Phoenix Airport: Emergency Protocols & ARFF Drills

• The Letter of Agreement (LOA) establishes communication protocols and responsibilities for simulated or actual emergencies. The procedures are for events involving aircraft, airport facilities, or airport security threats. It also provides guidelines for Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting (ARFF) drills
• Agreement effective as of January 15, 2024
• Agreement subject: Airport Emergency Procedures, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport

Cancellation

• The cancellation of the former Phoenix Airport Traffic Control Tower (PHX ATCT) and City of Phoenix LOA, Subject: Airport Emergency Procedures, Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, dated August 27, 2010.

Scope

• Procedures apply to emergencies and simulated drills at or near Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
• The procedures apply to PHX ATCT, City of Phoenix Aviation, and City of Phoenix Fire personnel

Responsibilities

• The PHX ATCT Air Traffic Manager, the City of Phoenix Aviation Director, and the City of Phoenix Fire Chief have authority to ensure compliance with the LOA

Definitions

• Specific terms are used for consistent communication during procedures

Sky Harbor Frequency

• Black hand-held radio facilitates day-to-day communication with City of Phoenix Airport Operations and Facilities Personnel

IMS 1

• A hand-held emergency radio dedicated to aircraft emergencies, tuned to the airport Incident Management System channel (IMS-1)

AEC/Red Phone

• The Airport Emergency phone rings to multiple stations including Fire Station 19 and 29, Fire Dispatch, Airport Command Center, Aviation Operations, Phoenix Police Department, Police Airport Bureau, and the Air National Guard
• Use for aircraft alerts or ARFF drills only. Report other emergencies to the Airport Command Center at (602) 273-3311

Command

• The Fire Department assumes "Incident Command" during alert and fire-related emergencies
• The Police Department assumes Command during bomb threats, hijacking, etc.
• An Oscar 30 designee joins Unified Command to support the appropriate department

Alert Levels

• Different alert levels indicate the severity of an aircraft situation

Alert-1

• Indicates minor aircraft difficulty, like an oil leak, one engine out on a multi-engine aircraft where emergency equipment is requested, one engine out on GA twin engine below 12,500 pounds, fire warning lights, or aviation fuel spills over 100 gallons

Alert-2

• Indicates major aircraft difficulty, like visible fire, faulty landing gear, no hydraulic pressure, or one engine out on a twin-engine aircraft above 12,500 pounds.
• Indicates a fire/explosion or similar emergency at an airport facility that poses a threat to an aircraft

Alert-3

• Indicates an actual aircraft accident (midair, on the ground, ramp accident, or fire).
• The aircraft above 12,500 pounds indicates landing gear will not extend, and therefore, must land gear-up at the airport

Procedures

• Steps for handling aircraft alerts:

Aircraft Alerts

• Alert-3 events or alert-3 drills will close the affected complex
• PHX ATCT responsibilities: Designate runway 8/26 as the primary emergency runway, activate the Airport Emergency Circuit (AEC) after notification, say "Alert"
• The following information given when Station 19 answers the AEC: Aircraft type and call sign, nature of emergency and pilot's intentions, runway or location, estimated arrival time in minutes, number of persons on board the aircraft which, if unavailable initially, is forwarded to Command on IMS 1 when available, fuel remaining in time and if this information is not available on the initial call out, it must be forwarded to Command on IMS when available
• Provide other information as necessary (e.g., aircraft operator, special cargo, pilot request, injuries on board, etc.).
• ARFF and Operations unit radio designation on IMS 1 (Red Radio) and/or the Discrete Emergency Frequency (DEF) will be "Command."
• Unified Command will operate with Fire on the DEF and Operations on IMS 1
• State whether the aircraft is a scheduled arrival, diverted, or returned flight, an alternate DEF frequency if required

