SAR & ALERTING 3

RADIO COMMUNICATION FAILURE

(RCF)
• General : ATS actions shall be based on the
assumption that the pilot will
follow the procedures stated
as follows :
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a) If in Visual Meteorological Conditions

i) Continue to fly in VMC

ii) Land at the nearest suitable aerodrome;
iii) Report arrival by the most expeditious
means to the appropriate ATC unit
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b) If in Instrument Meteorological Conditions

(IMC) OR when conditions are such that it
does not seem feasible to continue in
accordance with para. a) above:
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i) Maintain the last assigned level OR
minimum altitude if higher, for a period of
at least 20mins (in OCA airspace) OR 5 mins
(in Domestic airspace) following the
aircraft’s failure to report position over a
compulsory reporting point AND thereafter
adjust level and speed in accordance with
the filed flight plan
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ii) Proceed in accordance with the flight plan
route to the appropriate designated nav aid
serving the destination aerodrome and
when required to ensure compliance with
iii) below, hold over this nav aid until
commencement of descent.
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iii) Commence descent from the nav aid

specified in ii) above, at or close as
possible to the ETA based on the flight
plan.
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iv) Complete a normal instrument approach
procedure as specified for the designated
nav aid; and

v) Land if possible, within 30 mins after the

ETA specified in iii) above OR the last
acknowledged Expected Approach Time
(EAT), whichever is later.
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Actions by ATS to Re-establish Comms
An ATS unit which becomes aware that an
aircraft is not maintaining two-way comms
shall:
a) Check the serviceability of the ground
equipment
b) Attempt to ctc the aircraft on the
appropriate frequencies
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c) Ascertain whether the report has been
received by another unit

d) Request another ATS unit to ctc the aircraft

e) Request an acft in flight to attempt to ctc

the aircraft
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f) Maintain listening watch and request other
acft and ATS units to do the same
g) The relevant controller declares Radio
Communication Failure (RCF) and notifies
the supervisor
h) The Supervisor issues appropriate SAR
Phase
i) The relevant Tower Controller declares
Local Standby Phase
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Resumption of Normal Operations
Normal Operations may be resumed when:
a)It is reported that the aircraft has landed
b)
It is determined by any means that the aircraft has
vacated the airspace concerned
c)Comms is re-established with the aircraft concerned
d)
Reasonable assurance exists that the aircraft is
operating in VMC
e)
Communications is received the acft has
crashed/ditched
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• If the acft has not landed within 30mins of
ETA or acknowledged EAT at destination,
information concerning the acft shall be
passed to acft operators and pilots of other
acft concerned and NORMAL OPS resumed if
they so desire.
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• It is the responsibility of the operators or

designated reps and pilots of acft to
determine whether to resume normal ops.
Airspace on the route to and at the alternate
aerodrome may be cleared progressively
under similar conditions
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Actions by Aerodrome Control/Flight Service
Station
• An acft with a comms failure may proceed to
destination OR alternate OR any other
suitable aerodrome.
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Actions by Aerodrome Control/Flight Service
Station
• When an acft is observed to be attempting
to attract attention or unexpectedly
operating within the aerodrome traffic
circuit, ATS shall give the aircraft every
assistance and priority in landing
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QUESTION ?