ADVOKS GLOBAL · KENYA
The Civil Aviation (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) Regulations, 2025
27. Procedures at the distress scene
Edition: 2026-03-03 · In force
27. Procedures at the distress scene
(1)The rescue coordination centre or rescue sub-centre shall designate one or more units on scene to coordinate all actions to help ensure the safety and effectiveness of air and surface operations, taking into account facility capabilities and operational requirements when multiple facilities are engaged in aeronautical search and rescue operations on scene.(2)A pilot-in-command who observes that either another aircraft or a surface craft is in distress, shall, if possible and unless considered unreasonable or unnecessary—(a)keep the craft in distress in sight until compelled to leave the scene or advised by the rescue coordination centre that it is no longer necessary;(b)determine the position of the craft in distress;(c)as appropriate, report to the rescue coordination centre or air traffic services unit as much of the following information as possible —(i)type of craft in distress, its identification and condition;(ii)its position, expressed in geographical or grid coordinates or in distance and true bearing from a distinctive landmark or from a radio navigation aid;(iii)time of observation expressed in hours and minutes coordinated universal time (UTC);(iv)number of persons observed;(v)whether persons have been seen to abandon the craft in distress;(vi)whether any distress signals, including distress beacon transmissions, have been received or observed;(vii)on-scene weather conditions;(viii)apparent physical condition of survivors;(ix)apparent best ground access route to the distress scene;(x)position and description of any other craft in the area that may assist; and(3)The first aircraft to reach the distress scene if not an aeronautical search and rescue aircraft, shall take charge of on-scene activities of all other aircraft subsequently arriving until the first aeronautical search and rescue aircraft reaches the distress scene.(4)Subject to subregulation (3), if such aircraft is unable to establish communication with the appropriate rescue coordination centre or air traffic services unit, it shall, by mutual agreement hand over to an aircraft capable of establishing and maintaining such communications until the arrival of the first aeronautical search and rescue aircraft.(5)When it is necessary for an aircraft to convey information to survivors or surface rescue units, and two-way communication is not available, it shall, if practicable, drop communication equipment that would enable direct contact to be established, or convey the information by dropping a hard copy message.(6)When a ground signal has been displayed, the aircraft shall indicate whether the signal has been understood or not by the means described in subregulation (5) or, if this is not practicable, by making the appropriate visual signal.(7)When it is necessary for an aircraft to direct a surface craft to the place where an aircraft or surface craft is in distress, the aircraft shall do so by transmitting precise instructions by any means at its disposal and if no radio communication can be established, the aircraft shall make the appropriate visual signal.(8)When carrying a device for measuring actual surface drift in accordance with regulation 10 (4), a search and rescue aircraft shall drop the device as soon as it reaches the scene of an accident.