Page 42 - UK SERA Standard European Rules of the Air (Consolidated) January 2022
P. 42

SERA - Standardised European Rules of the Air


                                           (a)  Alerting service shall be provided by the air traffic services units:
                                               (1) for all aircraft provided with air traffic control service;
                                               (2) in so far as practicable, to all other aircraft having filed a flight plan or otherwise
                                                  known to the air traffic services; and
                                               (3) to any aircraft known or believed to be the subject of unlawful interference.
                                           (b)  Unless otherwise prescribed by the competent authority, aircraft equipped with suitable
                                              two-way radio-communications shall report during the period 20 to 40 minutes following
                                              the time of the last contact, whatever the purpose of such contact, merely to indicate that
                                              the flight is progressing according to plan, such report to comprise identification of the
                                              aircraft and the words ‘Operations normal’.
                                           (c)  The ‘Operations normal’ message shall be transmitted air-ground to an appropriate ATS
                                              unit.
             SERA.10001(b) GM1       Application
                                      The absence of an ‘operations normal’ message does not constitute a situation of urgency. In the
                                      absence of such a report, ATS should endeavour to contact the aircraft on available frequencies. A
                                      failure to contact the aircraft could lead to any type of measure including the declaration of
                                      ‘uncertainty phase’.
             SERA.10005              Information to aircraft operating in the vicinity of an aircraft in a state of emergency
                                           (a)  When it has been established by an air traffic services unit that an aircraft is in a state of
                                              emergency, other aircraft known to be in the vicinity of the aircraft involved shall, except
                                              as provided in (b), be informed of the nature of the emergency as soon as practicable.
                                           (b)  When an air traffic services unit knows or believes that an aircraft is being subjected to
                                              unlawful interference, no reference shall be made in ATS air-ground communications to
                                              the nature of the emergency unless it has first been referred to in communications from
                                              the aircraft involved and it is certain that such reference will not aggravate the situation.
                             SECTION 11 INTERFERENCE, EMERGENCY CONTINGENCIES AND INTERCEPTION

                     Reference       Description
             SERA.11001              General
                                          (a)  Provision repealed before document was retained.
                                          (b)  Provision repealed before document was retained.
                                          (c)  In case of an aircraft known or believed to be in a state of emergency, including being
                                              subjected to unlawful interference, ATS units shall give the aircraft maximum
                                              consideration, assistance and priority over other aircraft, as may be necessitated by the
                                              circumstances.
                                          (d)  Subsequent ATC actions shall be based on the intentions of the pilot, the overall air traffic
                                              situation and the real-time dynamics of the contingency.
             SERA.11001 GM1          General
                                      EMERGENCY DESCENT PROCEDURES
                                          (a)  When an aircraft operated as a controlled flight experiences sudden decompression or a
                                              malfunction requiring an emergency descent, the aircraft should, if able:
                                              (1)  initiate a turn away from the assigned route or track before commencing the
                                                  emergency descent;
                                              (2)  advise the appropriate ATC unit as soon as possible of the emergency descent;
                                              (3)  set transponder to Code 7700 and select the emergency mode on the automatic
                                                  dependent surveillance/controller-pilot data link communications (ADS/CPDLC)
                                                  system, if applicable;
                                              (4)  turn on aircraft exterior lights;
                                              (5)  watch for conflicting traffic both visually and by reference to airborne collision
                                                  avoidance system (ACAS) (if equipped); and
                                              (6)  coordinate its further intentions with the appropriate ATC unit.
                                          (b)  The aircraft is not to descend below the lowest published minimum altitude that will
                                              provide a minimum vertical clearance of 300 m (1 000 ft) or, in designated mountainous
                                              terrain, of 600 m (2 000 ft) above all obstacles located in the area specified.
                                          (c)  Immediately upon recognising that an emergency descent is in progress, ATC units are to
                                              acknowledge the emergency on radiotelephony.
                                              In particular, when recognising that an emergency descent is in progress, ATC may, as
                                              required by the situation:
                                              (1)  suggest a heading to be flown, if able, by the aircraft carrying out the emergency
                                                  descent in order to achieve separation from other aircraft concerned;
                                              (2)  state the minimum altitude for the area of operation, only if the level-off altitude
                                                  stated by the pilot is below such minimum altitude, together with the applicable QNH
                                                  altimeter setting; and
                                              (3)  as soon as possible, provide separation from conflicting traffic, or issue essential
                                                  traffic information, as appropriate.
                                              When deemed necessary, ATC will broadcast an emergency message, or cause such
                                              message to be broadcast, to other aircraft concerned to warn them of the emergency
                                              descent.
             SERA.11005              Unlawful interference
                                          (a)  Provision repealed before document was retained.
                                              (aa) An aircraft which is being subjected to unlawful interference shall endeavour to set
     13th January 2022                                                                                        42 of 96
   37   38   39   40   41   42   43   44   45   46   47