The Société Aéroportuaire de Lomé-Tokoin (SALT) organized the sixth edition of its EPULO exercise on October 30, 2026, at Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport. This year's exercise focused on testing the airport's public health emergency plan, evaluating the coordinated response of all actors involved in managing a health crisis on the platform. The goal was to strengthen their preparedness in the face of any eventuality.
The exercise scenario involved a realistic simulation of a potentially epidemic-prone disease on board an aircraft arriving from outside. For several hours, SALT teams, airport health services, security forces, rescue services, and institutional partners were put in a real-life situation to face a health threat in the context of air operations. The exercise complied with the International Civil Aviation Organization's (ICAO) requirements and the National Aeronautical Regulation of Togo (RANT 14).
The simulation was attended by Minister of Security, Col Calixte Madjoulba, alongside representatives from the Ministries of Health, Transport, and Communication. This demonstrates the government's emphasis on sanitary safety at air borders. The exercise aimed to assess the airport's ability to respond to health emergencies and ensure the continuity and serenity of air traffic.
The exercise included a hot debriefing session immediately after the simulation, where initial observations were shared, and minor shortcomings were corrected. A warm debriefing session will follow in a few days to compile all observations, and a cold debriefing will conclude the process with a final report and recommendations for continuous improvement.
SALT's Director-General, Malik Natchaba, expressed satisfaction with the exercise's success, highlighting the importance of periodic exercises to measure the airport's response capabilities. He thanked all actors involved, the government's support, and the collaboration of media professionals and local populations for their calm and understanding.
The success of the sixth edition of EPULO reaffirms SALT's commitment to making Gnassingbé Eyadéma International Airport a reference infrastructure where passenger safety, security, and health are top priorities. The airport is prepared to face any emergency situation, whether health-related or security-related, to ensure air traffic continuity and serenity.
The exercise demonstrates SALT's determination to maintain high standards of safety, security, and health at the airport. The organization will continue to work with all stakeholders to ensure the airport's emergency response plan is effective and up-to-date.
Key points
- The exercise was conducted in accordance with ICAO requirements and national regulations.
- The simulation involved a realistic scenario of a potentially epidemic-prone disease on board an aircraft.
- The exercise aimed to strengthen the preparedness of all actors involved in managing a health crisis at the airport.
