Locals around Badgerys Creek may have glimpsed (or more likely heard) an unfamiliar sight this morning: the first jet ever to land at Western Sydney International (Nancy-Bird Walton) Airport.
The landing of a NSW Rural Fire Service Boeing 737 marked the start of a two-day emergency simulation at the future hub, the most comprehensive test yet of the new airport’s systems.
According to WSI, the full-scale exercise is testing the airport’s emergency preparedness and response, ensuring it’s ready for certification before its 2026 opening.
More than 300 volunteers and emergency service personnel are taking part in the exercise, alongside key federal agencies like the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force and Airservices Australia.
“This will be the most significant simulation we’ve carried out to date and it’s a positive opportunity for our airport staff and all first responders to test our collective resources, protocols and general preparedness in a safe, controlled environment,” WSI CEO Simon Hickey said.
“It also marks a significant milestone for Sydney’s new 24-hour airport, with our first 737 jet aircraft landing at WSI’s technologically enabled airfield – a big moment that included welcoming many community onlookers and media on site to capture the historic arrival.”
Transport Minister Catherine King called the landing of the first jet “a historic moment for Western Sydney International Airport”.
“A lot of hard work has led up to this moment, from the earlier days of construction to now rigorous testing to become operationally ready,” she said.
“This project has taken decades of planning, created thousands of jobs and millions of hours of work. This is a clear indicator of the Albanese Government investing in Western Sydney.”
Backed by a $5.6 billion Federal Government investment, the project has already supported over 12,000 jobs and promises to transform the economy of Western Sydney – a burgeoning region of the Sydney metropolitan area, and it is hoped, a future hotbed of international travel.
“This is an important milestone for NSW, the landing of the RFS Marie Bashir aircraft at the new Western Sydney International Airport is the beginning of many years of showcasing south-western Sydney to the world,” NSW Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said.
“Importantly, our emergency services are testing their capabilities to demonstrate they are ready to respond and work with their airport colleagues to protect passengers using this airport when passenger flights begin.”
Last week, Western Sydney International edged closer to take-off, launching live operational trials across the new precinct, including the first tests of its baggage handling systems.
For more info on Western Sydney Airport, click here.
