In case off water/swampy areas, what should be considered to ensure an effective or adequate response to an emergency at the distances mentioned in AMC1 ADR.OPS.B.005(b) and AMC2 ADR.OPS.B.005(b)?
Answer
With regard to the 1000-m area from the runway thresholds, the aerodrome operator is required to assess and ensure the intervention capability of dedicated aerodrome services. If needed, according to the local environment, and through the establishment of appropriate cooperation protocols taking due account of national or local legislation, the institutional set-up and entities mission statement, the intervention capability could be ensured by relevant support entities.
With regard to the 8-km grid map and its relevant areas concerning published flight procedures, the aerodrome operator, taking due account of the the national or local situation in terms of the institutional set-up of responsibility for managing and responding to an emergency, should conduct, with the support of relevant national or local entities, an assessment of the area to map entities available in case of an emergency, to identify intervention capability.
Such capability, with the aim to clarify how intervention would be implemented and the available means (i.e. responsibilities considering national or local legislation; type and quantity of equipment and personnel available; dispatch/activation time; other alternatives when response capacity is exhausted or in case there is no immediate response), should be documented and included in the National or Local Emergency Plans (GM1 ADR.OPS.B.005(a)), as well as in the Aerodrome Emergency Plan.
Such assessment should consider the safety management system requirement to coordinate the aerodrome emergency response plan. In that respect, coordination of the aerodrome emergency response plan with the emergency response plans of those organisations it must interface with during the provision of aerodrome services and with the relevant external organisations who have the responsibility to respond to an emergency occurring at an aerodrome or in its surroundings (ADR.OR.D.005) should be ensured.
The assessment of intervention capability should be periodically reviewed, tested, and discussed with all organisations that bear some responsibility in case of an emergency.