How To Handle Emergency SQUAWK

ASSIST :
7500 – Hijack
7600 – Lost Comm (radio failure)
7700 – Emergency
 Acknowledge the call, get the squawk needed
 Separate the aircraft from other traffic, give it room to manoeuvre
 Silence - on the frequency, prevents unnecessary clutter for the pilots
 Inform those who need to know and those who can help, inform others as appropriate
 Support the pilots in any way possible, start to think of alternative routings, etc
 Time - Give the pilots time to collect their thoughts, dont't harass them for information, Time
produces good decisions

Some basic incidents that are usually experienced by Virtual Pilots in IVAO (especially FSPax users)
to be handled by ATC (especially for TWR)

GEAR PROBLEMS

Expect :
- Go Arround
- request for foam carpet
- Manual gear extension
- RWY blocked after landing

Remember :
- Inform & Coordination with other ATC Units
- Arrange LOW PASS for visual inspection by TWR
- Weight reduction necessary (fuel dumping / fuel burning)
- Clear RWY when ACFT on 25nm final
- Keep safety strip clear
- Towing & Emergency equipment on standby

If needed, inform the pilot about :

- ACFT Configuration e.g : Gear appears down / gear door closed

BIRD STRIKE

May Result in :
- Broken Windhsield / Canopy
- Engine Failure (Single & Multi engine) - see below
- Hydraulic Problems
- Precautionary Approach

Expect :
- Aborted Take Off (when on take off rolling position)
- Immediate return to aerodrome
- Landing next suitable aerodrome
- Restricted Visibility (due broken windshield)

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform & Coordination with other ATC / Emergency unit
- Is pilot able to control ACFT ?
- Allow long final if requested
- Check RWY (if birdstrike after takeoff)

If needed, inform the pilot about :

- Alternate aerodrome details (RWY in use, leghth, survace, NAVAID etc)

ENGINE FAILURE (Multi Engine ACFT)

May Result in :
- Aborted Take off
- Pressurisation problems
- Fuel dumping
- Precautionary Approach

Expect :
- Heavy workload in the cockpit
- Deviation from SID/STAR
- Intermediate level off / Descent
- Course Deviation
- Pressuration problems

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform & Coordination with other ATC / Emergency unit (include Towing car if needed)
- Clear RWY according to local instructions e.g 20nm final
- Keep safety strip clear
- Offer pilot to extend final
- In case of emergency landing other than at an aerodrome, record last known position and time!

If needed, inform pilot about :

- Next suitable aerodrome
- Aerodrome details (RWY in use, leghth, survace, NAVAID etc)
- WX information of landing aerodrome (wind, visibility, ceiling & QNH)

Engine / APU on Fire

May Result in :
- Aborted T/O
- Engine Failure (Single/Multi Engine)
- Smoke/Fire on Cockpit/Cabin
- Emergency Landing
Expect :
- Heavy workload in the cockpit
- Engine Shutdown / fire extinguishing

ACFT on the ground :

- Pax evacuation
- RWY Bloked

ACFT in the air :

- Pressurisation problems
- ACFT losing altitude
- Landing next suitable aerodrome
- Possible emergency landing (Single engine) 

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Station / Emergency (Fire) equipment stdby position
- Ask for dangerous goods
- Ask for number of POB
- Inform landing aerodrome
- Clear RWY according to local instructions (e.g. 20 nm final)
- Keep safety strip clear
- In case of emergency landing, record last known position and time

If needed, inform pilots about

- Next suitable alternate aerodrome
- Aerodrome details (RWY active, length, surface, elev etc)
- WX information (wind, visibility, ceiling, QNH)
- Observed fire and/or smoke

Fuel Problems / Leak

May result in :
- Engine Failure (Single/Multi Engine)
- Outside Landing

Expect :
- MAYDAY low on fuel emergency with imminent danger to ACFT
- PAN PAN minimum fuel ACFT needs priority handling
- Improper use of phraseology, verify actial fuel status!!
(Low on..., minimum... or minimum diversion fuel)

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Station / Emergency (Towing Car?) equipment stdby position
- Keep ACFT high (save fuel)
- Avoid ATC-caused GO AROUND
- Inform landing aerodrome
- Ask for dangerous goods
- Ask for number of POB
- Clear RWY according to local instructions (e.q 20nm final)
- Keep safety strip clear
- In case of emergency landing, record last known position and time

If needed, inform pilots about

- Next suitable alternate aerodrome
- Aerodrome details (RWY active, length, surface, elev etc)
- WX information (wind, visibility, ceiling, QNH)

