Event & Trigger
- Local Standby (Technical) is declared when an inbound aircraft has a known / suspected defect, but serious difficulty in landing is not expected.
- It is a precautionary standby, not yet a Full Emergency.
Local Standby (Technical) Abnormal but controlled
ATC Immediate Actions
Notify immediately:
- ARFF / Fire Watch Tower
- AOCC Duty Manager
Pass this standard message:
LOCAL STANDBY (TECHNICAL) Aircraft Operator: Aircraft Type & Flight Number: Nature of Trouble: Number of Persons on Board (POB): Fuel on Board: Planned Runway: Estimated Time of Arrival: Any Dangerous Goods on Board (qty/location if known)
Coordination
- WSO informs ATS Reporting Office and MLU (if military).
- Keep Fire Watch Tower advised of aircraft position and call again on final.
- Be ready to upgrade to Full Emergency if situation worsens.
Termination
After safe landing, when PIC confirms “all normal,” ATC declares termination and informs Fire Watch Tower, WSO, AOCC.
ATCO Checklist
Complete
Declare Local Standby (Technical).
Inform FWT & AOCC with full info.
Ensure WSO informed ARO / MLU if applicable.
Update FWT again on final approach.
After landing normal → Declare termination to all.
Local Standby (Weather) Deteriorating WX
Trigger
- Visibility below 2000 m, TS overhead, heavy rain, windshear, very gusty winds, etc.
- Approach / landing difficulty is expected but not yet a declared MAYDAY.
ATC Broadcast
Notify ARFF (FWT) and AOCC:
LOCAL STANDBY DUE WEATHER All positions to monitor. Standby declared due weather. Present visibility [xxxx m] with [wind/TS/heavy rain].
Terminate once WX improves; inform FWT / WSO / AOCC.
ATCO Checklist
Complete
Monitor MET continuously.
Declare Local Standby (WX) if vis/TS is critical.
Inform FWT & AOCC with WX details.
Terminate when conditions improve.
Full Emergency High risk of accident
Declaration
- Inbound aircraft is in serious difficulty and there is real danger of an accident.
- Pilot may have declared MAYDAY.
- Crash Bell / alarm must kept pressed ≥ 60 seconds.
Initial Message to FWT / AOCC / WSO
FULL EMERGENCY Operator / Flight No.: Aircraft Type: Nature of Trouble: POB: Fuel on Board: Planned Runway: ETA: Dangerous Goods? (qty/location) All responding vehicles proceed to predesignated positions.
Coordination
- Give priority to the emergency aircraft; sequence others accordingly.
- Update Fire Watch Tower when aircraft is on final and number 1 to land.
- Be prepared to escalate to “Aircraft Accident.”
ATCO Checklist
Complete
Crash Bell kept pressed ≥60s.
Inform FWT, AOCC, WSO (+MLU if military).
Pass full 9-point emergency info block.
Give landing priority and manage other traffic.
Update FWT again on final.
After safe landing + “all normal” → declare termination to all.
Accident (On-Airport) Crash on movement area
Trigger
- Crash seen/reported on runway/taxiway/apron, or aircraft disappears in poor visibility.
- Fails to land within ~5 min of ETA and no comms/radar contact.
- ATC must IMMEDIATELY activate Crash Bell / siren ≥60 seconds.
“CRASH, CRASH, CRASH” Broadcast
CRASH, CRASH, CRASH Type & Flight Number: Accident Location (grid ref / landmark): Time of Accident: POB: Fuel on Board: Operator: Dangerous Goods? (qty/location) All Responding Vehicles proceed to Crash Site.
Aftermath / Follow-up
- Inform AOCC Duty Manager, Rescue Sub Centre (RSC), and MLU if military.
- WSO alerts DGCA / GM ATC / GM CNS / Member (Ops) etc. as per call list.
- Close RWY, issue NOTAM, ask MET for special observation.
- Seal and preserve all ATC/CNS recordings, logs, flight strips.
Accident (Off-Airport) Crash off airfield / within ~8 km
Who Leads Response?
- Outside the aerodrome boundary, District Administration is overall in charge.
- ATC remains the alerting post, and ARFF can respond if within approx 8 km of ARP.
ATC Immediate Actions
AIRCRAFT CRASH OFF AIRPORT Type & Flight Number: Approx Crash Location: Time: POB: Fuel on Board: Operator: Dangerous Goods? (qty/location) All concerns to take necessary action.
- Notify ARFF (FWT), AOCC, RSC Guwahati.
- Tell inbound traffic about possible diversion.
- Issue NOTAM for reduced ARFF category if resources leave the aerodrome.
- Seal and preserve ATC tapes/logs.
Dangerous Goods / CBRN Spillage / fumes / radiation
Trigger
- Spillage, fumes, damage or leak of DG cargo.
- Possible CBRN (chemical / bio / radiological / nuclear) hazard either in flight or on stand.
ATC → FWT Call Must Include
1. Proper shipping name 2. UN / ID number 3. Class / Division 4. Subsidiary risks 5. Quantity of each item 6. Location of items 7. ERG code
WSO also alerts ARO and MLU (if military).
