Section 5, Chapter 7 - Aerodrome Emergency Services

Question 1

What is the responsibility of the air traffic service (ATS) regarding alerting aerodrome emergency services?

Answer 1

Primary Responsibility:

• Alerting aerodrome emergency services generally rests with the air traffic service (ATS).
• The ATSU last in communication with the aircraft, or that receives information from an outside source that an aircraft needs rescue aid, must initiate action.

Aircraft Crash During Communication Transfer:

• No specific instructions exist for crashes during communication transfer between ATSUs.
• The first unit to become aware of the incident must immediately agree on which unit will alert the emergency services.

Question 2

What are the responsibilities of the Aerodrome Operator in aircraft emergencies?

Answer 2

Preparation of Emergency Orders:

• Prepare detailed aerodrome emergency orders specific to the aerodrome.
• Make these orders available to all personnel involved in aircraft emergencies.

Determining Radius of Action:

• Determine the radius of action for the Aerodrome Fire Service, which may include areas adjacent to and outside the boundary.
• Predetermine the size of attendance within this radius and detail it in MATS Part 2.

Advising on Depleted Fire and Rescue Services:

• Inform ATC and Aircraft Operators whenever fire and rescue services are depleted.
• Provide messages in a form suitable for immediate relay to aircraft.

Question 3

What actions should an ATC unit take when an aircraft needs rescue aid within the radius of action?

Answer 3

The ATC unit should:

• Immediately alert the emergency services.
• Provide the fullest available information in accordance with the aerodrome emergency orders.

Question 4

What steps should an ATC unit take if rescue services are depleted?

Answer 4

• Transmit the message received from the Aerodrome Operator to aircraft (refer to CAP 413 for phraseology).
• Inform the Watch Supervisor at the parent ACC.
• Inform any other agency, unit, or controller as appropriate.

Question 5

How is the RFFS category of a licensed/certificated aerodrome determined?

Answer 5

• Based on the longest aeroplane’s overall length and its fuselage width using Table 1.
• Category adjustment for fuselage width:
  1. If the aeroplane’s fuselage width exceeds the maximum width in Table 1, column 3 for its length category, the category should be increased by one.
  2. Example: An aeroplane with a length of 47.5 meters and a fuselage width of 5.1 meters would be Category 8.

Table 1: Aerodrome RFFS Categories

Special: Up to but not including 9 m (fuselage width 3 m)
Category 1: Up to but not including 9 m (fuselage width 3 m)
Category 2: 9 m up to but not including 12 m (fuselage width 3 m)
Category 3: 12 m up to but not including 18 m (fuselage width 3 m)
Category 4: 18 m up to but not including 24 m (fuselage width 4 m)
Category 5: 24 m up to but not including 28 m (fuselage width 4 m)
Category 6: 28 m up to but not including 39 m (fuselage width 5 m)
Category 7: 39 m up to but not including 49 m (fuselage width 5 m)
Category 8: 49 m up to but not including 61 m (fuselage width 7 m)
Category 9: 61 m up to but not including 76 m (fuselage width 7 m)
Category 10: 76 m up to but not including 90 m (fuselage width 8 m)

Notes: CAP 168 Table 8.1 and AMC2 ADR.OPS.B.010(a)(2) to UK (EU) Reg No 139/2014 specify the same categories except for ‘Special’.

Question 6

What are the guidelines for rescue and firefighting protection at licensed and certificated aerodromes?

Answer 6

Level of Protection:

• The level of rescue and firefighting protection is appropriate to the aerodrome category determined using the principles in 3.3.
• Exception: If the number of movements (landing or take-off) of the highest category aircraft performing passenger transportation is less than 700 in the busiest consecutive three months, the protection level may be reduced by one category.

Pilot Confirmation:

• When full emergency or local standby action is needed, the pilot should confirm the aircraft type unless it is reasonably assured from another source that the type shown in the flight plan is correct.

Runway Crossings:

• Controllers should anticipate the need for Aerodrome Fire Service vehicles to cross runways and issue clearances in advance to avoid conflicts.

Dangerous Goods:

• Inform rescue services if it is known that an aircraft has crashed or is about to crash with radioactive material or other dangerous goods, including agricultural chemicals in a crop-spraying aircraft.

Surface Wind Information:

• If an aircraft on the ground reports a fire or is advised of signs of fire, pass the surface wind information to the aircraft with the acknowledgment of the pilot’s report or together with the transmitted observation.

