Section 5, Chapter 8 - Miscellaneous Procedures

Question 1

What are Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and their signal characteristics?

Answer 1

Purpose:

• Carried by marine craft to indicate position when in distress by transmitting a distinctive signal.

Operating Frequency:

• Operate on 121.5 MHz.

Range:

• Have a range of approximately 30 NM.

Signal Characteristics:

• Downward sweep over a range of not less than 700 Hz within the limits of 1600–300 Hz.
• Repeated 2 or 3 times per second.

Detection:

• Unlikely that ATSUs will hear this signal directly.
• Reports of reception may be received from aircraft.

Question 2

What actions should be taken when aiding a ship in distress with an uncertain position?

Answer 2

RCC Request:

• The RCC may ask the ACC to request aircraft in the vicinity to report any sightings of the distressed ship.

Notify Aircraft:

• The ACC notifies all aircraft in communication and in the vicinity of the search area.
• Pass the request to all civil aerodromes likely to have aircraft in the area.

Reporting Sightings:

• If an aircraft reports a sighting to the ACC, inform the RCC without delay.
• If a sighting is reported to an ATSU other than the ACC, the unit should advise its parent ACC, who then informs the RCC.

Guidance:

• ATC should ask the reporting aircraft to attempt to guide other ships to the scene.

End of Search:

• The RCC will notify the ACC when aircraft searching is no longer required.
• The ACC relays this message to all units involved in the search.

Question 3

What steps are taken in the event of a nuclear or major chemical incident?

Answer 3

CAA Expert Team:

• The CAA will set up an Expert Team within SARG responsible for airspace management measures and information dissemination to aircraft and airspace users.

Activation of Expert Team:

• During normal hours: Contact Principal Airspace Regulator (Tel: 01293 983 880 or Email: arops@caa.co.uk).
• Outside normal hours: Contact Duty Airspace Regulator (Tel: 07798 571385).

Sources of Information:

• Information may come from the Meteorological Office, National Radiological Protection Board, another ATSU, police (via Emergency Restriction of Airspace request), internal sources, or other reliable sources such as the Department for Transport, Ministry of Defence, and Department of Trade and Industry.

Initial Actions:

• Upon notification, the CAA AR will alert the CAA Expert Team.
• ACCs provide tactical re-routing of aircraft in or near the UK FIR as necessary.

Contact Information:

• Contact numbers for the CAA Expert Team are held by the CAA AR.
• AR Operations can be contacted at 01293 983 880 or arops@caa.co.uk.