Owais Crawford
In an emergency, civilian aircraft can land at military airports. According to the Code of Federal Regulations, any aircraft operator with an inflight emergency may land at any Air Force airfield without prior authorization. An inflight emergency is defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous. In such cases, the pilot must communicate the emergency, after which the military will bend over backward to aid the plane. While the actions of the pilot will be reviewed after the fact, as long as everyone is safe, the authorities usually do not care about the landing location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Landing at a military airport in an emergency | Allowed |
| Pre-approval required | Sometimes |
| Fuel provided | Sometimes, with potential delays |
| Paperwork required | Yes |
| Arrests | Unlikely |
| Landing on a US base in the middle of the ocean | Possible |
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What You'll Learn
Landing protocol
In an emergency, civilian aircraft are generally allowed to land at military airports. An inflight emergency is defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous. While landing at a military base is not typically off-limits to civilian aircraft, it usually requires some pre-approval. However, in an emergency declared over the radio, most military facilities will be accommodating. It is important to note that deviating from standard procedures and landing at a military airport without prior authorization may result in paperwork and scrutiny after the fact.
When faced with an emergency landing, pilots should follow the ASSIST principle:
- Acknowledge the situation: Recognize the nature of the emergency, whether it is a forced landing, precautionary landing, or ditching. Ask for the number of people on board and if there are any dangerous goods.
- Separate the aircraft: Keep the active runway clear of departures, arrivals, and vehicles. Prioritize the emergency landing over other traffic.
- Silence non-urgent calls: Focus on the emergency at hand and use a separate frequency if possible to maintain clear communication.
- Inform the necessary parties: Notify the airport emergency fire rescue services (RFFS) and other concerned parties according to local procedures. Inform the supervisor and other relevant units.
- Support the flight: Provide any requested information, such as the next suitable aerodrome, type of approach, runway length, and aerodrome details. If communication is maintained after an off-airport landing, obtain information about aircraft damage and occupant injuries and relay it to the RFFS.
- Time: Allow the crew time to assess and address the emergency. Do not pressure them with non-urgent matters.
Once the aircraft has landed, the military will provide all available resources to address the emergency. After the situation has stabilized, security protocols will be implemented, which may be slow and cumbersome. The authorities will likely review the actions taken during the emergency and may require paperwork to be completed.
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Medical emergency
In the event of a medical emergency, any aircraft operator can land at any military airfield without prior authorization. An inflight emergency is defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous. For example, a medical emergency where the pilot can no longer fly the plane. In such cases, the pilot can deviate from any law or restriction to the extent required to manage the emergency.
If a bailout, crash landing, or ditching is unavoidable, Search and Rescue (SAR) operations can be conducted without delay. SAR is a federal service that provides survival aid, rescue, and emergency medical help for aircraft occupants after an accident site is located. If a distress condition is declared, SAR coordinators will take steps to intercept and escort an aircraft. The pilot can also request intercept and escort services from other aircraft in the vicinity.
It is important to note that while landing at a military airport in an emergency is permissible, there will be paperwork to fill out afterward. The actions taken during the emergency will also be subject to review. However, as long as everyone's safety is prioritized, authorities may not intervene, as they would then have to justify why restricting aircraft from specific locations is more important than the lives of those onboard.
Additionally, some civilian airlines and aircraft already have Civil Aircraft Landing Permits (CALPs) issued by the Pentagon, which allows for planned divert locations due to weather or other considerations. This can reduce the coordination needed in an emergency landing at a military airfield, as it is handled on the spot by Airfield Management personnel.
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Mechanical failure
In the event of a mechanical failure, pilots can deviate from any laws or restrictions to the extent required to meet the emergency. This means that in the case of an inflight emergency, an aircraft may land at any military airfield without prior authorization. An inflight emergency is defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous.
In the case of an emergency landing, the pilot must declare an emergency situation via voice, CPDLC (message DM56), SSR code, or similar means. If the emergency landing happens at an aerodrome, the standard procedure is to activate the "full emergency" routine, which involves sending RFFS equipment and personnel to their designated positions to deal with the expected accident. The aircraft that has declared the emergency will be given priority over other traffic, including stopping departures and delaying or diverting arriving aircraft.