Question 7

What is the responsibility of the Aerodrome Fire Service regarding attendance at incidents?

Answer 7

The Aerodrome Fire Service is responsible for:

• Final determination of the size of attendance, which depends on whether the accident is within or outside the aerodrome boundary.
• Full attendance is normally made to all incidents within the aerodrome boundary.

Question 8

What are the responsibilities of the Aerodrome Operator regarding emergency and incident definitions?

Answer 8

• Prepare a detailed Aerodrome Emergency Plan, which includes terms and priorities for alerting emergency services.
• Ensure Emergency Orders translate the Emergency Plan into actionable courses for various participants, including ATC.
• Detail specific ATC responses in the Aerodrome Emergency Orders and MATS Part 2.
• Use standard terms, while recognizing that individual variations and additional terms may be found in local emergency orders.
• Refer to CAP 168 Chapter 9 for further details.

Question 9

What does the term “Aircraft Accident/Aircraft Accident Imminent” refer to in the context of aerodrome emergencies?

Answer 9

The term “Aircraft Accident/Aircraft Accident Imminent” refers to:

Aircraft accidents that have occurred or are inevitable on or in the vicinity of the aerodrome.

Question 10

What is an “Aircraft Ground Incident”?

Answer 10

An “Aircraft Ground Incident” refers to:

An emergency situation involving an aircraft on the ground, other than an accident, that requires the attendance of emergency services.

Question 11

What is a “Full Emergency”?

Answer 11

A “Full Emergency” refers to:

A situation where it is known or suspected that an aircraft in the air is in such difficulties that there is a danger of an accident.

Question 12

What is “Local Standby”?

Answer 12

“Local Standby” refers to:

A situation where it is known or suspected that an aircraft has developed a defect, but this would not normally involve any serious difficulty in effecting a safe landing.

Question 13

What is “Weather Standby”?

Answer 13

“Weather Standby” refers to:

A situation where weather conditions render a landing difficult or difficult to observe, such as strong crosswind, poor visibility, or ice or snow on the runway.

Question 14

What procedures are followed in the case of unlawful acts at an aerodrome?

Answer 14

Actions to be taken in the case of any unlawful act are detailed in the aerodrome’s Contingency Plan, which is drawn up in conjunction with the local Police.

Question 15

What should Emergency Orders include regarding off-aerodrome accidents?

Answer 15

Emergency Orders should include details of the action to be taken in the case of aircraft accidents occurring outside the aerodrome boundaries.

Question 16

What additional incidents should Emergency Orders cover, and what is classified as a “Domestic” incident?

Answer 16

Emergency Orders should include actions for incidents such as:

• Domestic fires
• Road traffic crashes
• Hazardous materials

A “Domestic” incident is classified as:

• Any incident on the aerodrome not included in the previously mentioned categories.
• Incidents outside the aerodrome boundary (other than aircraft accidents) that could pose a danger to flying or aerodrome property.
• Incidents where the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Service might attend based on an agreement with local emergency services.
• Incidents in response to calls from the public or police on humanitarian grounds.

Question 17

What are the procedures for communication between the Aerodrome Fire Service and aircraft during an emergency?

Answer 17

Frequency for communication: At aerodromes where this service is promulgated, communication can take place on 121.6 MHz.

Conditions for communication:
* Communication occurs only when the aircraft is on the ground.
* The pilot maintains a listening watch on the appropriate ATC frequency.
* The ATC unit will be informed when 121.6 MHz is to be used.

Controller awareness:
If facilitating communication on 121.6 MHz, be aware that the Aerodrome Fire Service may use the aircraft’s registration instead of the company callsign when attempting to communicate.

Question 18

Who is responsible for the removal of crashed aircraft, and what permission is required for reportable accidents?

Answer 18

• The Aerodrome Operator and the aircraft owner or operator are responsible for the removal of crashed aircraft.
• For a reportable accident, permission from the AAIB (Air Accidents Investigation Branch) is required before any removal action can commence.

Question 19

What steps should be taken for emergency removal of a crashed aircraft if it poses further danger?

Answer 19

• Senior controller’s role: Ensure the Aerodrome Operator fully understands the emergency situation if continued obstruction of a runway or interference with an approach aid by a crashed aircraft might endanger life.
• Contact AAIB: Normally, the AAIB can be contacted without delay.
• Exceptional circumstances: If communication difficulties arise, the Aerodrome Operator may take action under the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations 1996 to remove or interfere with the aircraft as necessary to prevent danger or obstruction to the public or air navigation.