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EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

General

The overall purpose of accident and occurrence notification, handling and reporting is :

  -  To provide, as  expeditiously as  possible and by the quickest means available, a maximum  of help  / medical ,  aid  to all persons  involved regardless of whether they have already fallen victims to  an accident or  whether they are immediately threatened and, of  secondary  importance , to  keep  damages to  property to  a minimum, also,

-  To prevent , where possible , the re-occurrence of a similar accident or incident. 

             §    The  first purpose requires extremely fast and smooth cooperation  between  involved authorities   ( e.g. ATS, Search and Rescue Services )   and   the  company  ( e.g.  by providing  to rescue coordination centers lists  containing  detailed information  on the emergency  and survival equipment carried on  board ,or  by providing other essential information relating  to the individual  flight , e.g. rent  technical /  maintenance  details information on Dangerous Goods on  board , Operational  Flight  Plan  ( OFP ) details, fuel endurance ,number of passenger and crew. Needless  to say, these  requirements an only be met by notification of  all  parties involved, by the quickest  means available.

             §    The second purpose  requires  all  evidence  to  be  secured , original  and  copies  of documents   (  e. g.    Weight   and    Balance   documents ,  Aeroplane  Technical log, Operational Flight Plan ,take-off  data, passenger  lists, cargo papers, manuals ) to be seized and safeguarded ,  flight  recorder and cockpit   voice  recorder  records  to  be preserved , a report by the  commander  to  be submitted, a hearing to be held by the company ,  and   an   accident  investigation  by  the  state  of  occurrence .

  In connection with this second purpose, defined reporting procedures have to be met by  the company.  This second purpose  also  requires  the authorities involved, after  sifting  and  weighing  all  evidence , to  publish  a  report   where  necessary ,  and   to  specify recommendations or  prescribe  action(s) in order to prevent a re-occurrence of a similar incident / accident.  

* Whenever  a  serious failure, defect , mechanical  hazard  or  other irregularity which  may   subsequently result in an emergency  being  declared  occurs  during  flight, the pilot - in - command  shall, if  practicable , notify  the  appropriate  ATS  unit  and they LOTUS  AIR    facility  /  representative   nearest  by  the fastest  means  available.  

Emergencies will be handled by the appropriate ATS/SAR unit in close coordination with the LOTUS AIR operations dispatch -Cairo will take the necessary  action .

After landing following an emergency situation  the pilot - in - command  submits a report in accordance  with  the   ‘ LOTUS  AIR  ACCIDENT  INVESTIGATION  REGULATION " and,‘ E.C.A.A requirements ‘

 Emergency Authority of Pilot -In - Command     

In emergency situations  which  require  immediate  decision  and  action the pilot - in command  is  authorized  to  resolve upon a course of action which is required by the circumstances  and  information  available .

He may  deviate  in  such  situations  from   the  procedures  established  or  from  the instructions received by appropriate authority  to  the  extent required by consideration of safety

     Testimony by flight crew members following an aircraft accident

  Upon the occurrence of an aircraft accident the police authorities are likely to approach flight  crew  members  to  request  their  statements  or   testimony  as  witness. During possible  subsequent  proceedings any  such  statement or  testimony may in turn be used  as  evidence  against the flight crew members concerned, even though the police may  initially  have  heard  the  crew  member  concerned  as  witness  only. 

It is therefore advisable to refrain from any statement, except as to the personal identity while still under shock or the immediate impression of an accident , but to submit any requested information , verbally or in writing , at a later date , and if deemed necessary , after obtaining legal advice .  

        Emergency Phases / Accidents

        ICAO has defined the following three emergency phases for use by             Air Traffic services and Search and Rescue services :  

    Uncertainty Phase when :

-  No communication has been received from an aircraft within a period of 30 minutes after the time a communication should have been received or from the time an unsuccessful attempt to establish communication with such an aircraft was made first, whichever has been earlier , or

-  An aircraft fails to arrive within 30 minutes of the estimated time of arrival last notified to or estimated by ATS units whichever is the later ,

Except when evidence exists that would allay apprehension as to the safety of the aircraft and its occupants .

   Alert Phase When;  

-        Following the uncertainty phase, subsequent

 attempts to establish communication with the Aircraft or inquiries to other relevant sources have failed to relay any news of the Aircraft,

-        Or, an Aircraft has been cleared to land and fails to land within 5 minutes of the estimated time of landing and communication has not been re-established with the Aircraft.

-        Or, information has been received which indicates that the operating efficiency of the Aircraft has been impaired, but not to the extent that a forced landing is likely - Except when evidence exists that would allay apprehension as to the safety of the Aircraft and its occupants.  

   Distress Phase when :

Following the alert phase further unsuccessful attempts to establish communication with the aircraft and more widespread unsuccessful inquires point to the probability that the aircraft is in distress ,or

-  The fuel on board is considered to be exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safely, or

-  Information is received that operating efficiency of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is likely, or .

- Information is received or it is reasonably certain that aircraft is about to make or has made a forced landing ;

Except when there is reasonable certainty that the aircraft and its occupants are not threatened by grave and imminent danger and do not require immediate assistance .

Declaration of any of the above phases will be made only by ATS .

 An accident is defined as any irregularity  during the operation of an aircraft in the course of which a person has fatally or severely injured or an aircraft has sustained or caused serious damage .

