Mats Oral Board Rac 7 Part 2

Front 1

When shall an Alert Phase (ALERFA) be declared?

Back 1

An alert phase shall be declared when:

• an aircraft is known or believed to be subject to unlawful interference; or
• following the uncertainty phase, subsequent attempts to establish communication with the aircraft or inquiries to other relevant sources fail to reveal any news of the aircraft; or
• an aircraft which has been given circuit joining, approach or landing instructions from an ATC unit or landing information from a AFIS unit fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing, and communication cannot be re-established; or
• an aircraft is known or believed to be experiencing impaired operating efficiency to the extent that it is having difficulty in maintaining height, or may have difficulty in making a normal approach and landing; or
• an aircraft is known or believed to be subject to irregular operations or is lost and there is reason to believe that the safe conduct of the flight is in jeopardy; or
• an aircraft is operating in instrument meteorological conditions when the pilot or aircraft is limited to VFR operation; or
• the duration of INCERFA has exceeded 30 minutes.

▪︎except, in the case of bullets 2 to 7 above, when evidence exists that would allay apprehension as to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants.

Front 2

When shall a Distress Phase (DETRESFA) be declared?

Back 2

A distress phase shall be declared 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
• the fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety; or
• information is received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is likely; or
• information is received or it is reasonably certain that the aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing; or
• the duration of ALERFA has exceeded one hour, ▪︎except 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.

Front 3

Who is responsible for the provision of an Alerting Service to VRF flights on a flight plan?

Back 3

The responsibility for the provision of an alerting service shall be as follows: The sector/unit responsible for providing service in the airspace:

• within which the aircraft is operating; or
• ︎︎in the event of an aircraft experiencing communications failure:

▪︎within which the aircraft was flying at the time of the last communication; or

▪︎the aircraft was about to enter when the last communication was established at or close to the boundary; or

• within which the destination aerodrome is located if the aircraft is NORDO or not required to make position reports. Co-incidental with the above requirements, the responsibility for the provision of an alerting service to flights having filed a flight plan shall be: VFR flights on flight plan:
• International: by the FIC sector responsible for the airspace within which the departure or destination aerodrome lies;
• Domestic: by the NBO.

Front 4

Who is responsible for the provision of Alerting Service to flights FRUL Y (VFR portion) and flights that cancel IFR and Proceed VFR to an Aerodrome?

Back 4

FRUL Y, and flights that cancel IFR and proceed VFR to an aerodrome:

• VFR (SAR) plan not created for VFR segment:

▪︎by the ATS sector/unit last in communication with the aircraft prior to landing at an aerodrome outside an operative CTR; or

▪︎by the TWR unit responsible for the CTR containing the aerodrome of landing;

• VFR (SAR) plan created for VFR segment:

▪︎by the NBO.

Front 5

Who is responsible for the provision of Alerting Service to flights: IFR arrival including FRUL Z (whole flight treated as IFR flight)?

Back 5

IFR arrivals, including FRUL Z (whole flight treated as an IFR flight):

• landing at an aerodrome within an operative CTR:

▪︎by the TWR unit responsible for the CTR;

• landing at an aerodrome outside an operative CTR:

▪︎by the ATS sector/unit last in communication with the aircraft prior to landing.

Front 6

Who is responsible for the provision of Alerting Service to flights: IFR departure including FRUL Z (whole flight treated as IFR flight)?

Back 6

IFR departures, including FRUL Z (whole flight treated as an IFR flight):

• where the ADEP is attended or an associated aerodrome:

▪︎by the TWR/AFIS unit or parent tower, unless the alerting responsibility is specifically transferred to another sector/unit;

• in all other cases:

▪︎by the ATS sector responsible for the airspace within which the departure aerodrome lies, unless the alerting responsibility is specifically transferred to another sector/unit.

Front 7

1. Define the term SARTIME?
2. Where can SARTIME and other alerting service be located?

Back 7

1. SARTIME is the time at which Search And Rescue action is initiated if a SARTIME is not amended or cancelled, or a VFR flight plan for which a SARTIME has been nominated is not terminated. 2.
2. SARTIME is the time at which Search And Rescue action is initiated if a SARTIME is not amended or cancelled, or a VFR flight plan for which a SARTIME has been nominated is not terminated. 2.

1. SARTIME is the time at which Search And Rescue action is initiated if a SARTIME is not amended or cancelled, or a VFR flight plan for which a SARTIME has been nominated is not terminated. 2.

Front 8

Describe the Alerting Service obligations to aerodrome and local traffic that an ATS unit has, prior to closing watch?

Back 8

Before an ATS unit closes watch it shall ascertain from all aerodrome traffic still operating whether or not they require an alerting service to continue to be provided. If the response is affirmative, the pilot shall be requested to file a flight plan.

Front 9

What information would you obtain when receiving advice of an aircraft emergency (location unknown) from a Non ATS source?

Back 9

On receipt of advice from a source other than an ATS unit that an aircraft has force-landed, crashed or ditched and the location is known, ATS staff shall obtain as many of the following details as possible:

• Name, address and telephone number of the person reporting
• Location of the aircraft
• Condition of aircraft, occupants and other persons involved
• Type, registration and description of the aircraft
• Best access to the aircraft
• Weather conditions, if not obvious
• Any action taken locally.