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Aflightmaybedeclaredamercyflightwhen:
When an urgentmedical, flood or fire relief or evacuation flight is proposed in
order to relieve a person from grave and imminent danger and failure todo so
is likely to result in loss of life or serious or permanent disability and the flight
will involve irregular operation, amercy flightmust bedeclared.
Amercy flightmust only be declared by the pilot in command and the
factors/risks that the pilot in commandmust consider in thedeclaration,
commencement and continuationof the flight are detailed inAIPENR 1.1.
Aflightmustnotbedeclaredamercyflightwhen:
• it can complywith the applicable regulations andorders; or
• operational concessions to permit the anticipated irregular operations can
be obtained.
In these cases, the flight should be notified as Search andRescue (SAR),
Medical (MED), Hospital Aircraft (HOSP), Flood or FireRelief (FFR). Special
considerationor prioritywill be granted byATC if necessary.
Amercyflightmustnotbeundertakenwhen:
• alternativemeans of achieving the same relief are available; or
• the crew and other occupants of the aircraft involvedwill beexposed to
undue hazards; or
• relief or rescue canbe delayeduntil amore suitable aircraft ormore
favourable operating conditions are available.
In assessing the justification of risks involved in amercy flight, the pilotmust
consider the following:
• the availability of alternative transport or alternativemedical aid;
• theweather conditions en route and at the landingplace(s);
• the distance fromwhich it should bepossible to see the landingplaces;
• the air distance and the typeof terrain involved;
• the navigation facilities useable and the reliability of those facilities (such
as facilitiesmay include landmarks, etc);
• the availability of suitable alternate aerodromes;
• the availability and reliability of communications facilities;
• the asymmetric performance of the aircraft;
general
5 – mercy f l i ght s
mercy fl ights