16/01/2018
*** ICAO document 9137 part airport emergency planning ***
Appendix 5
MUTUAL AID EMERGENCY AGREEMENTS
1. The close proximity of an airport to surrounding communities and the possibility of an off-airport aircraft accident give rise
to the need for mutual aid emergency agreements.
2. A mutual aid emergency agreement should specify initial notification and response assignments. It should not specify
the responsibilities of the agency concerned as this will be contained in the emergency plan.
3. Mutual aid emergency agreements must be prearranged and duly authorized. A sample of a letter of agreement is included in Figure 5-1 of this Appendix. The airport authority may have to act as co-ordinating agency if more complicated jurisdictional
or multi-agency agreements are necessary. Paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Appendix contain guidelines compiled to assist
the preparation of mutual aid emergency agreements with local fire departments for accidents occurring on and off the airport.
4. Procedure for local fire department(s) — aircraft accident on-airport:
a) When a response is initiated, mutual aid fire department(s) shall proceed directly to the rendezvous point or
staging area at the airport. An es**rt will be provided by airport police/security from the rendezvous point or
staging area to the accident site.
b) It is imperative that mutual aid fire department(s) members recognize that unless the airport is closed to flight
operations, unes**rted movement on airport property is extremely dangerous and may result in conflict with
aircraft movements.
c) Upon arrival at the accident site:
1) the senior officer of the airport rescue and fire fighting service receiving mutual aid shall have full authority
at the scene;
2) fire department mutual aid communications shall be carried out on the pre-designated communication
channel; and
3) communication transmissions will be prefaced by airport rescue and fire fighting/local fire department call
number.
5. Procedure for local fire department(s) — aircraft accident off-airport:
a) A call to an off-airport aircraft accident will normally be received from air traffic services or police. Should that
not be the case, the local fire department shall notify air traffic services or police via radio or telephone that an
accident has occurred and give the approximate location on the grid map.
b) Upon arrival at the accident site, the local fire department shall:
1) ensure that the mutual aid emergency agreement is initiated;
2) establish a command post (This may be a temporary post until the airport authority mobile command post
is available and operative.); and
3) ensure that all communications are on the designated aircraft accident channel.
c) The local fire department shall advise air traffic services or police of the following:
1) exact location of the accident site;
2) location of the command post;
3) specific location/rendezvous points on the grid map to which fire units should respond; and
4) any request for specialized equipment if necessary.