On September 13, 2024, a full-scale emergency exercise involving Rochester and Olmsted County emergency response will be performed at the Rochester International Airport. The City of Rochester Emergency Management Division will host and coordinate this federally mandated exercise to evaluate the preparedness of local responders to a disaster in our area.
Full-scale exercises are a requirement of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). All US Passenger airports are required to complete a full-scale exercise once every three years. The last Rochester exercise was held in September 2021.
The purpose of these drills is to evaluate and strengthen an airport’s operational capability and its emergency management system. Community volunteers will bring a simulated aircraft emergency to life; testing the skills and preparation of many local agencies including emergency responders, airport employees, Mayo Clinic , Olmsted Medical Center, local and regional law enforcement and fire agencies, and the medical examiner.
The Rochester International Airport appreciates all partner organizations for their time and commitment to a successful exercise.
Rochester’s North Star Honor Flight
RST was the base for a North Star Honor Flight on April 23, 2025 that provided the opportunity for 88 veterans from southern Minnesota and northern Iowa to tour Washington D.C. memorials and sites. The day kicked off with a ceremony at 5:30 am. Veterans and their guardians then flew to Washington, D.C. (DCA), where
May 21, 2025
