INTERCEPTION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT

ENR 1.12 INTERCEPTION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT

1. INTERCEPTION PROCEDURES

The following procedures and visual signals apply over the territory and territorial waters of the Republic of Latvia in the event of interception* of an aircraft.

* The word “interception” in this context dos not include intercept and escort service provided, on request, to an aircraft in distress, in accordance with Volumes II and III of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual (Doc 9731).

1.1 An aircraft which is intercepted by another aircraft shall immediately:

a.follow the instructions given by the intercepting aircraft, interpreting and responding to visual signals in accordance with the specifications;

b.notify, if possible, the appropriate air traffic services unit;

c.attempt to establish radio communication with the intercepting aircraft or with the appropriate intercept control unit, by making a general call on the emergency frequency 121.500 MHz, giving the identity of the intercepted aircraft and the nature of the flight;

d.if equipped with SSR transponder, select Mode A, Code 7700, unless otherwise instructed by the appropriate air traffic services unit.

1.2 If radio contact is established during interception but communication in a common language is not possible, attempts shall be made to convey instructions, acknowledgement of instructions and essential information by using the phrases and pronunciations in the following table and transmitting each phrase twice:

PHRASE	PRONUNCIATION*	MEANING
CALL SIGN (call sign**)	KOL - SA-IN (call sign)	My call sign is (call sign)
WILCO	VILL - KO	Understood. Will comply
CAN NOT	KANN NOTT	Unable to comply
REPEAT	REE - PEET	Repeat your instruction
AM LOST	AM LOSST	Position unknown
MAYDAY	MAYDAY	I am in distress
HIJACK***	HI-JACK	I have been hijacked
LAND (place name)	LAAND (place name)	I request to land at (place name)
DESCEND	DEE - SEND	I require descent
* Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters. The call sign required to be given is that used in radiotelephony communications with air traffic services units and corresponding to the aircraft identification in the flight plan. * Circumstances may not always permit, nor make desirable, the use of the phrase “HIJACK”.

1.3 The following phrases shall be used by the intercepting aircraft and transmitted twice in the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph:

PHRASE	PRONUNCIATION*	MEANING
CALL SIGN	KOL - SA-IN	What is your call sign?
FOLLOW	FOL-LO	Follow me
DESCEND	DEE-SEND	Descend for landing
YOU LAND	YOU LAAND	Land at this aerodrome
PROCEED	PRO-SEED	You may proceed
* Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters.

1.4 If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by visual signals, the intercepted aircraft shall request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the visual instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.

1.5 If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by radio, the intercepted aircraft shall request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the radio instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.

1.6 The visual signals are detailed in the table SIGNALS FOR USE IN THE EVENT OF INTERCEPTION.

2. SIGNALS FOR USE IN THE EVENT OF INTERCEPTION

Signals initiated by intercepting aircraft and responses by intercepted aircraft

Series	INTERCEPTING Aircraft Signals	Meaning	INTERCEPTED Aircraft Responds	Meaning
1	DAY or NIGHT - Rocking aircraft and flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals (and landing lights in the case of a helicopter) from a position slightly above and ahead of, and normally to the left of, the intercepted aircraft (or to the right if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter) and, after acknowledgement, a slow level turn, normally to the left, (or to the right in the case of a helicopter) on the desired heading. Note 1: Meteorological conditions or terrain may require the intercepting aircraft to reverse the positions and direction of turn given above in Series 1. Note 2: If the intercepted aircraft is not able to keep pace with the intercepting aircraft, the latter is expected to fly a series of race-track patterns and to rock the aircraft each time it passes the intercepted aircraft.	You have been intercepted.Follow me.	DAY or NIGHT - Rocking aircraft, flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals and following.	Understood, will comply.
2	DAY or NIGHT - An abrupt break-away manoeuvre from the intercepted aircraft consisting of a climbing turn of 90 degrees or more without crossing the line of flight of the intercepted aircraft.	You may proceed.	DAY or NIGHT - Rocking the aircraft.	Understood, will comply.
3	DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and overflying runway-in-use or, if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter, overflying the helicopter landing area. In the case of helicopters, the intercepting helicopter makes a landing approach, coming to hover near to the landing area.	Land at this aerodrome.	DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear, (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and following the intercepting aircraft and, if, after overflying the runway-in-use or helicopter landing area, landing is considered safe, proceeding to land.	Understood, will comply.

