2.11 Emergency Procedures

GENERAL

2.11.1 When an emergency is declared by an aircraft, the ATS unit should:

  1. take all necessary steps to ascertain aircraft identification and type, the type of emergency, the intentions of the flight crew as well as the position and level of the aircraft if necessary;
  2. decide upon the most appropriate type of assistance which can be rendered;
  3. enlist the aid of any other ATS unit or other services which may be able to provide assistance to the aircraft;
  4. provide the flight crew with any information requested as well as any additional relevant information, such as details on suitable aerodromes, minimum safe altitudes, weather information;
  5. notify the appropriate ATS units.
  6. Changes of radio frequency and SSR code should be avoided if possible and should normally be made only when or if an improved service can be provided to the aircraft concerned.
  7. Manoeuvring instructions to an aircraft experiencing engine failure should be limited to a minimum.

PRIORITY

2.11.2 An aircraft known or believed to be in a state of emergency shall be given priority over other aircraft.

EMERGENCY DESCENT

2.11.3 Upon receipt of advice that an aircraft is making an emergency descent through other traffic, all possible action shall be taken immediately to safeguard all aircraft concerned.

When deemed necessary, air traffic control units shall immediately broadcast an emergency message by means of voice and text modes to pilots and chat windows to other controllers.

  • ACTION BY THE PILOT-IN-COMMAND : will clear the specified areas and stand by on the radio frequency for further clearances from the ATC unit.
  • ACTION BY THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL UNIT : The ACC, APP or TWR concerned shall forward further clearances to all aircraft involved as to additional procedures to be followed during and subsequent to the emergency descent. The ATS unit concerned shall additionally inform by chat any other ATS units which may be affected.

EMERGENCY DEFINITIONS

2.11.4 Two states of emergency have to be considered:

  1. Distress:
    • A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.
    • Examples: ditching, crash landing imminent, total engine failure, etc.
  2. Urgency:
    • A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or some persons on board but which does not required immediate assistance.
    • Examples: lost, fuel shortage, partial engine failure, navigation system failure, etc.

EMERGENCY MESSAGES

2.11.5

  1. Distress:
    • Mayday, Mayday, Mayday, this is “aircraft callsign”
    • then transmit as many of the following elements as necessary and as time permits:
      • aircraft position and heading
      • flight level, altitude or height
      • aircraft type and POB (number of persons on board)
      • nature of emergency
      • any other relevant piece of information (weather, endurance, intentions…)
  2. Urgency:
    • Pan, Pan, Pan, this is “aircraft callsign”
    • then transmit as many of the following elements as necessary and as time permits :
      • aircraft position and heading
      • flight level, altitude or height
      • aircraft type and POB (number of persons on board)
      • nature of emergency
      • any other relevant piece of information (weather, endurance, intentions…)