Termination
Termination is declared by ARFF Duty Manager (with NDRF etc. if required) and broadcast to AOCC / FWT / Apron / ATC.
In-Flight Mass Medical Multiple sick pax/crew
Scenario
- Many passengers or crew ill/injured (food poisoning, infectious symptoms, turbulence injuries).
- Pilot reports medical urgency and requests priority landing.
ATC Priority Call
MEDICAL EMERGENCY, MEDICAL EMERGENCY Operator / Flight No / A/C Type: POB: Sector From / To: ETA / Stand: Number Affected: Symptoms / Nature (if known)
- Give that aircraft highest landing priority.
- Notify AOCC Duty Manager and WSO immediately.
- Ensure medical access at allocated stand/gate.
Non-Sched / Helicopter EM Unannounced / priority
Scenario
- Non-scheduled fixed-wing or helicopter arrives with little/no prior coordination, sometimes with technical issue or min fuel, or a priority medevac / VIP.
- Unexpected call already inside CTR requesting immediate landing.
- Pilot may report emergency fuel / urgent medical transfer.
ATC Immediate Actions
- Give priority to land if safety requires it.
- Inform AOCC and Fire Watch Tower that an unscheduled / possible emergency inbound is arriving.
- Identify landing area / stand / helipad and pass that to ARFF and AOCC.
- Tell WSO, so WSO alerts Security / MLU / State authority if VIP or military.
NON-SCHED / HELICOPTER EMERGENCY Type / Call Sign: Inbound from: Request: Fuel state (if reported): POB (if available): Landing area / stand: ETA:
Non-Aircraft Fire Terminal / cargo / infra fire
Trigger
- Smoke / fire in terminal building, cargo shed, fuel farm, power room, comms room, CNS / ATC tech room – but NOT an aircraft fire.
- Alarm from CISF / AOCC / CCTV feed.
ATC Immediate Actions
- Inform Fire Watch Tower and AOCC with exact location (“Terminal departure hall, Gate X, visible smoke”).
- Coordinate with AOCC/Apron to protect affected stand, taxi lane, or apron area.
- If fire threatens movement area safety: request closure of that stand / bay / taxiway and inform pilots.
NON-AIRCRAFT FIRE Location: Area affected: Time noticed: Any evac in progress: Impact on stands/taxiways: Action requested from ARFF:
If ATC services / CNS system room is affected: escalate to WSO and initiate fallback/contingency (alternate freq / standby console).
Public Health Emergency APHO / quarantine / PHEIC
Role of ATC
- Send illness-onboard info to APHO via AOCC.
- Coordinate special bay / isolation stand with AOCC and APHO.
- Before departure under health hold: Tower must confirm “CLEARED BY APHO” before giving take-off clearance.
Natural Disaster Earthquake • flood • cyclone
Trigger & Response
- Airport is under high weather / seismic / flood risk or AOCC / IMD / State Disaster Mgmt declares a disaster.
- ATC informs Fire Watch Tower, AOCC, Apron Control immediately.
"Disaster, Disaster, Disaster" Disaster at: [location] Near: [landmark]
- Advise inbound aircraft to consider diversion.
- If RWY/apron affected, AOCC issues NOTAM, MET issues special obs, Apron may activate AEOC.
Notification Flowcharts Who to call / sequence
Full Emergency / Accident (On-Airport)
1. Crash Bell / Alarm ≥60 sec 2. Fire Watch Tower (ARFF) 3. AOCC Duty Manager 4. WSO (WSO alerts MLU, DGCA chain, etc.) 5. Pass: • A/C type, flight no. • Nature of trouble • POB • Fuel • DG info • RWY • ETA Then: • Update FWT when aircraft is on final • After “all normal” → Terminate + inform all
Dangerous Goods / CBRN
1. Inform Fire Watch Tower immediately 2. Give DG details: • Proper shipping name • UN/ID number • Class / Division • Subsidiary risks • Quantity • Exact location in aircraft • ERG code 3. WSO alerts AOCC, ARO, MLU if needed 4. ARFF handles containment / isolation
Public Health / Mass Medical
1. PRIORITY LANDING for affected aircraft 2. Tell AOCC medical / APHO: • Flight no., type • From / To • ETA / Stand • Persons affected / symptoms 3. Confirm stand/gate is accessible for medical 4. If APHO holds departure: Tower must confirm “CLEARED BY APHO” before take-off
Natural Disaster / Non-Aircraft Fire
1. Inform ARFF (FWT) and AOCC with exact location 2. If it affects movement area: • Restrict / close affected stand or taxiway • AOCC issues NOTAM if RWY/apron closed 3. For major disaster (flood, earthquake, cyclone): • Advise inbound flights to consider diversion • AOCC may activate AEOC • ATC rep may attend AEOC 4. KEEP LOG of all calls + exact times
Quiz / Knowledge Check Self-test
Answer & Learn
Self-check
Loading quiz…
Remember
- Crash bell ≥60 sec = Full Emergency / Accident on-airport.
- Seal & preserve ATC/CNS recordings for any accident.
- Local Standby (WX): vis below 2000 m or severe TS → inform FWT & AOCC.
- Mass Medical: give that aircraft immediate landing priority.
- Before departure under public health hold: Tower must confirm APHO clearance.