GM2 CAT.GEN.MPA.210 Location of an aircraft in distress — Aeroplanes

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 45

EXPLANATION OF TERMS

The terms used in point CAT.GEN.MPA.210 and AMC1 CAT.GEN.MPA.210 are explained below for better understanding:

— ‘accident during which the aeroplane is severely damaged’ refers to an accident during which the aeroplane sustains damage or structural failure that adversely affects its structural strength, performance, or flight characteristics, and would normally require a major repair or replacement of the affected component, except for:

— an engine failure or damage to the engine, when the damage is limited to a single engine (including its cowlings or accessories);

— damage limited to propellers, wing tips, antennas, probes, vanes, tyres, brakes, wheels, fairings, panels, landing gear doors, windscreens, the aeroplane skin (such as small dents or puncture holes);

— minor damage to the landing gear; and

— damage resulting from hail or bird strike (including holes in the radome);

— ‘accurately determine… the location of the point of end of flight’ means locating the point of end of flight with a position accuracy that is sufficient for safety investigation purposes, and when the accident conditions are survivable, also for SAR purposes;

— ‘activation of the airborne system’ means the transition of the airborne system from another state to the activated state;

— ‘ATM/ANS Regulation’ refers to UK Regulation (EU) 2017/373 of 1 March 2017 or any later UK regulation laying down common requirements for providers of air traffic management/air navigation services;

— ‘automatic means’ refers to means that do not require any human action to perform their intended function;

— ‘automatic activation of the airborne system’ means activation of the airborne system that is automatically triggered by airborne equipment;

— ‘deactivation of the airborne system’ means the transition of that system from the activated state to another state;

— ‘distress tracking repository (DTR)’ means a centrally managed facility that would function as a single point of access to the ADT position;

— ‘point of end of flight’ means, depending on the nature of the accident, the point where the aircraft crashed into land or water, or landed on land or water, or was destroyed;

— ‘required functions of the airborne system’ refers to the ‘functions of the system’, (defined in the CS-ACNS), that are applicable to locating an aircraft in distress;

— ‘robust and automatic means refers to means designed to work properly under the circumstances of survivable accidents, and under the circumstances of most non-survivable accidents;

— ‘activate the airborne system ’ means that the airborne system transmits signals to the DTR to enable the determination of the location of the point of end of flight. Activation of the airborne system does not automatically alert SAR services.; and

— ‘transmission service’ refers to the service that makes the information sent by the airborne system available to the relevant stakeholders.