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:Flight Information Alerting Services
Alerting Services
• ICAO Annex 11: Air traffic Services
•Chapter 5: Alerting Services
5.1 Application
5.2 Notification of rescue coordination centers
5.3 Use of communication facilities
5.4 Plotting aircraft in a state of emergency
5.5 Information to the operator
5.6 Information to aircraft operating in the vicinity
of an aircraft in a state of emergency.
Application
What is Alerting Service?
An alerting service is defined by ICAO as
a service provided to notify appropriate
organizations regarding aircraft in need of
search and rescue aid, and assist such
organizations as required. 
 ALERTING SERVICE - APPLICATION
A L E RTI NG S E R V I CE S H A LL BE
P R O V IDE D:

• for all aircraft provided with air traffic control service;

• in so far as practicable, to all other aircraft having filed a flight

plan or otherwise known to the air traffic services; and

• to any aircraft known or believed to be the subject of unlawful

interference.
 ALERTING SERVICE - APPLICATION
• Flight information centres or area control centres shall serve as
the central point for collecting all information relevant to a state
of emergency of an aircraft.

• Aerodrome control tower or approach control unit shall notify

immediately the flight information centre or area control centre
responsible which shall in turn notify the rescue coordination
centre.

• The aerodrome control tower or approach control unit

responsible shall first alert and take other necessary steps to set
in motion all appropriate local rescue and emergency
organizations which can give the immediate assistance required.
 Phases of Emergency
There are three defined phases, or states of emergency. 
1) The Uncertainty Phase: A situation where uncertainty
exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants.

2) The Alert Phase: A situation where apprehension

exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants.

3) The Distress Phase: A situation where there is

reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants
are threatened by grave and imminent danger or
require immediate assistance.
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE COO
RDI NATI ON C E N TRES
- U N CE RTAI NTY
P H A SE -

• no communication has been received from an aircraft within a

period of 30 mins after the time a communication should have
been received, or from the time an unsuccessful attempt to
establish communication with such aircraft was first made,
whichever is the earlier, or when

• an aircraft fails to arrive within 30 mins of the estimated time of

arrival last notified to or estimated by air traffic services units,
whichever is the later.
The Uncertainty Phase (INCERFA)-Summery
INCERFA is initiated when:
a) No communication has been received from an aircraft within a period
of thirty minutes after the time a communication should have been
received. 
or 
b) From the time an unsuccessful attempt to establish communication
with such aircraft was first made. 
The earlier of (a) or (b) above
or
c) An aircraft fails to arrive within thirty minutes of the estimated time
of arrival 
1) Last notified to 
or 
2) Estimated by air traffic services units 
The later of (1) or (2) above
Except when No doubt exists as to the safety of the aircraft and its
occupants.
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE COO
RDI NATI ON C E N TRES
- A L E RT P H AS E -

• following the uncertainty phase, subsequent attempts to

establish communication with the aircraft or inquiries to other
relevant sources have failed to reveal any news of the aircraft,
or when

• an aircraft has been cleared to land and fails to land within five
minutes of the estimated time of landing and communication
has not been re-established with the aircraft, or when
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE C O O RDI
NATI ON C E N TRES
- A L E RT P H AS E -

• 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, or when

• an aircraft is known or believed to be the subject

of unlawful interference.
 The Alert Phase (ALERFA) -Summery
ALERFA is initiated (following the uncertainty phase) when:
a) Subsequent attempts to establish communication with the aircraft or
inquiries to other relevant sources have failed to reveal any news of the
aircraft. 
or 
b) An aircraft has been cleared to land and fails to land within five
minutes of the estimated time of landing and communication has not
been re-established with the aircraft. 
or 
c) 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. 
or 
d) An aircraft is known or believed to be the subject of unlawful
interference.
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE C O O RDI
NATI ON C E N TRES
- D I S T RESS
P H AS E -

