Section 5, Chapter 6 - Alerting Service

Question 1

What is the scope of the alerting service provided by air traffic service units according to UK Reg (EU) No. 923/2012 SERA.10001?

Answer 1

Alerting service is provided by air traffic service units for:

• All aircraft provided with an air traffic service.
• Note: The UK also provides an alerting service to all aircraft receiving an Air Traffic Service (ATS).
• All other aircraft having filed a flight plan or otherwise known to the air traffic service unit, as far as practicable.
• Any aircraft known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference.

The responsibility for initiating action usually rests with the ATSU that was last in communication with the aircraft in need of search and rescue aid or that receives the news from an outside source.

Question 2

What actions should approach and aerodrome control units take when aware that an aircraft needs search and rescue aid?

Answer 2

Approach and aerodrome control units should immediately:

• Set in motion local rescue services and emergency organisations as described in Chapter 7.
• Notify by telephone the Watch Supervisor at the parent ACC. The contents of the telephone message are detailed in paragraph 9.

Question 3

What should an ACC do when aware of an aircraft in distress, and what are the subsequent responsibilities?

Answer 3

• Notify the police immediately when an ACC becomes aware of an aircraft in distress.
• Police responsibilities: The police are then responsible for alerting the fire, ambulance, and hospital services.
• Refer to MATS Part 2 for detailed procedures.

Question 4

What are the responsibilities of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and the actions required by the ACC during aircraft emergencies?

Answer 4

JRCC Responsibilities:

• Promote efficient organisation of search and rescue services.
• Coordinate search and rescue operations within the search and rescue region.
• Located in Fareham, Hampshire.

ACC Responsibilities:

• Notify aircraft emergencies requiring search and rescue aid to the JRCC and inform other involved ACCs.
• Include a recommendation for search and rescue action in the telephone message to assist the JRCC controller.
• Send messages without delay, even if information is incomplete; send further messages when additional information is available or when the emergency situation no longer exists.
• If an alerting message is received from an adjacent ACC, telephone the message to the JRCC without delay and confirm by teleprinter signal. Assist the initiating ACC in searching for information about the emergency aircraft.

Further Information:

• Detailed SAR organisation is described in the UK AIP (GEN) section.

Question 5

What are the phases of emergency for aircraft and the actions taken in each phase?

Answer 5

Uncertainty Phase (INCERFA):

Triggered when:
* No communication within 30 minutes after expected or from the first unsuccessful attempt.
* Fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the last notified or estimated ETA.
* Cleared to commence approach but fails to land within 5 minutes of estimated landing time.
Duration: Maximum of 30 minutes.
Action: JRCC and ACC collect and evaluate reports; other JRCC or MRCC may be informed.

Alert Phase (ALERFA):

Triggered when:
* Attempts to establish communication during UNCERTAINTY phase fail.
* Enquiries during UNCERTAINTY phase reveal no news.
* Cleared to land but fails to land within 5 minutes and communication cannot be re-established.
* The fuel on board is considered to be exhausted or insufficient for safe landing.
Duration: Maximum of one hour.
Action: JRCC alerts search and rescue services for immediate action.
Note: Initiated when an aircraft is known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference.

Distress Phase (DETRESFA):

Triggered when:
* Further attempts to establish communication during ALERT phase fail.
* More widespread enquiries reveal no news.
* Evidence indicates that the aircraft has force landed, crashed, or a forced landing is likely.
Duration: Until the aircraft is found and survivors rescued, or it is clear that there is no longer any chance of doing so.
Action: JRCC initiates and directs the search and rescue plan for the duration of this phase.

Question 6

What are the telephone precedence categories for ATC units and when should they be used?

Answer 6

Telephone Precedence Categories:

DISTRESS:
* Used for extreme operational emergencies or calls concerned with the safety of human life.
* Takes absolute precedence over all other calls and will be connected immediately.
* Other calls may be disconnected if necessary.
* On NATS networks, use the term “DISTRESS CALL” with the routing instruction, e.g., “Distress call to Scottish AC.”

URGENT:
* Used for operational and administrative calls that should not be delayed by ordinary calls.
* Connected ordinary calls will only be disconnected at the caller’s request, subject to equipment capability.
* Civil aerodromes and civil ATSUs use the term “CIVIL URGENT.”
* Military units and government departments use the term “GOVERNMENT URGENT.”

Usage Guidelines:

• DISTRESS and URGENT calls should be minimized consistent with safety.
• Controllers should be prepared to give their name to the operator when making such calls.

Question 7

What information should be included in an alerting message by telephone during an emergency?

Answer 7

The alerting message should include the following information:
* Phase of emergency: Uncertainty, Alert, or Distress.
* Aircraft identification: Item 7 from the transmitted flight plan.
* SSR mode and code allocated.
* Flight rules: Item 8.
* Type of aircraft: Item 9.
* Equipment: Item 10.
* Aerodrome and time of departure: Item 13.
* Speed, level, and route: Item 15.
* Destination/ETA/Alternate: Item 16.
* FIR boundary estimate: Item 18.
* Other information: Item 18.
* Supplementary information: Item 19 from the filed flight plan retained at the departure aerodrome.
* Pilot’s name.
* Operator: (if not included above).
* Unit which made the last contact, time, and RTF frequency.
* Last reported position and method of determination.
* Aircraft colour and markings.
* Dangerous goods carried as cargo.
* Action taken by reporting unit.
* Other pertinent information: Including recommendation for SAR action if appropriate.

Question 8

What are the procedures related to the “operations normal” transmission in aerial activities?

Answer 8

Pilot’s “operations normal” transmission:

• Used during prolonged operations within a single ATSU’s area after 30 minutes of RT inactivity.
• Indicates the flight is progressing according to plan (SERA.10001(b)&(c)).

Use within Europe:

• Applicable to flights over mountainous or sparsely populated areas, including sea areas (Doc 7030).
• Permitted in other scenarios per MATS Part 2.

Controller actions if “operations normal” report is not received:

• Attempt contact using: “(Callsign) confirm operations normal?”
• Initiate overdue action if no response after three attempts.

For ‘Rescue’ call signs:

• Contact JRCC after three unsuccessful attempts to confirm ‘operations normal’.
• JRCC will use HF or satellite communication to establish contact and confirm ‘operations normal’.
• Initiate overdue action if JRCC is unable to obtain the report from the aircraft.