The Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) Regulations, 2025
2. Interpretation
2. Interpretation
In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires—“accident” means an occurrence associated with the operation of an aircraft which, in the case of a manned aircraft, takes place between the time any person boards the aircraft with the intention of flight until such time as all such persons have disembarked or in the case of unmanned aircraft, takes place between the time the aircraft is ready to move with the purpose of flight until such time as it comes to rest at the end of the flight and the primary propulsion system is shut down, in which—(a)a person is fatally or seriously injured as a result of —(i)being in the aircraft;(ii)direct contact with any part of the aircraft, including parts which have become detached from the aircraft; or(iii)direct exposure to jet blast,except when the injuries are from natural causes, self-inflicted or inflicted by other persons, or when the injuries are to stowaways hiding outside the areas normally available to the passengers and crew; or(b)the aircraft sustains damage or structural failure which—(i)adversely affects the structural strength, performance or flight characteristics of the aircraft; and(ii)would normally require major repair or replacement of the affected component,except for engine failure or damage, when the damage is limited to the engine, its cowlings or accessories; or for damage limited to propellers, wing tips, antennas, tires, brakes, fairings, small dents or puncture holes in the aircraft skin; or(c)the aircraft is missing or is completely inaccessible;“Aeronautical Information Publication, (AIP)” means a publication issued by or with the Kenya Civil Aviation Authority and containing aeronautical information of a lasting character essential to air navigation;“Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC)” means a unit responsible for promoting efficient organization of Aeronautical Search and Rescue services and for coordinating the conduct of Aeronautical Search and Rescue operations within an Aeronautical Search and Rescue region;“Aeronautical Rescue Sub-Centre (ARSC)” means a unit subordinate to a rescue coordination centre, established to complement the latter according to particular provisions of the responsible authorities;“aeronautical search” means an operation normally coordinated by a rescue coordination centre or rescue sub-centre using available personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress;“aeronautical search and rescue aircraft” means an aircraft provided with specialized equipment suitable for the efficient conduct of aeronautical search and rescue missions;“aeronautical search and rescue facility” means any mobile resource, including designated aeronautical search and rescue units, used to conduct aeronautical search and rescue operations;“aeronautical search and rescue service” means the performance of distress monitoring, communication, coordination and aeronautical search and rescue functions, initial medical assistance or medical evacuation, through the use of public and private resources, including cooperating aircraft, vessels and other craft and installations;“Aeronautical Search and Rescue Region (ASRR)” means an area of defined dimensions, associated with a rescue coordination centre, within which Aeronautical Search and Rescue services are provided;“aeronautical search and rescue unit” means a mobile resource composed of trained personnel and provided with equipment suitable for the expeditious conduct of aeronautical search and rescue operations;“aircraft” means any machine that can derive support in the atmosphere from the reactions of the air other than the reactions of the air against the earth’s surface;“alerting post” means any facility intended to serve as an intermediary between a person reporting an emergency and a rescue coordination centre or rescue sub-centre;“alert phase” means a situation wherein apprehension exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants;“Authority” has the meaning assigned to it under section 2 of the Act;“Cabinet Secretary” has the meaning assigned to it under section 2 of the Act;“Committee” means the Aeronautical Search and Rescue Committee established under regulation 15;“Convention” means the Convention on International Civil Aviation adopted at Chicago on the 7th December, 1944;“COSPAS-SARSAT” means the Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress-Aeronautical Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking”;“Designated Agency” means the agency designated by the Director General for the purpose of coordinating Aeronautical Search and Rescue;“Director Air Navigation Services” means the Director for the time being responsible for air navigations services provided by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority;“Director General” has the meaning assigned to it under section 2 of the Act;“distress phase” means a situation wherein there is a reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance;“ditching” means the forced landing of an aircraft on water;“emergency phase” means as the case may be, uncertainty phase, alert phase or distress phase;“EPIRB” means Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon;“flight information region” means an airspace of defined dimensions within which flight information service and alerting service are provided;“IBRD”: means International Beacon Registration Database;“incident” means an occurrence, other than an accident, associated with the operation of an aircraft which affects or could affect the safety of operation;“International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)” means the specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for formulating standards and recommended practices for the purposes of civilian international air transport, established in Chicago on 7th December 1944;“joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC)” means a rescue coordination centre responsible for both aeronautical and maritime Aeronautical Search and Rescue operations;“operator” means a person, organization or enterprise engaged in or offering to engage in an aircraft operation;“person” means any institution or organization equipped to assist in an aeronautical search and rescue operation, an organ of state, a government and an agency of the government of a foreign country;“pilot-in-command” means the pilot designated by the operator, or in the case of general aviation, the owner, as being in command and charged with the safe conduct of a flight;“PLB” means Personnel Locator Beacon;“rescue” means an operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide for their initial medical or other needs, and deliver them to a place of safety;“state of registry” means the state on whose register the aircraft is entered;“uncertainty phase” means a situation wherein uncertainty exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants;“vessel” means any water-navigable craft of any type, whether self-propelled or not.Source: Kenya Law