## Emergency Airports 

ATC personnel consider how much remaining fuel in relation to the distance to the airport and weather conditions when recommending an emergency airport to aircraft requiring assistance. Depending on the nature of the emergency, certain weather phenomena may deserve weighted consideration. A pilot may elect to fly further to land at an airport with VFR conditions instead of closer airfield with IFR conditions. Other considerations are airport conditions, NAVAID status, aircraft type, pilot’s qualifications, and vectoring or homing capability to the emergency airport. In addition, ATC and pilots should determine which guidance can be used to fly to the emergency airport. The following options may be available: 

• Radar 

• DF 

• Following another aircraft 

• NAVAIDs 

• Pilotage by landmarks 

• Compass headings 

## Emergency Obstruction Video Map (EOVM) 

The emergency obstruction video map (EOVM) is intended to facilitate advisory service in an emergency situation when appropriate terrain/obstacle clearance minimum altitude cannot be maintained. The EOVM, and the service provided, are used only under the following conditions: 

1. The pilot has declared an emergency. 

2. The controller has determined an emergency condition exists or is imminent because of the pilots inability to maintain an appropriate terrain/obstacle clearance minimum altitude. 

Note: Appropriate terrain/obstacle clearance minimum altitudes may be defined as minimum IFR altitude (MIA), minimum en route altitude (MEA), minimum obstacle clearance altitude (MOCA), or minimum vectoring altitude (MVA). 

When providing emergency vectoring service, the controller advises the pilot that any headings issued are emergency advisories intended only to direct the aircraft toward and over an area of lower terrain/obstacle elevation. Altitudes and obstructions depicted on the EOVM are actual altitudes and locations of the obstacle/terrain and contain no lateral or vertical buffers for obstruction clearance. 

## Responsibility 

ATC, in communication with an aircraft in distress, should handle the emergency and coordinate and direct the activities of assisting facilities. ATC will not transfer this responsibility to another facility unless that facility can better handle the situation. When an ATC facility receives information about an aircraft in distress, they forward detailed data to the center in the area of the emergency. Centers serve as central points for collecting information, coordinating with search and rescue (SAR) and distributing information to appropriate agencies. 

Although 121.5 megahertz and 243.0 megahertz are emergency frequencies, the pilot should keep the aircraft on the initial contact frequency. The pilot should change frequencies only when a valid reason exists. When necessary, and if weather and circumstances permit, ATC should recommend that aircraft maintain or increase altitude to improve communications, radar, or DF reception. 

## Escort 

An escort aircraft, if available, should consider and evaluate an appropriate formation. Special consideration must be given if maneuvers take the aircraft through clouds. Aircraft should not execute an in-flight join up during emergency conditions unless both crews involved are familiar with and capable of formation flight and can communicate and have visual contact with each other. 

