1.1 Acts of unlawful interference
These are acts or attempted acts considered to jeopardise the safety of civil aviation and air transport, i.e.:
• unlawful seizure of an aircraft in flight,
• unlawful seizure of an aircraft on the ground,
• hostage-taking on board an aircraft or at aerodromes,
• forcible intrusion on board an aircraft, at an aerodrome or on the premises of an aeronautical facility,
• carrying on board an aircraft or at an aerodrome of a weapon or hazardous device or material intended for criminal purposes,
• communication of false information such as to jeopardise the safety of an aircraft in flight or on the ground, passengers, crew, ground personnel or the general public, at an aerodrome or on the premises of a civil aviation facility.
1.2 An aircraft which is being subjected to unlawful interference shall endeavour to notify the appropriate ATS unit of this fact, any significant circumstances associated therewith and any deviation from the current flight plan necessitated by the circumstances, in order to enable the ATS unit to give priority to the aircraft and to minimize conflict with other aircraft.
1.3 If an aircraft is subjected to unlawful interference, the pilot-in-command shall attempt to land as soon as practicable at the nearest suitable aerodrome or at a dedicated aerodrome assigned by the appropriate authority unless considerations aboard the aircraft dictate otherwise.
2.1 The following procedures are intended as guidance for use by aircraft when unlawful interference occurs and the aircraft is unable to notify an ATS unit of this fact.
2.2 If the pilot-in-command cannot proceed to the nearest suitable aerodrome or to the dedicated aerodrome assigned by the appropriate authority, he/she should attempt to continue flying on the assigned track and at the assigned cruising level at least until able to notify an ATS unit or until within radar or ADS-B coverage.
Note: Automatic dependent surveillance - broadcast (ADS-B). A means by which aircraft, aerodrome vehicles and other objects can automatically transmit and/or receive data, such as identification, position and additional data, as appropriate, in a broadcast mode via a data link.
2.3 When an aircraft subjected to an act of unlawful interference must depart from its assigned track or its assigned cruising level without being able to make radiotelephony contact with ATS, the pilot-in-command should, whenever possible:
• Attempt to broadcast warnings on the VHF emergency frequency and other appropriate frequencies, unless considerations aboard the aircraft dictate otherwise. Other equipment such as on-board transponders, data links etc., should also be used when it is advantageous to so and circumstances permit; and
• Proceed at a level which differs from the cruising levels normally used for IFR flight by 150 m (500 ft).
2.4 An operator shall establish procedures for reporting incidents taking into account responsibilities and circumstances.
2.5 Following an act of unlawful interference on board an aircraft, the commander or, in his/her absence, the operator, shall submit a report as soon as practicable to the local Authority and to the Authority in Latvia to:
Post:Civil Aviation Agency
Safety Investigation and Data Section
Lidosta “Rīga”, Biroju iela 10
Mārupes pagasts
Mārupes novads
LV-1053, Latvija
Tel:+371 67830969
Fax:+371 67830967
Email:SIDD@caa.gov.lv
2.6 According to the Cabinet Regulation No 1033/2005, reports to the Authority must be despatched within 72 hours of the time when the incident was identified unless exceptional circumstances prevent this.