Emergency

Question 1

Name the 3 OCS Contingency phases

Answer 1

Recover
Limited ATS
Restoration of ATS delivery to the OCS

Question 2

State the objective of the OCS Recovery contingency phase

Answer 2

To ensure a safe air traffic environment until aircraft, that at the time of the multiple OCS failure were operating within or about to enter the Auckland OCA, have vacated the area.

Question 3

During the OCS Recovery contingency phase, when are aircraft permitted to enter the Auckland OCA?

Answer 3

No further aircraft should be permitted entry into the Auckland OCA, unless the aircraft has been previously coordinated and accepted, until:

• Limited ATS procedures are activated, OR
• either the OCS main or reserve platform has been restored to service.

Question 4

What is the objective of the Limited ATS contingency phase? What restrictions, if any, apply to aircraft during this phase?

Answer 4

To provide a safe air traffic environment to the extent possible given the circumstances and allow aircraft to operate within AA OCA FIR.

• AA OCA/A remains class A airspace and an ATC shall be provided
• Traffic flow management procedures will be implemented
• all ATS fixed routes remain available. UPR’s are NOT available.

Question 5

Who is responsible for issuing the OCS flow NOTAM?

Answer 5

Oceanic Team Leader

Question 6

Who is responsible for deciding when ATS delivery shall be resumed from either the OCS main or reserve platforms?

Answer 6

Oceanic Team Leader

Question 7

What is the IFERC and what is its purpose?

Answer 7

A separate folder of ready-reference checklists designed to assist personnel when handling various types of in-flight emergencies.

Question 8

As part of an in-flight emergency response, what expectations are placed on ATS personnel?

Answer 8

• Provide reasonable assistance and/or advice to the pilot of an aircraft operating under abnormal circumstances or declaring an emergency, in an endeavour to have the pilot;
• maintain or regain control of the aircraft; and/or
• resume normal operation in appropriate airspace; and/or
• land the aircraft safely; and
• Provide reasonable advice to any other pilot assisting such a pilot

Question 9

When is an in-flight emergency response considered to be terminated?

Answer 9

• The emergency is resolved i.e. the aircraft lands safely or resumes normal operation; OR
• The aircraft is known or believed to have crashed or completed a forced or precautionary landing, and responsibility for the action has been handed over to the local aerodrome emergency organisation or the police or the RCCNZ.

Question 10

Name and define the three alerting service emergency phases.

Answer 10

Uncertainty Phase (Incerfa) - when uncertainty exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants.
Alert Phase (Alerfa) - when apprehension exists as to safety of an aircraft and its occupants.
Distress Phase (Detresfa) - when there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

Question 11

When shall the ALERT phase be declared?

Answer 11

• when an aircraft is known or believed to subject to unlawful interference; or
• following the Uncertainty Phase, subsequent attempts to establish communications with the aircraft or inquiries to other relevant sources fails to reveal any news of the aircraft; or
• an aircraft which has been given circuit joining, approach or landing instructions from an ATC unit or landing information from an AFIS unit fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing, and communication cannot be re-established; or
• an aircraft is known or believed to be experiencing impaired operating efficiency to the extent that it is having difficulty in maintaining height, or may have difficulty in making a normal approach and landing; or
• an aircraft is known or believed to be subject to irregular operations or is lost and there is reason to believe that the safe conduct of the flight is in jeopardy; or
• an aircraft is operating in instrument met conditions when the pilot or aircraft is limited to VFR operations; or
• the duration of Incerfa has exceeded 30 minutes.

Question 12

When shall the Distress phase be declared?

Answer 12

• 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
• the fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety; or
• 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
• information is received or it is reasonably certain that the aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing; or
• the duration of the Alerfa has exceeded one hour.