What are the categories of emergency according to the MATS 2
What do we do in the event of an aircraft accident?
Operate crash alarm
Fire one will call on frequency with “Pass Your message”
We reply;
Aircraft Accident at……. (crash grid ref.)
Aircraft type…….
Reason…….
POB……..
What do we do in the event of an Aircraft ground incident?
What do we do in the event of a Full emergency?
What do we do in the event of a Local Standby being required?
What do we do in the event of a weather standby?
Who is responsible for Search and Rescue?
MOD and Department for Transport
Define an alerting service
A service provided to notify appropriate organisations regarding an a/c in need of SAR aid and assist such organisations as required.
To whom do we provide an Alerting service?
Alerting service shall be provided:
– For all aircraft provided with ATC service
– In so far as practicable, to all other aircraft having filed a flight plan or otherwise known to the air traffic services; and…
– To any aircraft known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference
What are the phases of emergency?
Emergency Phase- A generic term meaning as the case may be;
1. Uncertainity Phase- Situation wherein doubt exists as to the safety of an a/c or a marine vessel and of the persons on board.
2. Alert Phase- Situation wherein apprehension exists as to the safety of an a/c or marine vessel and of the persons on board.
3. Distress Phase- Situation wherein there is a reasonable certainity that a vessel or other craft, including an a/c or a person on board, is threatened by grave and imminent danger and requires immediate assistance.
What is the distress phase of an emergency?
A situation wherein there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger or require immediate assistance.
What is the uncertainity phase of an emergency?
–When no communication has been received from an aircraft within a period of 30 minutes after the time a communication should have been received, or…
– from the time an unsuccessful attempt to establish communication with such aircraft was first made, whichever is earlier, or…
– when an aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the ETA last notified to or estimated by ATSUs, whichever is later, except…
– when no doubt exists as to the safety of the aircraft an its occupants.
What is the alert phase of an emergency?
– When following the uncertainty phase, subsequent attempts to establish communication with the aircraft or inquiries to other relevant sources have failed to reveal any news of the aircraft, or…
– When an aircraft has been cleared to land and fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing and communication has not been re-established with the aircraft, or…
What is the distress phase of an emergency?
When 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…
Define distress
Distress A condition of being threatened by serious and/or imminent danger and of requiring immediate assistance.
Define urgency
A condition concerning the safety of an aircraft or other vehicle, or of some person on board or within sight, but which does not require immediate assistance.
What is a PAN-PAN medical?
A emergency message reserved for medical emergencies on medical transport aircraft.
To whom do we provide an Alerting service?
Alerting service shall be provided to all aircraft known by ATCU’s to be operating within UK FIR’s
Who acts as the focal point for collating info re an A/C in need of SAR aid?
FIC or ACC shall serve as the central point for collecting all information relevant to a state of emergency of an aircraft operating within the FIR or control area concerned and for forwarding such information to the appropriate aeronautical rescue coordination centre (ARCC).
If a state of emergency arises to an aircraft while under ADI or APS control what happens?
The ATC unit will notify the ACC/FIC who will in turn notify the ARCC (Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre). They do not need to do this though if the nature of the emergency is such that the notification is unnecessary.
Even if the ARCC is not notified the unit shall alert and take other necessary steps to set in motion all appropriate local rescue and emergency organisations which can give the immediate assistance required.
Who is responsible initiating action?
Normally rests with the unit last in communication with the a/c or that which receives outside information from an outside source.
Name three types of SAR units and who coordinates them?
Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC)
Describe the organisation of SAR services in the UK

What are the distress frequencies in the UK?
121.5 MHz- most of UK above 3,000ft, based at Swanwick (D&D)
243MHz for Military