    Accident - Notification, Responsabilities , Reporting

  In order to meet the aims of providing immediate assistance to victims and threatened persons and to minimize damages , it is of the highest importance that , whoever is the first to know of an accident or the possibility of an accident having occurred (ATS or other authority , commander , handling , personnel or others ) shall notify the appropriate search and rescue services e.g. rescue coordination center and fire fighting services /medical services by the quickest means available . ATS and other authorities involved shall keep the company current on developments’ the company shall establish an emergency team and be prepared to provide any aid or information requested or unsolicited, which may prove helpful in containing injuries and damages .

  Regardless of action already taken by the authorities ,the company shall endeavor to inform local authorities (e.g. police departments), medical services ( hospitals, ambulances, doctors)  and the local photographer .

  LOTUS AIR shall, at home base, be at first represented by the Operations Dispatch Office the rafter by the emergency team (after its establishment). In case of an accident having occurred outside home base, the company shall be represented by the Operations Director of its nearest station or the station of occurrence and the Operations Dispatch Office (or the emergency team, after its establishment ). The emergency team should normally consist of

- The Operations Director (who should chair it )

- The Safety Manager

- The Maintenance Director

- The Commercial Manager

- public Relations Department , however , never less than three persons .

        Cancellation of Alarm  

·   UNCERTAINTY / ALERT PHASE :

When information is received from ATS that the respective phase has been canceled , the station concerned shall immediately notify all stations all stations and personnel .

·   DISTRESS PHASE / EMERGENCY DECLARED BY PILOT-IN-COMMAND :

When information is received from ATS that the distress phase has been canceled , or when the pilot-in-command has canceled  the emergency, or when  the aircraft  has safety landed, the station concerned  shall immediately notify all persons and departments having received the alarm message .

·   ACCIDENT :

After rescue operation has been completed the station concerned shall immediately notify all persons and departments having received the accident message .  

       Bomb Scares

  When information is received that the safety of an aircraft is endangered by a time bomb or similar device, the station manager or his deputy shall take the necessary action as outlined below .

  If no LOTUSAIR/Handling Company personnel is available at the airport concerned , the pilot -in- command shall be responsible for all safety measures to be taken .

      Anonymous Warnings

  For anonymous warnings not indicating which aircraft or route is involved , action shall be endeavored to obtain as much information as possible from the Warner , assuring him that all information will be treated strictly confidential . If no details can be obtained , no precautionary measures will be necessary .

However , the Operations Dispatch Office shall be informed immediately .

     Non -anonymous Warnings

If details can be obtained about the aircraft or route involved, action shall be taken in accordance with 2.4.3 below . If the Warner is not able to supply details due to the anonymity of his source of information , the warning will be regarded as anonymous and action will be taken as stated above .

      Anonymous/Non-anonymous Warnings indicating which  

    aircraft or route is  involved

AIRCRAFT ON THE GROUND

- Notification

Persons and offices listed in the notification chart shown under FIG.1 shall be informed immediately .

- Positioning of Aircraft

The aircraft will be taxied by the flight crew to a remote position in under to minimize the possible extent of damage to persons and property in case of an explosion .

If towing of the aircraft becomes necessary. It will be performed without an operator in the cockpit. The tractor driver will be recruited from those persons normally responsible for push-out duties .

The aircraft and its vicinity shall be isolated immediately .

- Passenger and Cabin Bandage

  Passengers shall disembark immediately . they shall be requested to take their cabin baggage with them. Anonymous/Non - anonymous  Warnings indicating which aircraft or route is involved .

- Checked Baggage / Crew Bandage

All checked baggage and crew baggage shall be unloaded by those normally responsible for this duty and shall be identified by the owners. Baggage which cannot be identified shall be isolated immediately and handed over to the police .

- Cargo and Mail

  Cargo and mail shall be unloaded by those normally responsible for this duty. Cargo shall remain at the airport of occurrence. It shall not be released for further transportation before the scheduled time of arrival of the aircraft at the station of final destination . Mail shall be handed over to the local Post Office for investigation .

- Examination of the Aircraft

The station mechanic shall examine the aircraft in accordance which the checklist for bomb scares contained in the maintenance bag on board . The relevant order is given by the Station Manager to the base engineer/station engineer .

Not more than ten members of LOTUS AIR staff may assist the police authorities during the investigation as an additional company insurance covers a maximum of ten persons only .Other personnel must be kept away from the aircraft and load .

If a suspicious object is found during the examination of aircraft, the local police authorities shall be requested to have the object removed . If the time of explosion given in the warning leaves insufficient time for searching the aircraft , the search will not be carried out .  

·   Obligation to inform LOTUS AIR staff

 As far as the activities under ‘ Positioning of Aircraft ‘ ’ Checked Baggage /Crew Baggage ‘   ‘Cargo and Mail ‘ and ‘ Examination of the Aircraft ‘ above require assistance of LOTUS AIR staff , the supervisors of the departments concerned shall be informed by the person in charge of the security precautions ( Station Manager or pilot -in-command ) about all details in conneection with the bomb scare . Each supervisor shall pass on this information to the LOTUS AIR staff entrusted with the performance of the measures described in this chapter . The LOTUS AIR staff concerned may refuse their assistance if the above information has not been given .

The Station Manager may release the aircraft for further operation if no hazards have been revealed . All persons and offices who have been notified about the bomb scare shall be informed immediately about the cancellation of alarm .

NOTIFICATION CHART FOR BOMB SCARES

AIRCRAFT ON GROUND