SARPS about

Emergency frequency
12 May 2015
 Annex 6
• 3.1.5 If an emergency situation which
endangers the safety of the aeroplane or
persons becomes known first to the flight
operations officer/flight dispatcher, action by
that person in accordance with 4.6.2 shall
include, where necessary, notification to the
appropriate authorities of the nature of the
situation without delay, and requests for
assistance if required.
 Annex 6
• 7.1 Communication equipment
• 7.1.1 An aeroplane shall be provided with radio communication
equipment capable of:
• a) conducting two-way communication for aerodrome control purposes;
• b) receiving meteorological information at any time during flight; and
• c) conducting two-way communication at any time during flight with at
least one aeronautical station and with such other
• aeronautical stations and on such frequencies as may be prescribed by the
appropriate authority.
• Note.— The requirements of 7.1.1 are considered fulfilled if the ability to
conduct the communications specified therein is established during radio
propagation conditions which are normal for the route.
• 7.1.2 The radio communication equipment required in accordance with
7.1.1 shall provide for communications on the aeronautical emergency
frequency 121.5 MHz.
 Annex 11
• 2.23 Service to aircraft in the event of an
emergency
• 2.23.1 An aircraft known or believed to be in a
state of emergency, including being subjected
to unlawful interference, shall be given
maximum consideration, assistance and
priority over other aircraft as may be
necessitated by the circumstances.
 Annex 11
• 2.24.2 Interception of civil aircraft
• 2.24.2.1 As soon as an air traffic services unit learns that an aircraft
is being intercepted in its area of responsibility, it shall take such of
the following steps as are appropriate in the circumstances:
• a) attempt to establish two-way communication with the
intercepted aircraft via any means available, including the
emergency radio frequency 121.5 MHz, unless such communication
already exists;
• […]
• c) establish contact with the intercept control unit maintaining two-
way communication with the intercepting aircraft and provide it
with available information concerning the aircraft;
 Annex 11
• 5.3 Use of communication facilities
• Air traffic services units shall, as necessary,
use all available communication facilities to
endeavour to establish and
 Annex 11
• 6.1 Aeronautical mobile service
• (air-ground communications)
• 6.1.1 General
• 6.1.1.1 Radiotelephony and/or data link shall be
used in air-ground communications for air traffic
services purposes.
• Note.— Requirements for ATS units to be
provided with and to maintain guard on the
emergency channel 121.5 MHz are specified in
Annex 10, Volumes II and V.
 Annex 10, Vol II
• 3.5 Record of communications
• 3.5.1 General
• 3.5.1.1 A telecommunication log, written or automatic, shall be maintained in each station of the
aeronautical telecommunication service except that an aircraft station, when using radiotelephony
in direct communication with an aeronautical station, need not maintain a telecommunication log.
• Note.— The telecommunication log will serve as a protection, should the operator’s watch activities
be investigated. It may be required as legal evidence.
• 3.5.1.1.1 Recommendation.— Aeronautical stations should record messages at the time of their
receipt, except that, if during an emergency the continued manual recording would result in delays
in communication, the recording of messages may be temporarily interrupted and completed at the
earliest opportunity.
• Note.— In the case of radiotelephony operation it would be desirable if voice recording were
provided for use during interruption in manual recording.
• 3.5.1.1.2 Recommendation.— When a record is maintained in an aircraft station, either in a
radiotelephone log or elsewhere, concerning distress communications, harmful interference, or
interruption to communications, such a record should be associated with information concerning
the time and the position, and altitude of the aircraft.
 Annex 10, Vol II
• 5.2.2.1.1.1 Aircraft on long over-water flights, or on flights over
designated areas over which the carriage of an emergency locator
transmitter (ELT) is required, shall
• continuously guard the VHF emergency frequency 121.5 MHz,
except for those periods when aircraft are carrying out
communications on other VHF channels or when airborne
equipment limitations or cockpit duties do not permit simultaneous
guarding of two channels.
• 5.2.2.1.1.2 Aircraft shall continuously guard the VHF emergency
frequency 121.5 MHz in areas or over routes where the possibility
of interception of aircraft or other hazardous situations exist, and a
requirement has been established by the appropriate authority.
• 5.2.2.1.3 Aeronautical stations shall maintain a continuous listening
watch on VHF emergency channel 121.5 MHz during the hours of
service of the units at which it is installed.
 Annex 10, Vol V

See 4.1.3.1. In order to provide a guard band

for the protection of the aeronautical
Emergency
b) 121.500 emergency frequency, the nearest assignable
frequency
frequencies on either side of 121.500 MHz are
121.450 MHz and 121.550 MHz
 Annex 10, Vol V
• 4.1.3.1 Emergency channel
• 4.1.3.1.1 The emergency channel (121.5 MHz) shall be
• used only for genuine emergency purposes, as broadly outlined in the following:
• a) to provide a clear channel between aircraft in distress or emergency and a ground station when the normal
channels are being utilized for other aircraft;
• b) to provide a VHF communication channel between aircraft and aerodromes, not normally used by international
air services, in case of an emergency condition arising;
• c) to provide a common VHF communication channel between aircraft, either civil or military, and between
• such aircraft, and surface services, involved in common search and rescue operations, prior to changing when
• necessary to the appropriate frequency;
• d) to provide air-ground communication with aircraft when airborne equipment failure prevents the use of the
• regular channels;
• e) to provide a channel for the operation of emergency locator transmitters (ELTs), and for communication
• between survival craft and aircraft engaged in search and rescue operations;
• f) to provide a common VHF channel for communication between civil aircraft and intercepting aircraft or
• intercept control units and between civil or intercepting aircraft and air traffic services units
• Note 1.— The use of the frequency 121.5 MHz for the purpose outlined in c) is to be avoided if it interferes in any
• way with the efficient handling of distress traffic.
• Note 2.— The current Radio Regulations make provisions that the aeronautical emergency frequency 121.5 MHz
may also be used by mobile stations of the maritime mobile service, using A3E emission to communicate on this
frequency for safety purposes with stations of the aeronautical mobile service (RR S5.200 and Appendix S13, Part
A2).
 Annex 10, Vol V
• 4.1.3.1.3 The frequency 121.5 MHz shall be available to
• intercept control units where considered necessary for the
• purpose specified in 4.1.3.1.1 f).
• 4.1.3.1.4 The emergency channel shall be guarded
• continuously during the hours of service of the units at
which it is installed.
• 4.1.3.1.5 The emergency channel shall be guarded on a
single channel simplex operation basis.
• 4.1.3.1.6 The emergency channel (121.5 MHz) shall be
available only with the characteristics as contained in
Annex 10, Volume III, Part II, Chapter 2.
 Implementation
• The aeronautical the frequency 121.500 MHz shall be provided at:

• All area control centres and flight information centres;

• Aerodrome control towers and approach control offices serving international

aerodromes and international alternate aerodromes; and

• At any additional location designated by the appropriate ATS authority, where the
provision of that frequency is considered necessary to ensure immediate reception
of distress call or to serve the purposes specified in 4.1.3.1.1

• The implementation of the aeronautical emergency does, from the technical

perspective, not require any international coordination.

• for frequency assignment planning, there is no need to introduce in the ICAO COM
list 3 stations to which the frequency 121.500 MHz has been assigned and no
technical analysis is required on the compatibility of this frequency.
• Thank you