OUTLINE OF THE DISABLED AIRCRAFT REMOVAL PLAN DOCUMENT For an aircraft removal operation to begin and be completed as quickly as possible, all parties must be expeditiously facilitated and already have the proper procedures in place. An efficient removal operation requires sufficient planning and readily accessible recovery equipment. An outline of a disabled aircraft removal plan is provided below. This material is intended as a guide for basic matters to be covered in the plan as well as on action to be taken by the main parties responsible for the overall aircraft removal operation.
(a)Responsibilities
(1)Removal of a disabled aircraft or parts thereof. Identify the person or organisation (normally the aircraft owner or operator) responsible for the removal of the aircraft and define the procedures to follow in the event of failure to comply with such directions.
(2)Notification of the aircraft accident to the safety investigation authority. Identify the person or organisation (normally the aircraft owner or operator or, when this is not possible, the appropriate authority) responsible for notifying the accident to the safety investigation authority (see Regulation (EU) No 376/2014).
(3)Preservation of aircraft, mail, cargo, and records. Identify the person or organisation (normally the aircraft owner or operator) responsible for preserving, to the extent possible, the aircraft and parts thereof, cargo, mail, and records. Define the procedures to be followed when it is necessary to disturb or move the aircraft or parts thereof, i.e. photographs, marks on the ground and a diagram of the accident site (see Regulation (EU) No 996/2010).
(b)Actions by main responsible parties
(1)Aerodrome operator. List the actions to be taken by the aerodrome operator when implementing the plan such as:
(i)issue the required NOTAM, as appropriate;
(ii)coordinate all aerodrome operations with the air traffic services units for continuation of aircraft operations, when possible;
(iii)determine any obstacles in accordance with clearance criteria found in CSADRDSN, and, as a result, consider whether any part of the movement area should be closed;
(iv)provide for security of the accident site and coordinate with the safety investigation authority on measures to be taken before the aircraft removal operation is initiated;
(v)provide advance vehicles and personnel to escort airline equipment to the site;
(vi)establish a removal command post at the site, if considered necessary;
(vii)inspect all areas prior to resumption of normal aircraft operations;
(viii)convene a removal operation debriefing of all interested parties. The debriefing may include a review of safety investigation authority requirements, the coordinator’s chronological report, and a discussion of the procedures and equipment used during the recovery operation. It may be desirable that all aircraft operators, especially those operating the same type of equipment, be invited to attend; and
(ix)amend the disabled aircraft removal plan to overcome problems identified from the removal operation debriefing.
(2)Aerodrome coordinator of disabled aircraft removal operations. List the actions that are expected to be taken by the aerodrome coordinator when implementing the plan such as:
(i)convene a meeting with the aircraft operator representative, safety investigation authority, representatives of resident oil companies, heavy equipment contractors and other parties, as necessary, to discuss the most appropriate removal operation and agree upon a broad plan of actions: escort routes between the aircraft operator’s area and the accident site; defueling to lighten the mass of the aircraft; requirements and availability of equipment for the removal of the aircraft; use of the aerodrome and aircraft operator’s equipment; dispatch of aircraft operator ancillary support devices to the scene; weather conditions, particularly when a crane-lifting- or pneumatic-lifting-bag operation is necessary; lighting of the site; a contingency plan, should difficulties develop in the initial plan;
(ii)provide for a rescue and firefighting vehicle, when necessary;
(iii)supervise the aerodrome personnel and equipment assigned to the removal operation;
(iv)make decisions on behalf of the aerodrome operator, as necessary, to expedite the removal of the disabled aircraft;
(v)report further penetrations of the obstacle limitation surfaces due to the manoeuvring of cranes or other equipment during the lifting of the aircraft;
(vi)monitor weather forecasts;
(vii)maintain a chronological summary of the removal operation;
(viii)have photographs of the removal operation taken where possible;
(ix)where excavations are necessary, check with the appropriate aerodrome maintenance services for underground utilities;
(x)keep the aerodrome operator and other aircraft operators informed of the progress of the aircraft removal operations; and
(xi)participate in the removal operation debriefing.
(3)Aircraft operator. List the actions that are expected to be taken by the aircraft operator when implementing the plan such as:
(i)arrange for portable stairs and removal of mail, baggage and cargo; it being understood that authority to remove these items must be secured from the safety investigation authority;
(ii)designate one representative with the authority to make all technical and financial decisions necessary to remove the aircraft;
(iii)consider designating of a representative to answer any questions from the press and to issue press releases as may be appropriate; and
(iv)participate in the removal operation debriefing.
(4)Aircraft operator’s representative. List the action to be taken by the aircraft operator’s representative when implementing the plan such as:
(i)implement the aircraft operator’s removal plan for such an emergency;
(ii)meet with the aerodrome coordinator, safety investigation authority and other parties, as necessary, to develop a comprehensive plan for the removal of the aircraft;
(iii)decide on the need for consultation with aircraft airframe and engine manufacturers or other aircraft operator representatives experienced in such accidents; and
(iv)participate in the removal operation debriefing.
(c)Equipment, personnel and facilities
(1)Equipment and personnel available List the equipment (including information on the type and location of heavy equipment or special units needed and the average time it will take to get them to the airport) and the contact details of the personnel on or in the surrounding of the airport that would be available for the removal operation. Most airports find it economically impossible to store all the equipment necessary for the removal of a disabled aircraft. It has been generally agreed that the most feasible approach to the problem is to prepare a plan for the removal of a disabled aircraft and to make arrangements with other aerodromes for pooling the required specialised equipment. Aircraft operators have made arrangements so as to make specialised equipment available on short notice on a worldwide basis, and kits have been strategically placed around the world. In addition to the contact details, include information on the availability of human resources for road-making and other duties. The personnel involved in the removal of disabled aircraft possess a level of proficiency that allows them to control a safe aircraft removal operation aircraft.
(2)Access routes. Include information on access routes to any part of the aerodrome including, if required, special routes for cranes to avoid power lines. A grid map may be useful for this purpose.
(3)Security. Define a means of maintaining security for the aircraft removal operation.
(4)Serviceable aircraft removal equipment kits. Describe arrangements for the rapid receipt of aircraft removal equipment kits available from other airports.
(5)Aircraft data. Describe arrangements to make available, at the aerodrome, manufacturer’s data pertaining to aircraft removal for the various types of aircraft that normally use the aerodrome.
(6)Aircraft defueling. Describe arrangements with the resident oil companies to ensure that the defueling, storage, and disposal of the aircraft fuel, including contaminated fuel, can be done at short notice.
(7)Responsible representatives. List names, addresses, and telephone numbers of responsible representatives of each aircraft operator, as well as of the nearest representatives of aircraft and engine manufacturers.