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PilotSchool Knowledge Base

Emergency Procedures and Documentation

Introduction

This section covers emergency procedures relevant to Australian aviation as per the requirements of the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) for the RPL (Recreational Pilot License). The key focus is on understanding the documents that contain emergency procedures and the ability to extract such procedures from the En Route Supplement Australia (ERSA).

Learning Outcomes

  1. State the document that contains emergency procedures.
  2. Extract emergency procedures from the ERSA.

Documents Containing Emergency Procedures

En Route Supplement Australia (ERSA)

The ERSA is a critical part of the Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) used widely in Australian aviation. It contains vital information regarding aerodromes, communication frequencies, navigation aids, and emergency procedures. Pilots are expected to be familiar with the ERSA as it provides essential data for flight planning and emergency management.

Source: Aeronautical Information Package (AIP) - Airservices Australia

Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) Guidelines

CASA provides comprehensive guidelines and regulatory frameworks for managing emergencies. These are outlined in various parts of the Civil Aviation Safety Regulations (CASR) and associated Manuals of Standards (MoS).

  • CASR 119.205: Provides requirements for Australian air transport operators’ certification and emergency management.
  • CASR Parts 121, 133, and 135: Cover training and standards for emergency procedures for different aircraft categories.

Source: Emergency Procedures - Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Extracting Emergency Procedures from the ERSA

Key Emergency Procedures

  1. SSR Codes:

    • Emergency: Squawk code 7700
    • Radio Failure: Squawk code 7600

  2. Distress and Urgency Calls:

    • Distress Call (“MAYDAY”): Used in situations of grave danger requiring immediate assistance.
    • Urgency Call (“PAN PAN”): Used for urgent situations that are not immediately life-threatening.

  3. Emergency Communication Frequencies:

    • Primary emergency frequency: 121.5 MHz
    • Secondary emergency frequency: 243.0 MHz

  4. Communication Failure Procedures:

    • Visual signals for communication failure include rocking the wings by day or flashing lights by night.
    • For ground signals, waggling ailerons or rudders by day and flashing lights by night is recommended.

  5. Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Procedures:

    • Activate ELT when forced landing is imminent or other emergencies to assist in search and rescue operations.

  6. Priority Landing and Search and Rescue (SAR):

    • Aircraft requiring immediate assistance may receive priority landing without declaring full emergencies.
    • SAR operations, coordinated by Airservices Australia and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), are activated upon distress alerts.

Source: Aircraft Emergency Procedures - Airservices Australia

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively extracting emergency procedures from the ERSA is crucial for the safe management of emergencies in aviation. This knowledge not only ensures compliance with CASA regulations but also equips pilots with the necessary skills to handle unforeseeable situations professionally. Ensure regular review and familiarity with the ERSA and CASA guidelines to maintain proficiency in emergency procedures.