Once the aircraft has landed, the installation commander or a designated representative will identify the landing as either an emergency, inadvertent, or intentional landing. The commander will then inform the operator of the procedures and the requirement to notify the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The Federal Aviation Flight Standards District Office (FSDO) will also be notified by telephone, telefax, or written notification. The aircraft must depart the installation as soon as possible, and there may be paperwork to fill out, such as insurance and landing fee paperwork.
It is important to note that the Air Force will prioritize clearing the aircraft or wreckage from the runway to prevent interference with essential military operations. However, military or other operational factors may take precedence. The aircraft operator will be responsible for paying all costs associated with the emergency landing, including labor, materials, parts, equipment, fuel, and oil.
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Military assistance
In an emergency, civilian aircraft can land at military airports. While landing at a military base typically requires pre-approval, in an emergency situation, most military facilities will be helpful. If you are unable to make radio contact and announce your emergency landing, the situation may be less favourable. However, as long as you can make a stable glide approach and announce your presence, you should be safe to land.
Once on the ground, you will likely be subjected to a review of your actions and will have to answer many questions. You may be scolded for errors in judgement that led to the emergency landing, and you will likely have to fill out an incident report. While the military understands that a distressed aircraft is a priority situation, and all available resources will be provided to ensure safety, you may encounter difficulties in obtaining fuel, as military bases are not retailers. You may also have to submit various forms, but they will not likely leave you stranded.
It is important to note that landing at a military base without prior authorization is permissible only in an inflight emergency, defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous. This could include medical emergencies or mechanical problems. While you may have to face some paperwork and scrutiny after the fact, your life and the lives of those on board are the top priority, and authorities will not want to justify keeping an aircraft out of a specific location if it results in a disaster.
In summary, while it is not advisable to make an emergency landing at a military airport without prior approval, it is possible and may be the safest option in an emergency situation. The military will provide assistance and ensure safety, but you should also expect to face some consequences and scrutiny for your actions.
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Post-landing procedures
In an emergency, civilian aircraft are permitted to land at military airports without prior authorization. However, certain procedures must be followed after landing:
- Security Check: Upon landing, you will likely encounter tight security. Security personnel, possibly armed, will be on high alert until they can confirm that you are not a threat.
- Towing: If your aircraft is unable to move due to the emergency, it will be towed away from critical areas, such as buildings and operational zones, to ensure safety.
- Vetting: If your aircraft is operational and not considered an immediate danger, you will still be escorted to a designated area. Here, you will undergo a vetting process to determine if you pose any potential threat.
- Paperwork: Regardless of the nature of the emergency, you will be required to complete a significant amount of paperwork. This may include providing details about the emergency, your aircraft, and your intentions.
- Inspection: Your aircraft may be inspected by military personnel. This could be a standard procedure to ensure the safety and security of the military base.
- Intelligence Interviews: In some cases, intelligence officers may interview the pilot and crew. They will want to ascertain the legitimacy of the emergency and ensure that there was indeed a valid reason for landing at the military airport.
- Consequences: If it is determined that the emergency was not genuine, or that there was no compelling reason to land at the military airport, you may face serious repercussions. These could include legal consequences and scrutiny from military authorities.
It is important to remember that while emergency landings at military airports are allowed, they should only be considered when absolutely necessary. The safety of all individuals involved is paramount, and military personnel are trained to handle such situations.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, civilian aircraft are permitted to make emergency landings at military airports. Landing at a military base is not off-limits to civilian aircraft, but typically requires some pre-approval. In an emergency, most military facilities will be helpful.
Your actions will be reviewed, and you will have to answer questions and fill out paperwork. It is likely that you will have to submit forms to obtain fuel.
No, any aircraft operator with an inflight emergency may land at any military airfield without prior authorization. An inflight emergency is defined as a situation that makes continued flight hazardous.
An emergency could be a medical situation where the pilot can no longer fly the plane or a mechanical problem where the closest airport available is a military base.
