The value of this role is recognised and acknowledged. The airport chaplain sits on the Airport Emergency Planning Committee and the team take part in all airport emergency exercises. His preaching skills are also recognised as Michael also runs training courses in use of the public address system for new starters. The airport and airlines do employ a large number of comparatively young people. Both Colin and Michael talked of the need and plans to train such staff in listening and support skills so that they might be better equipped should a major incident occur.
The afternoon also included a visit to the operations centre, a room of large screens run by systems capable of tracking any plane anywhere at any time, as well as [or so it seemed to me] being able to identify which litter bins on the airport needed emptying. It was a room with but a handful of people concisely and quietly passing information and instructions. It was a small room which gave the impression of a good working partnership between we humans and the technology we create.
It was a most interesting and informative visit. As a chaplain it is encouraging to see the role that the airport chaplaincy team play. As a passenger it is reassuring to see the detailed level of care exercised by all involved in our safety and well being.
Finding God in the Workplace.
One of the highlights of the MIBIC Chaplains' Conference in recent years has been the visit to a place relevant to our theme. In November 2003 our visit was to Luton Airport and Colin Hockridge reflects on the visit.
Our visit was hosted by Rev Michael Banfield - airport chaplain, Colin Healey -Airport Emergency Planning Officer and Malcolm Roberts a volunteer chaplain.
With 30 years in the fire service Colin thought that when he took the role of emergency planning officer he knew about life at the ?sharp end?. As his role evolved he learnt that he now had to deal with a ?new sharp end?. The extent and complexity of after care; care of casualties, care of relatives and friends, care of staff was now the most complex area of concern. He spoke to us in the airport chapel, standing in front of the propeller cross set in a heart -shaped pool of light, which, so creatively, reflects the spirituality of that chapel. This seemed so apparent as he described how in human care they like not just to go ?the extra step, but the extra 3 or 4 steps.?
The chaplaincy emergency response team [CERT] headed up by Michael Banfield plays a significant role in meeting those human care needs. The airport chaplaincy team is made up Michael and 4 [mostly] volunteer assistant chaplains. For emergency responses a further 17 can be added to this number from local churches. The role of the team is detailed for each area of operation. The key words used are -support, listen to, encourage, practically assist, and stand by?..
The members of the regular airport chaplaincy team exercise a role of care for staff involved with the incident as well as joining the clergy team in ministry to survivors and relatives. There may also be airline representatives trained as supporters/ befrienders. If, for whatever reason, their input cannot be co-ordinated by the airline then they too can be co-ordinated by the Chaplaincy Accident Team Leader. The core airport chaplaincy team links, then, with local faith communities and the employers/ users of the airport to provide as much pastoral and practical support as possible.
