RAC 7

Question 1

Describe briefly the 3 alerting emergency phases.

Answer 1

INCERFA - Uncertainty phase: when uncertainty exists as to the safety on an aircraft and it’s occupants.

ALERFA - Alert phase: when apprehension exists as to the safety of an aircraft and it’s occupants.

DETRESFA - Distress phase: when there is reasonable certainty that an aircraft and it’s occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

Question 2

When shall the alert phase be declared?

Answer 2

• an aircraft is known or believed to be subject to unlawful interference
• following the uncertainty phase, subsequent attempts to establish communication with the aircraft or inquiries to relevant sources fail to reveal any news of the aircraft
• an aircraft which has been given circuit joining, approach or landing instructions from an ATC unit or landing information from an AFIS unit fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing, and communication cannot be re-established
• an aircraft is known or believed to be experiencing impaired operating efficiency to the extent that it is having difficulty maintaining height, or may have difficulty in making a normal approach or landing
• 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
• the duration of INCERFA has exceeded 30 minutes
  except where evidence exists that would allay the apprehension as to the safety of the aircraft and it’s occupants.

Question 3

When shall the distress phase be declared?

Answer 3

• following the alert phase further unsuccessful attempts to establish communication with the aircraft and more widespread inquiries point to the probability that the aircraft is in distress
• the fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety
• information is received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is likely
• information is received or it is reasonable certain that the aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing
• the duration of ALERFA has exceeded one hour

Question 4

What shall the initial verbal notification to the RCC consist of?

Answer 4

• emergency phase declared
• aircraft registration and identification
• aircraft type
• nature of emergency
• departure and destination aerodromes, plus advice on which aerodromes have already been checked if appropriate