Republic of Latvia Cabinet Regulation No. 331 Adopted 31 May 2016

Regulations Regarding the Measures Related to Civil Aviation Accidents

Issued pursuant to
Section 66, Paragraph one of the law On Aviation

1. This Regulation prescribes:

1.1. the procedures by which search and rescue operations of an aircraft accident and victims shall take place;

1.2. the procedures for aircraft rescue;

1.3. the procedures for the co-operation between institutions.

2. Terms used in this Regulation:

2.1. search and rescue area under the responsibility of the Republic of Latvia (Annex 1) - the flight information region of Riga in which the responsibility for the air traffic has been imposed on the Republic of Latvia by international agreements;

2.2. area under the responsibility of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre - the search and rescue area under the responsibility of the Republic of Latvia, except for the response zones of the rescue services of civil aerodromes (airports), military aerodromes, military areas, and the area under the responsibility of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre;

2.3. area under the responsibility of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre - aquatic area of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga in the search and rescue area under the responsibility of the Republic of Latvia;

2.4. Emergency Plan - a detailed set of measures to ensure the search and rescue of the aircraft accident and victims, aircraft rescue, and the co-operation of institutions in the area under the responsibility of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre;

2.5. area under the responsibility of the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service (in accordance with the standards and recommendations issued by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)) - territory in the radius of nine kilometres and 260 metres (five nautical miles) from the centre of the runway where the airport has identified the access roads, objects of infrastructure, and medical treatment institutions;

2.6. response zone of the rescue service of the civil aerodrome (airport) - the territory within the borders of which the rescue service of the civil aerodrome (airport) arrives before the State Fire and Rescue Service;

2.7. COSPAS/SARSAT system - the international satellite-based system which has been developed to pick up distress signals from satellite-based emergency beacons carried by aircrafts and persons.

3. The Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall, according to its competence and in accordance with this Regulation and the Emergency Plan, provide the co-ordination of the search and rescue measures of an aircraft accident and victims within the area of its responsibility, and also outside of it, if the international agreements to which the Republic of Latvia is a party provide for it, and the co-ordination of the work for the aircraft rescue. The operation of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall be ensured by the State Border Guard, and it shall operate in a continuous mode 24 hours per day.

4. The Emergency Plan shall be developed and approved by the State Border Guard after coordinating it with the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Emergency Medical Service, the State Police, the Coast Guard Service, the Ministry of Transport, valsts akciju sabiedrība "Latvijas gaisa satiksme" [the State joint stock company Latvian Air Traffic] (hereinafter - the Latvian Air Traffic), the State agency Civil Aviation Agency (hereinafter - the Civil Aviation Agency), the National Armed Forces, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments.

5. The Emergency Plan shall provide the information referred to in Annex 2 to this Regulation, as well as other information which ensures the possibility to maximally reduce the losses caused to the life and health of persons and the damages to the property in case of a civil aviation aircraft accident.

6. The authorities referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Regulation shall, upon a request of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, provide information regarding the resources at its disposal for the performance of search and rescue operations of a civil aviation aircraft and victims and aircraft rescue operations, as well as information regarding the responsible officials and the contact details for communicating with them. After receipt of the specified information the State Border Guard shall aggregate it and include in the Emergency Plan.

7. The Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre has the right to involve legal and natural persons who are not referred to in the Emergency Plan in the performance of search and rescue operations of a civil aviation aircraft and victims and aircraft rescue operations.

8. If a major accident has taken place, the operation of the Aviation Accident Information Centre shall be activated. The responsible officials of the authorities referred to in Paragraph 4 of this Regulation whose work is organised and managed by the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall be operating in the composition of the Aviation Accident Information Centre. The competence of the Aviation Accident Information Centre shall be determined in the Emergency Plan.

9. Upon performing the search and rescue operations of an aircraft accident and victims, aircraft rescue, and the co-operation of institutions according to the Emergency Plan, the following activities shall be carried out:

9.1. identification of the civil aviation aircraft accident and informing the authorities of the civil aviation aircraft accident:

9.1.1. the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, upon receipt of information from COSPAS/SARSAT and other systems associated therewith regarding a civil aviation aircraft accident in the search and rescue area under the responsibility of the Republic of Latvia, informs the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre without delay;

9.1.2. the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, upon receipt of information from the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre or other sources regarding a civil aviation aircraft accident, shall inform the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Emergency Medical Service, the State Police, the Civil Aviation Agency, the Latvian Air Traffic, the Transport Accident and Incident Investigation Bureau, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (if foreign aircraft or citizens are involved in the accident), as well as, if necessary, the foreign aviation search and rescue co-ordination centres;

