Do you know what happens if an aircraft experiences a technical failure in flight or fails to arrive at its planned destination? What about when an aircraft disappears or crashes? The Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) has 24/7 readiness to take action to search and locate aircraft, in collaboration with other authorities. What are the most typical aeronautical rescue missions, and what actually happens at the ARCC when an emergency alert comes in? What is unique about cooperation between the rescue services and the authorities in Finland?
Finland’s Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC Finland) manages aerial search and rescue, a special task assigned to Fintraffic Air Navigation Services, besides providing support for the security and rescue authorities, particularly the rescue services, the Border Guard and the police.
“We form part of Finland’s rescue response as a unit at the Air Traffic Control Centre in Vantaa. We are responsible for the ARCC IT environment and for organising training and exercises. We also engage in regular information exchange and collaboration with our liaison authorities,” says Mika Runsten, Head of ARCC Finland.
Operation may be launched for any of several reasons
There are about 400 operations involving the ARCC each year. While an operation can occur at any time of the year, incidents involving general aviation are less common in the winter. However small the incident, every emergency alert represents a potential serious hazard.
“A typical case is forgetting to close an active flight plan when arriving at an uncontrolled aerodrome. Such an oversight causes uncertainty, because an active flight plan guarantees the availability of rescue services for that flight. Situations like these are usually cleared up with a follow-up phone call to the pilot in a matter of minutes,” says Runsten.
A technical failure on board an aircraft is another typical trigger for aeronautical rescue operations. In such a case, the flight is subjected to intensified monitoring for location and in case of further complications. At the same time, efforts are made to find out what exactly the technical problem is, so that the necessary emergency units can be deployed before the aircraft lands. Crashes are rare but are nevertheless prepared for.
“The most challenging cases are aircraft crashes with no eyewitnesses where there is initially no way to pinpoint the location of the accident. In this case, we launch an aerial search and rescue operation coordinated by the ARCC. This may have to cover a large area and may take a long time. However, accidents like this are very rare,” Runsten points out.
Principal duties are aerial search and operation management
When the ARCC receives an emergency alert about an aircraft that is in distress or missing, all available relevant information on the aircraft and the flight is acquired. The principal duties of the ARCC are aerial search and operation management in the interests of locating the aircraft as fast as possible.
“It is our job to find out what has happened and where. We alert search aircraft and begin to source geographical information from our own systems and from various other sources, such as databases and radar systems maintained by other authorities. We direct the aerial operations, the point being to locate the aircraft in question as quickly as possible to allow the rescue services to go in,” Runsten explains.
Sometimes the ARCC assists the authorities, sometimes vice versa. However, the ARCC is always responsible for the initial search to locate the aircraft. In the most serious cases, the ARCC may request assistance by search units from the Border Guard, the Defence Forces or the Finnish Air Rescue Society. Activities on the ground and launching an investigation are the responsibility of the police. The actual investigation is carried out later by the Safety Investigation Authority.
“In Finland, we have transparency and cross-agency support in rescue operations that is unparalleled worldwide. Finland has limited resources, so we all genuinely have to pull together. We have the same IT environment and information as the authorities, which helps collaboration run smoothly in rescue operations,” says Runsten.
Air rescue coordinator competence maintained through regular training
Air rescue coordinators are on duty on a 24/7 basis and direct operations at the ARCC. Principally, the 24/7 roster is manned by Area Control Centre shift supervisors trained as air rescue coordinators, but certain experts and ARCC supervisors can also act as air rescue coordinators.
“Professionals at the ARCC also work at other air navigation units. This ensures that air rescue personnel is immediately and adequately available in the event of an emergency. All air navigation units notify the ARCC of any aircraft disruptions and emergencies that they learn of,” says Runsten.
Air rescue coordinators are required to have a good command of the basics of air navigation services. Air rescue coordinator training is provided by the ARCC. It consists of an air rescue coordinator course and a refresher course twice a year. The ARCC also participates in joint exercises with the authorities each year.
”All training includes theory lessons and multi-disciplinary simulation exercises in the ARCC IT environment. The simulations are designed to be as authentic as possible, and as a result the training is very similar to the real thing. We ensure sufficient competence with a series of performance examinations and qualifications,” explains Runsten.
The teamwork spirit of the unit is apparent not only in working with the authorities but also in-house at the ARCC.
“Working together and having your colleague’s back is crucial for successfully handling stressful situations. I would like to thank the personnel for their exemplary attitude and excellently maintained professional skills,” says Runsten appreciatively.
