15. UK ATM - Alerting Service Flashcards
Define Alerting Service
An ALERTING SERVICE is provided to notify
appropriate organisations regarding aircraft in
need of Search & Rescue (SAR) aid and assist
such organisations as required.
Available to all aircraft known by air traffic
services to be operating within UK FIRs.
Responsibility for initiating action normally rests
with unit last in communication with the aircraft
or that which receives information from an
outside source.
The alerting service is available to all aircraft
which are known by the air traffic services to be
operating within the UK FIRs.
Initiating action:
ATSU in last communication, or which receives
information from external source.
What are the types of Search and Rescue SAR Units?
Coastguard
Mountain rescue team
Royal Air Force
Royal Navy
Civilian police
These are all coordinated by the Joint Control
centre and the Aeronautical Rescue
Coordination Centre (JRCC)
Who are the responsibly authorities?
Responsibility for SAR for civil aircraft in the UK
Search & Rescue Region (SRR) rests jointly with:
Department for Transport (DfT) through its
Aviation Airspace Division (AAD) and the
Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA).
The tasking of resources to respond to
aeronautical and maritime SAR, and subsequent
coordination is the responsibility of the MCA
through HM Coastguard.
The Ministry of Defence (MOD) may assist with
SAR ops on a case-by-case basis.
Mod will respond with its own assets for
military post-crash management.
MOD also operate the Distress and Diversion
cell (D&D) who provide 24hr assistance to
aircraft in an emergency.
Alerting service table
Communications used?
121.5 MHz most of UK above 3000ft
(below this in some areas).
All based at London ACC, Swanwick
(Distress and Diversion – D&D)
Callsign “London Centre”
Not necessary to address initial ‘MAYDAY’ or
‘PANPAN’ to specific Unit.
Select ‘7700’ or ‘7600’, if fitted.
(Military use 243.0MHz).
What are emergency locator transmitters?
Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are distress
beacons for aircraft and emit on 406MHz. (older ones
use 121.5 or 243MHz but are no longer monitored).
Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacons (EPIRBs)
for maritime distress and Personal Locator Beacon
(PLBs) for personal distress on land & sea.
Pilots encouraged to monitor 121.5Mhz & if hear
warbling tone inform relevant ACC immediately.
What are the aerodrome responsibilities?
When aware that an aircraft is in need of search
& rescue ( SAR ), shall immediately:
Set in motion local emergency services.
Notify watch supervisor at parent ACC.
(as per MATS part 1 - telephone message)
