ATS.TR.405 Notification to rescue coordination centres

(a)Without prejudice to any other circumstances that may render such notification advisable, air traffic services units shall, except as prescribed in point ATS.TR.420(a), notify rescue coordination centres immediately when an aircraft is considered to be in a state of emergency in accordance with the following:

(1)Uncertainty phase when either of the following situations applies:

(i)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 the earlier;

(ii)an aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the estimated time of arrival last notified to or estimated by air traffic services units, whichever is the later. Uncertainty phase does not apply when no doubt exists as to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

(2)Alert phase when either of the following situations applies:

(i)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;

(ii)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;

(iii)at AFIS aerodromes, under circumstances as prescribed by the competent authority;

(iv)information has been received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired, but not to the extent that a forced landing is likely;

(v)an aircraft is known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference. Points (i) to (iv) do not apply when evidence exists that would allay apprehension as to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

(3)Distress phase when either of the following situations applies:

(i)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;

(ii)the fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety;

(iii)information is received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is likely;

(iv)information is received or it is reasonably certain that the aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing, Distress phase does not apply when there is reasonable certainty that the aircraft and its occupants are not threatened by grave and imminent danger and do not require immediate assistance.

(b)The notification shall contain such of the following information as is available in the order listed:

(1)INCERFA, ALERFA or DETRESFA, as appropriate to the phase of the emergency;

(2)agency and person calling;

(3)nature of the emergency;

(4)significant information from the flight plan;

(5)unit which made last contact, time and means used;

(6)last position report and how it was determined;

(7)colour and distinctive marks of aircraft;

(8)dangerous goods carried as cargo;

(9)any action taken by the reporting office;

(10)other pertinent remarks.

(c)Such part of the information specified in point (b), which is not available at the time the notification is made to a rescue coordination centre, shall be sought by an air traffic services unit prior to the declaration of a distress phase where time permits and where there is reasonable certainty that this phase will eventuate.

(d)Further to the notification specified in point (a), air traffic services units shall, without delay, furnish the rescue coordination centre with either of the following:

(1)any useful additional information, especially on the development of the state of emergency through subsequent phases;

(2)information that the emergency situation no longer exists.