• following the alert phase, further unsuccessful

attempts to establish communication with the aircraft
and more widespread unsuccessful inquiries point to
the probability that the aircraft is in distress, or when

• the fuel on board is considered to be

exhausted, or to be insufficient to enable the
aircraft to reach safety, or when
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE COO
RDI NATI ON C E N TRES
- D I S T RESS
P H AS E -

• information is received which indicates that the

operating efficiency of the aircraft has been
impaired to the extent that a forced landing is
likely, or when

• information is received or it is reasonably

certain that the aircraft is about to make or
has made a forced landing
The Distress Phase (DETRESFA) Summery

DETRESFA is initiated (following the alert phase) when:

a) Further unsuccessful attempts to establish communication with the
aircraft and more widespread unsuccessful inquiries point to the
probability that the aircraft is in distress. 
or 
b) The fuel on board is considered to be exhausted or to be
insufficient to enable the aircraft to reach safety. 
or 
c) Information is received which indicates that the operating efficiency
of the aircraft has been impaired to the extent that a forced landing is
likely. 
or 
d) Information is received or it is reasonably certain that the aircraft is
about to make or has made a forced landing. 
Except where it is a reasonably certain that the aircraft and its
occupants are not threatened by grave and imminent danger.
 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON O F R E S CUE COO
RDI NATI ON C E N TRES
N O T IFI CATI ON R E P ORT C O NTENTS:

• INCERFA, ALERFA or DETRESFA,

• agency and person calling;

• nature of the emergency;

• significant information from the flight plan;

• unit which made last contact, time and means used;

• last position report and how determined;

 ALERTING SERVICE
N O T IFI CATI ON OF R E S CUE C O O RDI NATI ON
C E N TRES
N O T IFI CATI ON R E P ORT C O NTENTS:

• colour and distinctive marks of aircraft;

• dangerous goods carried as cargo;

• any action taken by reporting office;

• other pertinent remarks;

• any useful additional information, especially on the development of

the state of emergency through subsequent phases; or

• information that the emergency situation no longer exists.

 ALERTING SERVICE
USE O F C O M MUNI CATI ON FAC
IL I TIE S

• Air traffic services units shall, as necessary, use all

available communication facilities to endeavour to
establish and maintain communication with an aircraft
in a state of emergency, and to request news of the
aircraft.
 ALERTING SERVICE
USE O F C O M MUNI CATI
ON F A C IL I TIE S

• The flight of the aircraft

involved shall be plotted on
a chart in order to determine
the probable future position
from its last known position.
• The flights of other aircraft
known to be operating in the
vicinity of the aircraft
involved shall also be plotted
in order to determine their
probable future positions
and maximum endurance.
 ALERTING SERVICE
I N F ORMATI ON T O T H EO P E
RATOR

• ATS shall, when practicable -in the uncertainty or the alert

phase-, advise the operator prior to notifying the rescue
coordination centre.

• If an aircraft is in the distress phase, the rescue coordination

centre has to be notified immediately.

• All information notified to the rescue coordination centre by an

area control or flight information centre shall, whenever
practicable, also be communicated, without delay, to the
operator.
 ALERTING SERVICE
I N F OR M ATI ON T O AIR
C R AFT O P E R ATING I N T H E V I
C I NI TY O F
AN A I R CRA FT I N A
S T A TE O F E M E RG
ENCY

• Other aircraft known to be in the vicinity of the aircraft involved

shall, be informed of the nature of the emergency as soon as
practicable.

• When an aircraft is being subjected to unlawful interference, no

reference shall be made in ATS air-ground communications to
the nature of the emergency unless it has first been referred to
in communications from the aircraft involved and it is certain
that such reference will not aggravate the situation.
•References:
•http://cockpitdata.com/Software/ICAO%20Annex%201
1
•https://www.theairlinepilots.com/forum/viewtopic.ph
p?f=37&t=1017
•https://wiki/Flight_Information_Centre