ABES Flashcards
What are the categories of emergency according to the MATS 2
- Aircraft Accident/ Aircraft Accident imminent
- Aircraft Ground Incident
- Full Emergency
- Local Standby
- Weather Standby
- Unlawful Acts
- Off aerodrome accidents
- Other duties ie Domestic Fire, RTA’s and hazardous materials
What do we do in the event of an aircraft accident?
Operate crash alarm
Fire one will call on frequency with “Pass Your message”
We reply;
Aircraft Accident at……. (crash grid ref.)
Aircraft type…….
Reason…….
POB……..
What do we do in the event of an Aircraft ground incident?
- Operate crash alarm
- Fire one will call on frequency with “Pass Your message”
- We reply;
Aircraft Ground Incident at……. (crash grid ref.)
Aircraft type…….
Reason…….
POB……..
What do we do in the event of a Full emergency?
- Operate crash alarm
- Fire one will call on frequency with “Pass Your message”
- We reply;
Runway in us……… (crash grid ref)
Aircraft type…….
Callsign/Reg……
ETA…….
POB……..
Nature of problem………
What do we do in the event of a Local Standby being required?
- Call RFFS with following message;
Local Standby
Runway in use…..
Aircraft type……..
Callsign/reg…….
ETA…….
POB…….
Nature of problem……. - If upgrade required press crash alarm and update RFFS over the radio
What do we do in the event of a weather standby?
- Call RFFS with the following message;
Weather Standby
Reason………. (eg crosswinds, snow or ice on the runway etc)
Runway in Use - If upgrade required press crash alarm and update the RFFS over the radio
Who is responsible for Search and Rescue?
MOD and Department for Transport
Define an alerting service
A service provided to notify appropriate organisations regarding an a/c in need of SAR aid and assist such organisations as required.
To whom do we provide an Alerting service?
Alerting service shall be provided:
– For all aircraft provided with ATC service
– In so far as practicable, to all other aircraft having filed a flight plan or otherwise known to the air traffic services; and…
– To any aircraft known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference
What are the phases of emergency?
Emergency Phase- A generic term meaning as the case may be;
1. Uncertainity Phase- Situation wherein doubt exists as to the safety of an a/c or a marine vessel and of the persons on board.
2. Alert Phase- Situation wherein apprehension exists as to the safety of an a/c or marine vessel and of the persons on board.
3. Distress Phase- Situation wherein there is a reasonable certainity that a vessel or other craft, including an a/c or a person on board, is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
What is the distress phase of an emergency?
A situation wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger or require immediate assistance.
What is the uncertainity phase of an emergency?
–When no communication has been received from an aircraft within a period of 30 minutes after the time a communication should have been received, or…
– from the time an unsuccessful attempt to establish communication with such aircraft was first made, whichever is earlier, or…
– when an aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the ETA last notified to or estimated by ATSUs, whichever is later, except…
– when no doubt exists as to the safety of the aircraft an its occupants.
What is the alert phase of an emergency?
– When following the uncertainty phase, subsequent attempts to establish communication with the aircraft or inquiries to other relevant sources have failed to reveal any news of the aircraft, or…
– When an aircraft has been cleared to land and fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing and communication has not been re-established with the aircraft, or…
- When information has been received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired, but not to the extent that a forced landing is likely, except…
- When evidence exists that would allay apprehension as to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants, or…
- When an aircraft is known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference.
What is the distress phase of an emergency?
When following the alert phase, further unsuccessful attempts to establish communication with the aircraft and more widespread unsuccessful inquiries point to the probability that the aircraft is in distress, or…
- When the fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety, or…
- When information is received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is likely, or…
- When information is received or it is reasonably certain that the aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing, except…
- When there is reasonable certainty that the aircraft and its occupants are not threatened by grave and imminent danger and do not require immediate assistance.
Define distress
Distress A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.
Define urgency
A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but which does not require immediate assistance.
What is a PAN-PAN medical?
A emergency message reserved for medical emergencies on medical transport aircraft.
To whom do we provide an Alerting service?
Alerting service shall be provided to all aircraft known by ATCU’s to be operating within UK FIR’s
Who acts as the focal point for collating info re an A/C in need of SAR aid?
FIC or ACC shall serve as the central point for collecting all information relevant to a state of emergency of an aircraft operating within the FIR or control area concerned and for forwarding such information to the appropriate aeronautical rescue coordination centre (ARCC).
If a state of emergency arises to an aircraft while under ADI or APS control what happens?
The ATC unit will notify the ACC/FIC who will in turn notify the ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre). They do not need to do this though if the nature of the emergency is such that the notification is unnecessary.
Even if the ARCC is not notified the unit shall alert and take other necessary steps to set in motion all appropriate local rescue and emergency organisations which can give the immediate assistance required.
Who is responsible initiating action?
Normally rests with the unit last in communication with the a/c or that which receives outside information from an outside source.
Name three types of SAR units and who coordinates them?
- Coastguard
- Mountain Rescue Teams
- Civilian Police
Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC)
Describe the organisation of SAR services in the UK
What are the distress frequencies in the UK?
121.5 MHz- most of UK above 3,000ft, based at Swanwick (D&D)
243MHz for Military
What does squawk 7700 mean?
Emergency
What does squwak 7500 mean?
Hijack/unlawful interference
What does squwak 7600 mean?
Comms failure.
What is an ELT?
