ENR 1  General Rules and Procedures

ENR 1.12   INTERCEPTION OF CIVIL AIRCRAFT

1.GENERAL
The following procedures and visual signals apply over the territory and territorial waters of The Republic of The Gambia in the event of interception of an aircraft.
1.1 An aircraft which is intercepted by another aircraft shall immediately:
  1. follow the instructions given by the intercepting aircraft, interpreting and responding to visual signals in accordance with the specifications;
  2. notify, if possible, the ATS unit responsible for the airspace in which the aircraft is flying;
  3. make a general call on the emergency frequency 121.500 MHz to attempt to establish radio communication with the intercepting aircraft or with the appropriate intercept control unit, giving the identity and position of the intercepted aircraft, the nature of the flight, and if no contact has been established and it is practicable, repeat the call on the emergency frequency 243.000 MHz;
  4. if equipped with SSR transponder, select Mode A, Code 7700, unless otherwise instructed by the appropriate ATS unit.
1.2 If radio contact is established during interception but communication in a common language is not possible, attempts shall be made to convey instructions, acknowledgment of instructions and essential information by using the phrases and pronunciations in the following table and transmitting each phrase twice:
Phrase Pronounciation 1 Meaning
CALL SIGN (call sign) 2 KOL SA - IN (call sign)My call sign is (call sign)
WILCOVILL - KOUnderstood. Will comply
CAN NOTKANN NOTTUnable to comply
REPEATREE - PEETRepeat your instruction
AM LOSTAM LOSSTPosition unknown
MAYDAYMAYDAYI am in distress
HIJACK 3 HI - JACKI have been hijacked
LAND (place name)LAAND (place name)I request to land at (place name)
DESCENDDEE - SENDI require descend
1 Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters.
2 The call sign required to be given is that used in radiotelephony communications with Air Traffic Ser- vices units and corresponding to the aircraft identification in the flight plan.
3 Circumstances may not always permit, nor make desirable, the use of the phrase "HIJACK."
1.3 The following phrases shall be used by the intercepting aircraft and transmitted twice in the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph:
Phrase Pronounciation 1 Meaning
CALL SIGN (call sign) 2 KOL SA - IN (call sign)What is your call sign?
FOLLOWFOL - LOFollow me
DESCENDDEE - SENDDescend for landing
YOU LANDYOU LAANDLand at this aerodrome
PROCEEDPRO - SEEDYou may proceed
1 Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters.
1.4 If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by visual signals, the intercepted aircraft is required to request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the visual instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.
1.5 If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by radio, the intercepted aircraft is required to request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the radio instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.
1.6 The visual signals detailed in the table "SIGNALS FOR USE IN THE EVENT OF INTERCEPTION" shall be used.
A. Signals initiated by the Intercepting Aircraft and Responses by the Intercepted Aircraft
SeriesSignals/Responses of INTERCEPTED AircraftSignals/Commands of INTERCEPTING Aircraft
Actions by Intercepted AircraftMeaningActions by Intercepting AircraftMeaning
1 DAY or NIGHT - Rocking aircraft and flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals (and landing lights in the case of a helicopter) from a position slightly above and ahead of, and normally to the left of, the intercepted aircraft (or to the right if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter) and, after acknowledgement, a slow level turn, normally to the left, (or to the right in the case of a helicopter) on the desired heading.

Note 1: Meteorological conditions or terrain may require the intercepting aircraft to reverse the positions and direction of turn given above in Series 1.


Note 2: If the intercepted aircraft is not able to keep pace with the intercepting aircraft, the latter is expected to fly a series of race-track patterns and to rock the aircraft each time it passes the intercepted aircraft. 		You have been intercepted. Follow me. DAY or NIGHT ! Rocking aircraft, flashing navigational lights at irregular intervals and following.

Note: Additional action required to be taken by intercepted aircraft is prescribed in Chapter 3, 3.8. 		Understood, will comply
2DAY or NIGHT - An abrupt break-away manoeuvre from the intercepted aircraft consisting of a climbing turn of 90 degrees or more without crossing the line of flight of the intercepted aircraft.You may proceed.DAY or NIGHT - Rocking the aircraft.Understood, will comply.
3DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and overflying runway in use or, if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter, overflying the helicopter landing area. In the case of helicopters, the intercepting helicopter makes a landing approach, coming to hover near to the landing area.Land at this aerodrome.DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear, (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and following the intercepting aircraft and, if, after overlying the runway in use or helicopter landing area, landing is considered safe, proceeding to land.Understood, will comply.
B. Signals initiated by the Intercepted Aircraft and Responses by the Intercepting Aircraft
SeriesSignals/Responses of INTERCEPTED AircraftSignals/Commands of INTERCEPTING Aircraft
Actions by Intercepted AircraftMeaningActions by Intercepting AircraftMeaning
4DAY or NIGHT - Raising landing gear (if fitted) and flashing landing lights while passing over runway in use or helicopter landing area at a height exceeding 300 m (1 000 ft) but not exceeding 600 m (2 000 ft) (in the case of a helicopter, at a height exceeding 50 m (170 ft) but not exceeding 100 m (330 ft) above the aerodrome level, and continuing to circle runway in use or helicopter landing area. If unable to flash landing lights, flash any other lights available.You have been intercepted. Follow me.DAY or NIGHT - If it is desired that the intercepted aircraft follow the intercepting aircraft to an alternate aerodrome, the intercepting aircraft raises its landing gear (if fitted) and uses the Series 1 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft. If it is decided to release the intercepted aircraft, the intercepting aircraft uses the Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.Understood, follow me. Understood, you may proceed.
5DAY or NIGHT - Regular switching on and off of all available lights but in such a manner as to be distinct from flashing lights.You may proceed.DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.Understood.
6DAY or NIGHT - Irregular flashing of all available lights.Land at this aerodrome.DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.Understood.