Section 3. Overdue Aircraft

10-3-1. OVERDUE AIRCRAFT/OTHER SITUATIONS

1. Consider an aircraft to be overdue and initiate the procedures stated in this section to issue an ALNOT when neither communications nor radar contact can be established and 30 minutes have passed since:

   NOTE: The procedures in this section also apply to an aircraft referred to as “missing” or “unreported.”

   1. Its ETA over a specified or compulsory reporting point or at a clearance limit in your area.
   2. Its clearance void time.
   3. A VFR or IFR aircraft arriving at an airport not served by an air traffic control tower or flight service station fails to cancel a flight plan after receiving instructions on how to cancel.

      NOTE: If you have reason to believe that an aircraft is overdue prior to 30 minutes, take the appropriate action immediately.

2. Consider an aircraft to be in an emergency status and initiate ALNOT procedures in this section immediately when there is an abnormal simultaneous loss of radar and communications with an IFR aircraft or VFR/SVFR aircraft receiving flight following services. This situation may be applicable to an aircraft operating in a non-radar environment and an unexpected/abnormal loss of communications occurs.
3. The ARTCC in whose area the aircraft is reported as overdue, missing or lost will make these determinations and takes any subsequent action required.
4. If you have reason to believe that an aircraft is overdue prior to 30 minutes, take the appropriate action immediately.
5. The center in whose area the aircraft is first unreported or overdue will make these determinations and takes any subsequent action required.

• REFERENCE
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 4-3-4, Departure Release, Hold for Release, Release Times, Departure Restrictions, and Clearance Void Times.

10-3-2. INFORMATION TO BE FORWARDED TO ARTCC

TERMINAL

When an aircraft is considered to be in emergency status that may require SAR procedures, or an IFR aircraft is overdue, the terminal facility must alert the appropriate ARTCC and forward the following information, as available:

1. Flight plan, including color of aircraft, if known.
2. Time of last transmission received, by whom, and frequency used.
3. Last position report and how determined.
4. Aircraft beacon code.
5. Number of persons on board.
6. Fuel status.
7. Facility working aircraft and frequency.
8. Last known position, how determined, time, estimated present position, and maximum range of flight of the aircraft based on remaining fuel and airspeed.
9. Position of other aircraft near aircraft's route of flight, when requested.
10. Whether or not an ELT signal has been heard or reported in the vicinity of the last known position.
11. Other pertinent information.

• REFERENCE
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 10-1-4, Responsibility.
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 10-2-5, Emergency Situations.

NOTE: FSSs serve as the central points for collecting and disseminating information on an overdue or missing aircraft which is not on an IFR flight plan. Non-FSS ATC facilities that receive telephone calls or other inquiries regarding these flights must refer these calls and inquiries to the appropriate FSS.

10-3-3. INFORMATION TO BE FORWARDED TO RCC

EN ROUTE

When an aircraft is considered to be in emergency status or an IFR aircraft is overdue, the ARTCC must alert the RCC and forward the following information, as available:

1. Facility and person calling.
2. Flight plan, including color of aircraft, if known.
3. Time of last transmission received, by whom, and frequency used.
4. Last position report and how determined.
5. Aircraft beacon code.
6. Action taken by reporting facility and proposed action.
7. Number of persons on board.
8. Fuel status.
9. Facility working aircraft and frequency.
10. Last known position, how determined, time, estimated present position, and maximum range of flight of the aircraft based on remaining fuel and airspeed.
11. Position of other aircraft near aircraft's route of flight, when requested.
12. Whether or not an ELT signal has been heard or reported in the vicinity of the last known position.
13. Other pertinent information.

• REFERENCE
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 10-1-4, Responsibility.
• FAA Order JO 7110.65, Para 10-2-5, Emergency Situations.

NOTE: FSSs serve as the central points for collecting and disseminating information on an overdue or missing aircraft which is not on an IFR flight plan. Non-FSS ATC facilities that receive telephone calls or other inquiries regarding these flights must refer these calls and inquiries to the appropriate FSS.

10-3-4. ALNOT

EN ROUTE

1. In addition to routing to the regional office operations center for the area in which the facility is located, issue an ALNOT to all centers and Area B circuits, generally 50 miles on either side of the route of flight from the last reported position to destination. Include the original or amended flight plan, as appropriate, and the last known position of the aircraft. At the recommendation of the RCC or at your discretion, the ALNOT may be issued to cover the maximum range of the aircraft.
   • NOTE:
   • 1. An ALNOT must be issued before the RCC can begin search and rescue procedures.
   • 2. Flight plan information on military aircraft is available at the FSS serving as a tie-in station for the departure or destination airport. FAA tie-in stations for airports in the continental U.S. are listed in FAA Order JO 7350.8, Location Identifiers. In the West Flight Services Area Office, tie-in stations are listed in service area publications entitled, “Flight Plan Routing and Airport Search Directory.” For flights with overseas departure points, the information is available through the destination FSS or the appropriate IFSS.
2. Upon receipt of an INREQ or ALNOT, check the position records to determine whether the aircraft has contacted your facility. Notify the originator of the results or status of this check within one hour of the time the alert was received. Retain the alert in an active status, and immediately notify the originator of subsequent contact, until cancellation is received.
3. Include pertinent information in the ALNOT that will aid the RCC and SAR Teams in conducting the SAR mission. When known, include:
   1. Last known position.
   2. Time.
   3. Aircraft beacon code.
4. When information is obtained not previously contained in the ALNOT, issue an amended ALNOT to update information that will assist the SAR providers.

10-3-5. RESPONSIBILITY TRANSFER TO RCC

EN ROUTE

Transfer responsibility for further search to the RCC when one of the following occurs:

1. Thirty minutes have elapsed after the estimated aircraft fuel exhaustion time.
2. The aircraft has not been located within one hour after ALNOT issuance.
3. The ALNOT search has been completed with negative results.

10-3-6. LAST KNOWN POSITION DETERMINATION

1. To assist the RCC and SAR Teams in the conduct of the SAR mission, provide the most accurate latitude and longitude available to the FAA using en route and terminal radar sensor data near the aircraft's last known position.
2. If necessary to prevent an undue delay, utilize any available method to determine the initial latitude and longitude. Follow-up as soon as possible with a formal latitude and longitude using the appropriate terminal or en route facility data extraction tools.
3. If available, solicit the assistance of other aircraft known to be operating near the aircraft in distress.
4. Forward this information to the RCC or the ARTCC as appropriate.

10-3-7. ALNOT CANCELLATION

EN ROUTE

1. When directed by the RCC, cancel the ALNOT when the aircraft is located or the search is abandoned.
2. Include pertinent information in the cancellation that will aid the RCC, SAR Teams, and FAA SAR management to include the location where the aircraft or wreckage was found.