Hydraulic Problems
(Complete or partial failure of Flight controls, gear, brakes, flaps, nosewheel steering)

May result in :
- Gear problems
- Brake problems
- Relatively high-speed Approach & Landing

Expect :
- Limited manoeuvrability
- Limited Flap setting
- Limited bank angle
- Manual gear extension, no retraction possible
- Holding pattern for necessary checks
- Extended final
- Higher approach speed on final
- Possible overrun due limited braking capability
- RWY Blocked

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Station / Emergency (Towing Car?) equipment stdby position
- Assign level blocks (at least two levels)
- Avoid ATC-caused GO AROUND
- Inform landing aerodrome
- Ask for dangerous goods
- Ask for number of POB
- Clear RWY according to local instructions (e.q 20nm final)
- Keep safety strip clear

If needed, inform pilots about

- Next suitable alternate aerodrome
- Aerodrome details (RWY active, length, surface, elev etc)
- WX information (wind, visibility, ceiling, QNH)
- Fire/smoke on brakes/landing gear
Smoke/fire on the cockpit/cabin

Expect :
- High stress level in the cockpit
- Shortest high-speed vector to land - nearest suitable aerodrome
- Poor R/T (oxygen mask) or lost of R/T - Define appropriate comfail procedure in due time
- Pax evacuation
- RWY blocked

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Station / Emergency (Fire) equipment stdby position
- Ask for dangerous goods
- Ask for number of POB
- Inform landing aerodrome
- Clear RWY according to local instructions (e.g. 20 nm final)
- Keep safety strip clear
- APP-/RWY lighting system 100%

If needed, inform pilots about

- Track miles to touchdown of next suitable aerodrome
- Availability of automatic approach low visibility procedure
- Aerodrome details (RWY active, length, surface, elev etc)
- WX information (wind, visibility, ceiling, QNH)
- Observed fire and/or smoke

Pressurisation Problems

May result in : 
Emergency Descent

Expect :
- ACFT will stop climb & request for immediate descent
- Emergency descent without warning
- Turn off track
- No emergency squawk
- Turn off track
- Poor R/T (oxygen mask)

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Station
- After emergency descent, request intentions (Diversion, Injuries, ACFT damage?)
- Clear airspace directly beneath the ACFT
- Consider ACFT to be still in an emergency situation.

If needed, inform pilots about

- if possible revise heading e.g 15 to 45 degrees off track
Electrical Problems
Loss all GEN (ALT)/Battery power only, Power supply reduced to emergency level

Expect :
- High stress level in the cockpit
- NAV Failure, including compass
- Transponder switched off (save energy)
- COMFAIL (see other topic below)
- Limited readbacks
- Level change to maintain VMC

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Unit
- Inform landing aerodrome

If needed, inform pilot about

- Next suitable aerodrome
- Aerodrome details (RWY active, length, surface, elev)
- Suitable vectors and position info
- Save energy
- Avoid IMC

Communication / Radiocom Failure (VMC)

Expect :
- Squawk 7600
- Continue flight in VMC
- Landing at the nearest suitable aerodrome
- Report termination of flight immediately to the competent ATC unit
Airspace D >>
- VFR may enter if clearence is received
- IFR does not require a clearence
Airspace C >>
- ACFT outside - NO ENTRY (regardless of clearences)
- ACFT inside >
Below 10.000ft - continue according clearence, if unable leave on shortest route
At or above 10.000ft - leave on shortest route

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Unit
- Failure of transmitter or receiver only ?
- Possible relay by other stations ?
- Consider ACFT in radio failure when missing an expected msgs within a period of 5 Min
Communication / Radiocom Failure (IMC)

Expect :
Departure >>
- Maintain initial cleared level for 3 Min before commencing climb to filed cruising level if initial
cleared level is below MEA, pilot shall climb to this MEA
- If ACFT is on radar vector without limitation, the pilot shall return to the previously assigned route
on the shortest possible way (current FPL)
Arrival >>
- Proceed to IAF of destination aerodrome (current FPL)
- Hold over IAF until EAT last confirmed, if not EAT confirmed, hold for 5 Min
- Descend in the holding to initial approach altitude follow published instrument approach procedure
and land, if possible within 30 min after commencing descent
- Fly to alternate aerodrome if landing cannot be performed (no procedure laid down)

Remember :
- ASSIST
- Inform other ATC Unit
- Failure of transmitter or receiver only ?
- Possible relay by other stations ?
- Company freq. / SELCAL / EMERGENCY FREQ (121.5)
- User radar hand-off to transfer control
- Consider ACFT in radio failure when missing an expected msgs within a period of 5 min.