ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
The Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) Regulations, 2025
23. Procedures for rescue coordination centre during emergency phases
Edition: 2026-03-03 · In force
23. Procedures for rescue coordination centre during emergency phases
(1)The rescue coordination centre shall upon the occurrence of an uncertainty phase, co-operate to the utmost with air traffic services units and other appropriate agencies and services in order that incoming reports may be speedily evaluated.(2)The rescue coordination centre shall upon the occurrence of an alert phase, immediately alert aeronautical search and rescue units and initiate any necessary action.(3)The rescue coordination centre shall upon the occurrence of a distress phase—(a)immediately initiate action by aeronautical search and rescue units in accordance with the appropriate plan of operation;(b)ascertain the position of the aircraft, estimate the degree of uncertainty of this position, and, on the basis of this information and the circumstances, determine the extent of the area to be searched;(c)notify the operator, where possible, and keep the operator informed of developments;(d)notify other rescue coordination centres, the help of which seems likely to be required, or which may be concerned in the operation;(e)notify the associated air traffic services unit, when the information on the emergency has been received from another source;(f)request at an early stage such aircraft, vessels, coastal stations and other services not specifically included in the appropriate plan of operation and able to assist to—(i)maintain a listening watch for transmissions from the aircraft in distress, survival radio equipment or ELT 406MHz.(ii)assist the aircraft in distress as far as practicable; and(iii)inform the rescue coordination centre of any developments;(g)from the information available, draw up a detailed plan of action for the conduct of the search or rescue operation required and communicate such plan for the guidance of the authorities immediately directing the conduct of such an operation;(h)amend as necessary, in the light of evolving circumstances, the detailed plan of action;(i)notify the appropriate accident investigation authorities; and(j)notify the State of Registry of the aircraft.(4)Subject to subregulation (1), (2), and (3), the order in which the actions are described shall be followed unless circumstances dictate otherwise.(5)In the event that an emergency phase is declared in respect of an aircraft whose position is unknown and may be in one of two or more aeronautical search and rescue regions, the following shall apply—(a)where a rescue coordination centre is notified of the existence of an emergency phase and is unaware of other centres taking appropriate action, it shall assume responsibility for initiating suitable action in accordance with these Regulations and confer with neighboring rescue coordination centres with the objective of designating one rescue coordination centre to assume responsibility forthwith;(b)unless otherwise decided by common agreement of the rescue coordination centres concerned, the rescue coordination centre to coordinate aeronautical search and Rescue action shall be the centre responsible for—(i)the region in which the aircraft last reported its position; or(ii)the region to which the aircraft was proceeding when its last reported position was on the line separating two aeronautical search and rescue regions; or(iii)the region to which the aircraft was destined the region to which the aircraft was destined when it was not equipped with suitable two-way radio communication or not under obligation to maintain radio communication; or(iv)the region in which the distress site is located as identified by the COSPAS-SARSAT system(c)after declaration of the distress phase, the rescue coordination centre with overall coordination responsibility shall inform all rescue coordination centres that may become involved in the operation of all the circumstances of the emergency and subsequent developments;(d)all rescue coordination centres becoming aware of any information pertaining to the emergency shall inform the rescue coordination centre that has overall responsibility.(6)The rescue coordination centre responsible for aeronautical search and rescue action shall forward to the air traffic services unit serving the flight information region in which the aircraft is operating, information of the aeronautical search and rescue action initiated when passing information to aircraft in respect of which an emergency phase has been declared.