9.2. search for the aircraft accident:

9.2.1. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the search for the aircraft accident shall be managed by the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in co-operation with the State Fire and Rescue Service, the State Border Guard, the State Police, and the National Armed Forces. The coordinates of the search area shall be determined by the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, and the Latvian Air Traffic shall restrict the use of the air space;

9.2.2. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the response zone of the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service, then, in accordance with the emergency plan of the civil aerodrome (airport), the search for the aircraft accident shall be managed by the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service in co-operation with the State Fire and Rescue Service;

9.2.3. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall manage the search for the aircraft accident in co-operation with the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre;

9.2.4. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in a military aerodrome or military area, then, in accordance with the emergency plan of the territory, the search for the aircraft accident shall be managed by the National Armed Forces;

9.3. delimitation and guarding the security of the accident site:

9.3.1. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the State Police shall organise the delimitation and guarding the security of the accident site in order to be able to take rescue measures of the aircraft and victims;

9.3.2. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall co-ordinate any traffic of vessels at the accident site;

9.3.3. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the response zone of the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service, the State Police shall organise the delimitation and guarding the security of the accident site in order to be able to take rescue measures of the aircraft and victims;

9.4. the performance of search and rescue operations of victims at the accident site:

9.4.1. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the search and rescue operations of victims shall be performed by the State Fire and Rescue Service based on its competence, and the State Police, the State Emergency Medical Service, the State Border Guard, and the National Armed Forces provide support in the field of their competence;

9.4.2. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the response zone of the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service, the search and rescue operations of victims shall be performed by the civil aerodrome (airport) rescue service based on its competence and in accordance with the emergency plan of the civil aerodrome (airport), until arrival of the State Fire and Rescue Service, whereas the State Police, the State Emergency Medical Service, and the State Border Guard shall provide support;

9.4.3. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in the area under the responsibility of the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the search and rescue operations of victims, in accordance with the laws and regulations and the developed Emergency Plan, shall be performed by the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, and the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, the National Armed Forces, the State Police, the State Emergency Medical Service, and the State Border Guard shall provide support within the scope of their competence;

9.4.4. if the civil aviation aircraft accident has occurred in a military aerodrome or military area, the search and rescue operations of victims shall be performed by the National Armed Forces based on its competence and emergency plan of the territory and in co-operation with the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre, whereas the State Fire and Rescue Service and the State Emergency Medical Service shall provide support within the scope of their competence;

9.5. ascertaining the number and identity of persons on board:

9.5.1. the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall send the request for the number and identity of all the persons on board and victims of the civil aviation aircraft accident to the airport from which the aircraft last departed;

9.5.2. the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in co-operation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall send the request for the number and identity of all the persons on board the aircraft that had crossed the airspace of the Republic of Latvia in transit to the foreign country from which the aircraft last departed;

9.6. the State Emergency Medical Service shall provide emergency medical assistance to the victims and establish the fact of the biological death of a person;

9.7. the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall evaluate the need to commence the operation of the Aviation Accident Co-ordination Centre;

9.8. identification and moving of victims of an aircraft accident - the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall organise the transport of the remains of victims of an aircraft accident to places provided for such purpose;

9.9. the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall inform the public of the aircraft accident and aircraft rescue.

10. An aircraft operator certified in the Republic of Latvia, regardless of the place of principal activity, shall develop an emergency plan to provide assistance to victims and their relatives, if any aircraft of the aircraft operator has suffered in an aircraft accident.

11. An aircraft operator the aircraft of which has suffered in an aircraft accident in the Republic of Latvia shall:

11.1. provide support to victims - the basic necessities, water, food, as well as temporary place of stay and psychological and immediate financial support;

11.2. provide a possibility for victims to continue the journey after receipt of medical assistance;

11.3. provide legal consultations to victims and their relatives on the rights of aircraft passengers;

11.4. ensure an informative phone line to provide information regarding the victims to the relatives;

11.5. organise the transport of the remains of victims of an aircraft accident to their country of residence;

11.6. plan and organise commemoration events of victims of an aircraft accident.

12. If an aircraft operator is not able to ensure the measures referred to in Paragraph 11 of this Regulation in due time and to the necessary extent, they shall be organised and co-ordinated by the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre in accordance with the Emergency Plan.