Emergency Locator Transmitter
Transmits on 406MHz used for locating an aircraft in distress (older ones use 121.5 or 243 MHz but these frequencies are not monitored for these)
What is an EPIRB?
Emergency Position Indicator Radio Beacon
For maritime distress
What is a PLB?
Personal Locator Beacon
What are the distress frequencies in the UK?
Civil = 121.5MHz
Military= 243MHz
Above what level are the D & D frequencies available?
3,000ft Altitude
What should a pilot do before flying into areas where SAR operations are in progress?
➢Contact ARCC by telephone before leaving
➢Flight plan with area entering/leaving times & operating height. Address to ARCC
➢Check weather en-route & in search area
➢Monitor distress 121.5mhz & scene of search 123.1mhz, avoid transmitting
➢UNICOM channel 130.425mhz for SAR ops (& for glider pilots)
When are pilots advised to file a flight plan?
- When flying more than 10nm away from the UK coast
- When flying over areas where SAR operations would be difficult such as sparesely populated areas
What is autotriangulation?
How D & D determine your position when transmitting on the distress frequencies
Only available above 3,000ft due to antenna coverage
Almost instantaneous
What is a TDA?
Temporary Danger Area
TDAs established around incident area, & promulgated by NOTAM.
If unable to achieve objective, restriction of flying (emergency) regulations invoked, promulgated by NOTAM, making it an offence to fly in designated area.
What is the callsign for fixed wing SAR?
rescue 21 (2 numbers)
What would be the callsign for a helicopter rescue aircraft?
rescue 341 (3 numbers)
What flight category is a HEMS flight during an emergency?
CAT A
What flight category is a HEMS flight when repositioning?
E
What flight category is a HEMS flight during training?
Z
When are aerodrome control responsible for alerting the RFFS?
- An aircraft accident has occurred on or in the vicinity of the aerodrome.
- Information is received that the safety of an aircraft has been impaired.
- Requested by the flight crew.
- When deemed necessary or desirable.
What does the pneumonic ASSISTS mean withe reference to the controller and pilot?
A- Acknowledge
S- Separate
S- Silence
I- Inform
S- Support
T- Time
S- Squawk
What are the general principles you would consider as a controller dealing with an emergency?
- Acknowledge the Mayday or Pan
- Be aware
- Consider all means at your disposal
- Beware complacency in a familiar situation as differences may be subtle
- Teamwork
- Remain calm
- Determine exact nature of problem
- Assess before acting
- Prioritise
- Off-load non essential tasks
- Inform, advise and coordinate
What is the phraseology for acknowledging a Mayday or Pan?
“C/S, Avon Tower, Roger Mayday/Pan-Pan”
What is the phraseology for imposing and cancelling silence on the frequency during an emergency?
“All stations, Avon Tower, Stop transmitting, mayday”
Cancelling= “All stations, Avon Tower, distress traffic ended”
What is the phraseology for transferring non emergency traffic to another frequency?
“Mayday (a/c c/s), all other aircraft contact … on … out”
When do we alert the local external emergency services of emergency situations?
During a Aircraft accident (including imminent ones) and fulle emergencies.
Also when outside the radius of action of the RFFS
In what ways could we as Aerodrome controllers determine the position of an a/c?
Pilot report
ATM
VDF bearings
Map ref/ position
What are the actions of ATC when an emergency has been declared?
- Unless stated, ascertain type of emergency, intention of crew, position and level of aircraft.
- Decide upon the appropriate assistance
- Enlist the help of other ATS units or other services as necessary.
- Provide crew with any information requested as well as suitable aerodromes, minimum safe altitudes (MSA) and weather information.
What are the three questions we use to determine severity?
-
Are you able to maintain height?
This will allow you to consider time and distance available, and pilots workload. -
Can you affect a safe landing?
This will allow you to understand the implications for your or another airfield. -
Report your POB.
his will save time from sending the RQS message and in case a radio failure takes place – you never know if and when you may lose this vital lifeline.
Do ATC need the pilot to declare and emergency before taking precautionary action?
No
What are a pilots priorities during an emergency?
1) Aviate
2) Navigate
3) Communicate
When may pilots jettison fuel?
In an emergency situation
Should take place at least above 10,000ft AGL
However if not possible to remain above 10,000ft or above water then it must be at least 7,000ft AGL in winter and 4,000ft AGL in summer (to allow evaporation of fuel before it hits the ground)
What are RFFS categories determined by?
The length and width of largest a/c using the aerodrome.
What RFFS categories are there?
Special & 1-10
What helicopter RFFS categories are there?
H1- H3
What is the definition of the response time for the RFFS?
Defined as the time between initial call to RFFS and the time the first responding vehicle(s) is in position and, if required, to produce foam at rate of at least 50% of discharge rate specified.
What do we do in the event of RFFS category reduction?
We notify arriving and departing aircraft as well as putting it on the NOTAM and ATIS.
Whose decision is it whether a RFFS category is acceptable for a/c operation?
Flight crew and aircraft operator.
What is the phraseology for passing a message concerning the reduction in RFFS category to a/c over the RT?
“Message from the Aerodrome Operator, rescue and fire facilities reduced to category (number).”
Or
“Message from the aerodrome operator, no rescue and fire fighting facilities available.”
Who else apart from the a/c do we inform about a reduction in RFFS category?
Parent ACC.
What priority over other traffic do emergency vehicles have when dealing with an emergency?
The get top priority
Who is responsible for ensuring RFFS informed of any dangerous goods on an A/C?
ATCU