Page 42 - UK SERA Standardises European Rules of the Air Regulations (Consolidated) January 2022

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(a) Provision repealed before document was retained.
(b) Provision repealed before document was retained.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
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