Series

INTERCEPTING Aircraft Signals

Meaning

INTERCEPTED Aircraft Responds

Meaning

DAY or NIGHT - Rocking aircraft and flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals (and landing lights in the case of a helicopter) from a position slightly above and ahead of, and normally to the left of, the intercepted aircraft (or to the right if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter) and, after acknowledgement, a slow level turn, normally to the left, (or to the right in the case of a helicopter) on the desired heading.

Note 1: Meteorological conditions or terrain may require the intercepting aircraft to reverse the positions and direction of turn given above in Series 1.

Note 2: If the intercepted aircraft is not able to keep pace with the intercepting aircraft, the latter is expected to fly a series of race-track patterns and to rock the aircraft each time it passes the intercepted aircraft.

You have been intercepted.Follow me.

DAY or NIGHT - Rocking aircraft, flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals and following.

Understood, will comply.

DAY or NIGHT - An abrupt break-away manoeuvre from the intercepted aircraft consisting of a climbing turn of 90 degrees or more without crossing the line of flight of the intercepted aircraft.

You may proceed.

DAY or NIGHT - Rocking the aircraft.

Understood, will comply.

DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and overflying runway-in-use or, if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter, overflying the helicopter landing area. In the case of helicopters, the intercepting helicopter makes a landing approach, coming to hover near to the landing area.

Land at this aerodrome.

DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear, (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and following the intercepting aircraft and, if, after overflying the runway-in-use or helicopter landing area, landing is considered safe, proceeding to land.

Understood, will comply.

Signals initiated by intercepted aircraft and responses by intercepting aircraft

Series	INTERCEPTED Aircraft Signals	Meaning	INTERCEPTING Aircraft Responds	Meaning
4	DAY or NIGHT - Raising landing gear (if fitted) and flashing landing lights while passing over runway-in-use or helicopter landing area at a height exceeding 300 m (1 000 ft) but not exceeding 600 m (2 000 ft) (in the case of a helicopter, at a height exceeding 50 m (170 ft) but not exceeding 100 m (330 ft) above the aerodrome level, and continuing to circle runway-in-use or helicopter landing areas. If unable to flash landing lights, flash any other lights available.	Aerodrome you have designated is inadequate.	DAY or NIGHT - If it is desired that the intercepted aircraft follow the intercepting aircraft to an alternate aerodrome, the intercepting aircraft raises its landing gear (if fitted) and uses the Series 1 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft. If it is decided to release the intercepted aircraft, the intercepting aircraft uses the Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.	Understood, follow me. Understood, you may proceed.
5	DAY or NIGHT - Regular switching on and off of all available lights but in such a manner as to be distinct from flashing lights.	Cannot comply	DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.	Understood.
6	DAY or NIGHT - Irregular flashing of all available lights.	In distress	DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.	Understood.

Series

INTERCEPTED Aircraft Signals

Meaning

INTERCEPTING Aircraft Responds

Meaning

DAY or NIGHT - Raising landing gear (if fitted) and flashing landing lights while passing over runway-in-use or helicopter landing area at a height exceeding 300 m (1 000 ft) but not exceeding 600 m (2 000 ft) (in the case of a helicopter, at a height exceeding 50 m (170 ft) but not exceeding 100 m (330 ft) above the aerodrome level, and continuing to circle runway-in-use or helicopter landing areas. If unable to flash landing lights, flash any other lights available.

Aerodrome you have designated is inadequate.

DAY or NIGHT - If it is desired that the intercepted aircraft follow the intercepting aircraft to an alternate aerodrome, the intercepting aircraft raises its landing gear (if fitted) and uses the Series 1 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.

If it is decided to release the intercepted aircraft, the intercepting aircraft uses the Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.

Understood, follow me.

Understood, you may proceed.

DAY or NIGHT - Regular switching on and off of all available lights but in such a manner as to be distinct from flashing lights.

Cannot comply

DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.

Understood.

DAY or NIGHT - Irregular flashing of all available lights.

In distress

DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.

Understood.