AA.VII.C.K6FAA-S-ACS-11A · Nov 2023Knowledge
Air traffic control (ATC) services to aircraft in distress.
Air traffic control (ATC) services to aircraft in distress.
Bottom line
Radar equipped ATC facilities provide radar assistance to aircraft on instrument flight plans and VFR aircraft provided the aircraft can communicate with the facility and are within radar coverage. In many instances a pilot is required to have contact with ATC, but even when not required, a pilot may find their services helpful.
Key numbers
| Number | What it means |
|---|---|
| 121.5 MHz, used by an activated EAL system for automated radio broadcasts | Guard freq |
| 25 seconds after the initial broadcast, to allow ATC to communicate with potential conflicting traffic | EAL pause |
| 7700, set by the EAL system to indicate an emergency | EAL squawk |
| Within 12 miles of the selected runway and at or below 12,000 feet MSL, the EAL aircraft broadcasts on tower frequency or CTAF | EAL broadcast |
FAA references
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-26) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- PHAK ch. 14 (p. 14-24) — FAA-H-8083-25C (2023)
- AFH ch. 18 (pp. 18-22–18-23) — FAA-H-8083-3C
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