Thursday, October 1, 2026.

This is a drill. There is no actual emergency at Pangborn Memorial Airport.

The Tri-ACE exercise will bring together the Regional Port and multiple local and regional response agencies to practice a coordinated response to a simulated emergency at the airport. Community members may notice an increased presence of emergency response vehicles, personnel and activity in and around Pangborn Memorial Airport during the exercise.

“Exercises like this allow our airport team and regional response partners to work through how we would respond together during an actual emergency,” said Trent Moyers, Director of Airports for the Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority. “The goal is to practice those procedures in a controlled environment and strengthen the coordination that would be critical during a real event.”

Supporting Regional Airport Readiness

Pangborn Memorial Airport is a critical component of North Central Washington’s transportation and economic infrastructure. Safely and effectively serving the region requires not only investment in physical infrastructure, but strong operational readiness and coordination among the agencies that would respond during an emergency.

The Regional Port’s 2025–2029 Strategic Plan identifies Airport Operations as a key organizational goal, including enhancing the operational capacity of its airports to support future growth and regional needs. Tri-ACE supports that commitment by allowing airport personnel and regional partners to test procedures, understand how resources would be deployed and strengthen the partnerships that support airport operations.

The exercise also reflects the Regional Port’s emphasis on collaboration, one of the core values established in the Strategic Plan, by bringing organizations together around a shared responsibility for regional preparedness.

Participating Agencies

An effective response to an airport emergency requires coordination across multiple disciplines and jurisdictions. Tri-ACE brings together airport personnel, fire and emergency medical services, law enforcement, emergency management, healthcare providers and other regional partners to practice their respective roles and the communication and resource-sharing required during a complex incident.

Participating agencies include:

  • Airlift Northwest
  • Life Flight Network
  • Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
  • Chelan County Sheriff’s Office / Emergency Management
  • Wenatchee Valley Fire Department
  • Lifeline Ambulance
  • Ballard Ambulance
  • American Red Cross
  • Confluence Health
  • Washington Army National Guard
  • Horizon Air
  • Wenatchee School District

The Regional Port appreciates the commitment of each participating organization and the personnel dedicating their time to the exercise. Their involvement strengthens preparedness at Pangborn Memorial Airport and the region’s broader ability to respond collaboratively when an emergency requires resources across multiple agencies and jurisdictions.

What the Public Should Know

During the exercise, community members may notice a larger-than-normal presence of fire, law enforcement, emergency medical and other response vehicles traveling to and from Pangborn Memorial Airport. Emergency personnel and equipment may also be visible on airport property as agencies work through the simulated response. The activity is intentionally designed to create a realistic training environment. The presence of emergency vehicles and personnel at the airport on October 1 should not be interpreted as an indication of an actual emergency.

The exercise is not expected to impact scheduled commercial air service. Passengers should continue to arrive for their flights as they normally would, and airport operations will continue throughout the exercise.

For questions, please contact: Trent Moyers Director of Airports trent@cdrpa.org 509.884.4700

About the CDRPA:

The Chelan Douglas Regional Port Authority (CDRPA) is the first of its kind in Washington State, uniting two countywide port districts into a single operating entity. As the principal economic development agency for Chelan and Douglas Counties, the Regional Port promotes investment, develops business-supporting infrastructure, and advances initiatives that deliver measurable economic benefits. For more information, please visit www.cdrpa.org or follow us on Facebook.