13. To maintain the capacity to act for the implementation of the Emergency Plan, the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre shall, at least once a year, organise theoretical training and, at least once in two years, practical training.

14. The State Border Guard is entitled to enter into an agreement with foreign aviation search and rescue co-ordination centres on joint training sessions in order to promote the search and rescue efficiency.

Prime Minister Māris Kučinskis

Minister for Transport Uldis Augulis

 

Annex 1
Cabinet Regulation No. 331
31 May 2016

Search and Rescue Area under the Responsibility of the Republic of Latvia

582448N 0203834E - 580700N 0212900E - 575342N 0213648E - 575124N 0213848E -

574712N 0214300E - 574547N 0215034E - 574458N 0215458E - 574645N 0220836E -

574930N 0221644E - 575539N 0223501E - 575627N 0224227E - 574650N 0225428E -

574208N 0225957E - 573511N 0231051E - 573538N 0232422E - 574011N 0233456E -

574658N 0233855E - 575357N 0233604E - 575357N 0241234E - 575502N 0241540E -

575228N 0242123E - Along the State border of Latvia/Estonia up to 575112N 0255552E

Along the State border of Latvia/Estonia up to 573103N 0272105E

Along the State border of Latvia/Russia up to 564506N 0275406E

Along the State border of Latvia/Russia up to 562843N 0280833E

Along the State border of Latvia/Russia up to 561024N 0280848E

Along the State border of Latvia/Belarus up to 554050N 0263750E

Along the State border of Latvia/Lithuania up to 555908N 0255651E

Along the State border of Latvia/Lithuania up to 562208N 0243749E

Along the State border of Latvia/Lithuania up to 562217N 0234520E

Along the State border of Latvia/Lithuania up to 562216N 0231222E

Along the State border of Latvia/Lithuania up to 560426N 0210537E -

560409N 0210352E - 560402N 0204452E - 560400N 0204000E -

560846N 0200456E - 561752N 0185354E - 562043N 0183023E -

565217N 0193400E - 570000N 0195000E - 571800N 0200000E -

581816N 0203443E - 582448N 0203834E UNL/GND

Minister for Transport Uldis Augulis

 

Annex 2
Cabinet Regulation No. 331
31 May 2016

Information to be Indicated in the Emergency Plan

1. Information regarding the authorities which participate in the search and rescue operations of an aircraft accident and victims, as well as aircraft rescue.

2. Information regarding officials who need to be contacted in case of an aircraft accident, their telephone numbers and means of communication available to such officials.

3. Stages and procedures of the operation of the Aviation Accident Information Centre.

4. Instructions for the supply, operational servicing, fuelling stations, technical provision, and nature of aircrafts and other vehicles involved in the search and rescue operations of victims, as well as their permanent location.

5. Identification of the civil aviation aircraft accident and informing the authorities of the civil aviation aircraft accident.

6. Information regarding the formalities for flying in of search and rescue units of other countries in the area under the responsibility of the Republic of Latvia, as well as for the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre to receive the necessary assistance.

7. Joint co-operation measures with the air navigation service provider.

8. Performance of rescue operations at the accident site:

8.1. methods to be used to warn aircrafts;

8.2. ways of receiving the information topical for search and rescue of victims (for example, NOTAM, weather forecasts);

8.3. obligations and rights of officials in performing search and rescue operations;

8.4. ascertaining the number and identity of persons on board;

8.5. provision of support to the victims who are not in need of medical treatment in an inpatient institution;

8.6. delimitation and guarding the security of the accident site;

8.7. provision of medical assistance to victims;

8.8. actions with dead persons;

8.9. installing phone lines for the provision of information regarding the victims;

8.10. support to the victims and their relatives;

8.11. the possible re-grouping of equipment in relation to meteorological conditions or other circumstances;

8.12. the ways how assistance is received from other co-ordination centres (including the aircraft, personnel, and equipment);

8.13. methods for assisting the search and rescue aircraft or other kind of aircraft to get to the aircraft in danger;

8.14. actions with the wreckage of aircraft;

8.15. investigation of the civil aviation accident.

9. Informing the public of the course of aircraft rescue.

10. Co-operation with the search and rescue co-ordination centres of the neighbouring countries.

11. Training of the personnel of the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

12. Maintaining of registers.

13. Competence of the Aviation Accident Information Centre.

14. Procedures for the cooperation between the Aviation Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre and the Maritime Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre.

Minister for Transport Uldis Augulis

 

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Translation © 2019 Valsts valodas centrs (State Language Centre)