Simulation Improvement & Management Assistance

Strengthening Emergency Preparedness, Compliance & Resilience at African Airports

What is SIMAssist?

SIMAssist is an Airports Council International (ACI) Africa programme that supports airports in strengthening emergency preparedness through ICAO-compliant simulation exercises.

It provides practical, expert-led support to design, deliver and evaluate Tabletop (TTX) and Full-Scale Simulation Exercises (FSX), aligned with ICAO Annex 14 and aerodrome certification requirements.

Why SIMAssist?

Airports operate in increasingly complex and high-risk environments.

SIMAssist helps airports to:

• Test and validate Airport Emergency Plans (AEPs)
• Strengthen coordination across all responding agencies
• Improve command, control and communication
• Identify gaps before real emergencies occur
• Build a lasting culture of preparedness and resilience

What SIMAssist delivers

End-to-end expert support, including:

• Review and validation of the Airport Emergency Plan (AEP)
• Design of realistic, risk-based emergency scenarios
• Multi-agency stakeholder coordination
• Delivery of:
Tabletop Exercises (TTX)
Full-Scale Simulation Exercises (FSX)
• Real-time performance assessment against ICAO SARPs
• After-Action Report
• Corrective Action & Improvement Plan

Who is it for?

SIMAssist is designed for:

• International, regional and domestic airports
• Airport operations and safety teams
• Rescue & Fire Fighting Services (RFFS)
• Medical, security and law-enforcement agencies
• Airlines, ANSPs and ground handlers
• Civil aviation authorities (as observers or participants

Key Outcomes for Airports

Participating airports will:

• Demonstrate improved emergency readiness
• Strengthen inter-agency coordination
• Enhance ICAO and regulatory compliance
• Identify and close operational gaps
• Support aerodrome certification processes
• Receive a SIMAssist Certificate of Completion

How the programme works

SIMAssist follows a three-phase methodology:

1. Planning & Design
Needs assessment, AEP review, scenario development

2. Exercise Delivery
Tabletop Exercise (TTX) followed by live Full-Scale Simulation (FSX)

3. Evaluation & Improvement
After-action review and corrective action planning

Timelines are adapted to airport size, complexity and regulatory context.

Expert-led & Airport-focused

SIMAssist is delivered by ACI Africa-appointed experts, with oversight from the ACI Africa Safety & Technical Committee, ensuring:

• Technical credibility
• Regional relevance
• Independence and integrity