Draft:Talk/Main/ICAO Annexes

• Annex 12 covers Search and Rescue and clearly defines terms such as Uncertainty phase: A situation wherein uncertainty exists as to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants; and Distress phase. A situation wherein there is a reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance. When contact with MH370 was lost an Uncertainty Phase clearly existed, and it was hours before a Distress Phase was declared.
• Annex 13 relates to Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation. The Malaysian ICAO Annex 13 Safety Investigation Team for MH370 has been established to investigate and report in accordance with Annex 13.

A situation wherein doubt exists as to the safety of an aircraft or a marine vessel, and the Persons on board.

A situation wherein there is a reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

A situation wherein there is a reasonable certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.

Annex 13 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago, 1944) provides the international Standards and Recommended Practices for Aircraft Accident Inquiries and was developed by ICAO. These practices are the basis for aviation accident, serious incident and incident investigations, accident prevention and accident and serious incident reporting. (Source: ATSB)

International Civil Aviation Organisation