Ellington Airport plays critical role in statewide aviation rescue exercise

Exercise simulates post-disaster rescues as hurricane season nears.

May 22, 2025

Ellington Airport (EFD) served as a vital operations hub during a large-scale aviation search and rescue exercise (SAREX) held on Wednesday, May 21. The exercise, led by Texas A&M Task Force 1, brought together dozens of state, federal and military agencies to simulate real-time rescue efforts following a natural disaster.

Black Hawk, Chinook and C-130 aircraft were staged across the airfield, with Ellington supporting continuous takeoffs, landings and mission coordination throughout the day. Aircrews, loaded with first responders and equipment, launched from the airport to multiple rescue zones across the region, including Lake Houston, Deussen Park, Bay Area Park (Armand Bayou), Eisenhower Park and the San Jacinto River between Lake Houston Dam and US Hwy 90.

The exercise, which took place between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m., is designed to improve coordination between agencies during large-scale emergencies such as hurricanes and floods. Participants included the Texas Military Department, Texas Department of Public Safety, Texas Parks and Wildlife, Harris County Fire Marshal’s Office and other regional and national response teams. In one dramatic sequence, a military helicopter hovered just above the runway while rescuers escorted a simulated evacuee to safety—underscoring the complexity and urgency of aviation rescue work. Nearby, Chinooks and C-130s stood ready on the ramp, underscoring Ellington’s strategic role in multi-agency readiness.

The training was visible to residents across southeast Houston as helicopters flew low-altitude missions over land and water. The drill tested response capabilities and reinforced the region’s commitment to interagency collaboration and disaster resilience.

Ellington Airport—home to the Texas Air National Guard, NASA operations and other federal partners—remains a cornerstone of Houston’s emergency response network.

ABOUT TEEX | The Texas A&M Engineering Extension Service (TEEX) is an internationally recognized leader in emergency response training, workforce training and technical assistance. In 2024, TEEX trained more than 225,000 participants from every U.S. state and territory and 124 countries worldwide.

Major TEEX programs include Fire and Emergency Services, Infrastructure and Safety, Law Enforcement and Protective Services, and Business and Cyber Solutions. Additionally, through its National Emergency Response and Recovery Training Center (NERRTC), TEEX provides federally funded homeland security training and technical assistance for communities nationwide. The agency also sponsors the Texas A&M Public Works Response Team (TX-PWRT) and the Texas A&M Task Force 1 (TX-TF1) Urban Search and Rescue Team.