In July 1, 2008, the Operations Center (OpCen) and Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) were integrated and restructured into ATS under the Aeronautical Information and Communications Division. The combined facility is the Operations and Rescue Coordination Center (ORCC).
The ORCC is part of CAAP's compliance with the DOTC's directive, dated August 2, 2001, to establish a public response desk operating on a 24-hour basis. ORCC is equipped with information to be able to answer to queries related to CAAP operations such as the status of CAAP Airports, navigational aids, and air traffic control and communications facilities.
The ORCC provides an organized emergency response system for aviation, maritime and related calls for assistance in compliance with ICAO Annex 12 and other international conventions and agreements.
The SAR service is performed in co-operation with:
Department of National Defense(DND)
Philippine Coast Guard (DOTC)
Office of Civil Defense (NDCC- National
Disaster Coordinating Council)
Government agencies with SAR or emergency
response capabilities
Non-government organizations structured to response to emergencies
Communication Systems
Capability
ALE & transverter (Automatic
Link Establishment, HF VHF)
Satellite Phone, INMARSAT
00873-762-148324 (back up on-scene communications)
The Philippine RCC is responsible for alerting and coordinating the SAR response/ operations within the Philippine SRR (Search and Rescue Region) coinciding with the Manila Flight Information Region (FIR).
Emergency Frequencies
Frequency
Emission
Effective Range (NM)
Remarks
121.5 MHz VHF
AM Voice/data
Generally limited to line of sight.
Most ATS facilities, military towers; an ELT or EPIRB transmitting on 121.5MHz may make this frequency impractical for communications.
243.0 MHz VHF
AM Voice/data
Generally limited to line of sight.
Military emergency frequency.
123.1 MHz VHF
AM Voice
Generally limited to line of sight.
SAR operations; on-scene comm.
2182 kHz HF
R3E, H3E, J3E, J2A, J2B
radiotelephony
Generally less than 300 miles for average aircraft installations.
International Maritime voice distress, safety, and calling frequency.
Silence period on this frequency are observed for three minutes (3 min.) twice an hour. Beginning on the hour and at 30 minutes past each hour to facilitate reception of distress calls.
Ships, boats at sea, Coast Guard Stations, commercial coast stations.
3023 kHz HF 4125 kHz HF 5680 kHz HF
R3E, H3E, J3E, J2A, J2B
radiotelephony
Several thousand miles depending upon propagation conditions.
Alternate on-scene and SAR coordination communications.
Vessels and aircraft SAR coordination.
500 kHz MF
CW, telegraphy
Generally less than 100 miles for average aircraft installations.
Ships at sea, Coast Guard Stations, FSS, and commercial coast stations. Use is decreasing due to advanced comm. technology. As of February 1999, international requirements to have this capability aboard ships ceased.
156.8 MHz, VHF Channel 16
FM, voice
Line of sight
International VHF maritime voice distress, safety and calling frequency.
156.3 MHz, VHF Channel 06
FM, voice
Line of sight
On-scene Maritime SAR communications.
CAAP-RCC Response Actions to an Aviation Emergency Alert or Disaster
NCERFA
ALERFA
DETRESFA
PRECOM SEARCH
EXCOM SEARCH
DISPATCH RCC
GO-TEAM TO ESTABLISH ACP
(Advance Command Post)
Recall flight plan (aircraft type, name of pilot, POB, FOB …)
Gather SAR inputs, WX, LKP…
Query messages to relevant airports
Gather information from other sources
Data analysis
Actions based on analysis
SAR plan
SAR-Go team
Alert SAR providers
Manage the on-scene operations in coordination with RCC based Manila and SAR responders