Notes

• AEC initiators (ATCT, Phoenix Fire, Arizona National Guard (ANG), Airport Command Center) provide the outlined information. Activation: Alert info begins once Station 19 answers; others stay silent until Station 19 declares alert level and requests response
• Questions are then addressed, and agencies ID themselves. If unable to reach Station 19, PHX ATCT requests Fire Dispatch and relays data through Fire Dispatch & Deployment (Alarm Room) on the AEC, deploying ARFF units on Fire Channel 1
• Simultaneously, the Aviation Command Center will monitor this information and dispatch Aviation Operations on SKY HARBOR the DEF must be selected and remain clear unless for emergency broadcasts
• The emergency aircraft is advised that Command is available on DEF for communications
• Command is notified of the aircraft emergency location on IMS 1. "The emergency aircraft is now on a seven-mile final Runway 26."
• Command will also be notified when the next aircraft to land is the emergency aircraft on IMS-1
• Ensure affected areas are vacated when the emergency aircraft is on a five-mile final, taxiing aircraft yield to emergency vehicles, monitor DEF until Command/ARFF releases it or alert ends
• If the location is not in the movement area, PHX ATCT will expedite route to the scene with the most expeditious routeto the scene
• Runway is closed when the plane crosses the landing threshold and ARFF areas have authority to proceed
• The runway will remain closed until Command opens the runway.
• When the emergency aircraft stops or exits the runway, PHX ATCT must un-key the DEF transmitter to allow Command to communicate with the aircraft

Command Communication Protocols

• Command will always communicate directly with the flight crew prior to the alert being terminated.
• All parties will remain on DEF until Command has opened the runway
• At no time should PHX ATCT state or imply the alert is terminated
• Command determines equipment release, alert termination and instructs the pilot to contact Ground Control
• Phoenix Fire responsibilities: Declare the alert level on the AEC after the call-out; dispatch & operate ARFF and support units after PHX ATCT's AEC notification; respond to defined staging areas or the incident location identified on DEF

ARFF Vehicle Procedures for Alerts with Short ETAs

• When an alert aircraft has an ETA of 15 minutes or less, ARFF vehicles are authorized, without additional clearance, to transition to the north staging areas utilizing the standardized staging & routes map or proceed to the accident/incident location on taxiways.
• Responding ARFF units must give way to all aircraft and remain clear of all runways unless the appropriate clearance is received from PHX ATCT
• Communicate with PHX ATCT on IMS 1 or DEF for further data, individually obtain PHX ATCT Ground Control approval to enter the movement area if ARFF vehicles aren't responding from assigned station, obtain approval to operate on/cross runways, report when clear of all runways
• Communicating with another aircraft saying anything that may be misinterpreted as an air traffic control instruction or clearance is prohibited

Communication After Alert Aircraft Slows or Exits Runway

• Command has the approval to communicate with the flight crew on the DEF once the alert aircraft has safely slowed or exited

During Critical Flight Phases

• During critical phases of flight (final approach, transition to landing and touchdown), only ATCT and the emergency aircraft should be transmitting on the DEF unless the emergency dictates otherwise.
• Only common terminology should be used-clear, specific language using standard terms and phrases. Avoid occupation-specific jargon and codes (e.g., “10-codes”)
• Command determines when to terminate the alert and release equipment, ensures all emergency equipment is clear from runways before re-opening
• Fire Command then notifies Oscar-30 that the runway is clear

Post ARFF Equipment Release Protocols

• Command notifies PHX ATCT on the DEF once ARFF equipment is released
• Station 29 locations: Respond to a staging area near Station 29 outside the movement area, monitoring the DEF
• When emergencies are located other than Runway 8/26, hold short of taxiway "A" and get PHX ATCT clearance on 118.7 before entering the movement area
• ARFF vehicles not responding from Fire Station 29 use service roads, obtain permission from PHX ATCT Ground Control to enter movement area, use service roads to return to Station 29 after alert termination

City of Phoenix Aviation Operations

• City of Phoenix Aviation Operations is required to provide collaborators or designees such as Oscar 30, to collaboratively provide unified command with Fire Command and to coordinate support functions on IMS 1
• The city must then notify as needed, and employ common terminology, closing them if necessary

General Activity

• Notice to airmen and airport commands should monitor the radio tests, or test the AEC daily alongside Phoenix fire
• Notify PHX ATCT of any hazards or threats that would affect the safe and efficient operations of the airport traffic control tower or aircraft in the movement area

Notes on Other Airport Emergencies from PHX ATCT

• Notifies the command center of a threat, uses (602) 273-3311 to do so, describes the location by use of gate, areas, and location to the airport command center of the following hazards or threats, they are to notify the Phoenix police or local fire
• It must not clear an aircraft to land, and if it's for explosives, and carrying aircraft of designated use must do so by supervisors or operations approva

Airport Command Center

• The Airport Command Center must stage these aircraft at zones such as Attachment 3, and notify upon termination, but notify when it's either hostage or threat and relay

Attachments

• Attachment 1 - Standardized Staging & Routes Map
• Attachment 2 - Drill Procedures
• Attachment 3 - Isolation Area Pad Locations 1 and 2