ENR 1.12  Interception of civil aircraft

1 Interception procedures
1.1 It may occasionally be necessary:
a) to investigate the identity of an aircraft;
b) to lead an aircraft away from a prohibited area;
c) to require an aircraft to land at a designated aerodrome.
1.2 An aircraft which has been intercepted should endeavour to establish communication with the interceptor on the VHF international distress frequency 121.5 MHz.
PHRASE PRONUNCIATION MEANING
CALL SIGN

WILCO		 KOL SA-IN

VILL-KO		 My callsign is (callsign)

Understood. Will comply
CAN NOT

REPEAT		 KANN NOTT

REE-PEET		 Unable to comply

Repeat your instruction
AM LOST

MAYDAY		 AM LOSST

MAYDAY 		Position unknown

I am in distress
HIJACK

LAND (place name)		 HI-JACK

LANND
place name)		 I have been hijacked

I request to land at (place name)
DESCEND DEE-SEND
I require descent
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 services 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”
1.2.1 If radio contact is established during interception but communication in a common language is not possible attempts shall be made to convey instructions, acknowledgements of instructions and essential information by using the phrases and pronunciations in the following table, transmitting each phrase twice.
1.2.2 The phrases shown in the table below shall be used by the intercepting aircraft and transmitted twice in the circumstances described in the preceding paragraph
1.3 If any instructions received by radio from any sources conflict with those given by the intercepting aircraft by visual signals, the intercepted aircraft shall request immediate clarification while continuing to comply with the visual instructions given by the intercepting aircraft.
PHRASE PRONUNCIATION MEANING
CALL SIGN KOL SA-IN What is your call sign
FOLLOW FOL-LO Follow me
DESCEND DEE-SEND Descend for landing
YOU LAND YOU LANND Descend for landing
PROCEED PRO-SEED You may land.
1.3.1 Where instructions cannot be passed to the aircraft concerned by radio or other practical means, it will be necessary for the intercepting aircraft to use a system of visual signals for this purpose. These signals, which will be used over the Republic of South Africa and its territorial waters, together with the meanings assigned thereto are shown in the table below.
1.4 Adherence to flight plans and ATC procedures and the maintenance of a listening watch on the appropriate ATC radio frequencies will make the likelihood of and need for interception remote. Pilots, however, are warned, in their own interests, to comply without delay with any instructions passed to them by visual signals from any intercepting aircraft.
1.5 The following sub-paragraphs indicate briefly how the visual signals will be used:
1.5.1 When an aircraft has been intercepted, for identification only, the intercepting aircraft will use the SECOND series to show that the aircraft may proceed.
1.5.2 When an aircraft is to be led away from a prohibited area, the appropriate part of the FIRST series will be used and the SECOND series when the purpose has been achieved and the aircraft is released.
1.5.3 When an aircraft is required to land, the appropriate part of the FIRST series will first be used, followed by the THIRD series when in the vicinity of the designated landing area.
1.5.4 When the pilot of the intercepted aircraft considers the landing area which has been designated unsuitable for the aircraft type, he will use the fourth series to indicate this and new instructions will then be given by the intercepting aircraft.
1.6 When an intercepted aircraft is in distress the DISTRESS signals should be used where practical.
FIRST SERIES
Signal by intercepter. Meaning Response by intercepted aircraft.
Day
Rocking wings while in front and to the left of intercepted aircraft. Follow me away from a prohibited area Rocking wings.
Rocking wings while in front and to the right of intercepted aircraft. Follow me to a landing terrain. Rocking wings.
When the above signals have been acknowledged make a slow level turn onto desired course. Follow interceptor.
Night
As for day and, in addition, flashing navigational and, if available, landing lights at irregular intervals. Follow me away from a prohibited area. Rocking wings if considered safe and showing steady landing light if carried.
As for day and, in addition, flashing navigational and, if available, landing lights at irregular intervals. Follow me to a landing terrain. Rocking wings if considered safe and showing steady landing light if carried.
As for day and, in addition, flashing navigational and, if available, landing lights at irregular intervals. Follow interceptor.
NOTE: Meteorological conditions on terrain may require the intercepting aircraft to take up a position in front and to the right of the intercepted aircraft, and to make the subsequent turn to the right.

SECOND SERIES
Signal by intercepter. Meaning Response by intercepted aircraft.
Day or Night
An abrupt break-away upwards of 90° or more without crossing the line of flight of the intercepted aircraft. You may proceed. Rocking wings if considered safe and showing steady landing light if carried.

THIRD SERIES
Signal by intercepter. Meaning Response by intercepted aircraft.
DAY: Circling landing area, lowering landing gear and overflying the direction of landing.

NIGHT: As for day and showing steady landing light.		 Land on this landing area. DAY OR NIGHT.
Same as interceptor and proceed to land (where applicable) if considered safe, at night showing steady landing light if carried.

FOURTH SERIES
Signal by intercepter. Meaning Response by intercepted aircraft.
DAY
Rocking wings (if fixed landing gear) or raising landing gear (whichever applicable) while passing over landing terrain at a height exceeding 1 000 feet (300 m) but not exceeding2 000 feet (600m) Landing terrain unsuitable FIRST or SECOND series dependant on what further action intercepting aircraft requires to be taken: either
(a) “Follow me” or
(b) “You may proceed”
NIGHT
Flashing landing light or any other light available while passing over aerodrome at a height exceeding 1 000 feet (300m) but not exceeding 2 000 feet (600m) and continue circling Landing terrain unsuitable FIRST or SECOND series dependant on what further action intercepting aircraft requires to be taken: either(
a) “Follow me” or
(b) “You may proceed”

DISTRESS SIGNALS
The following signals, used either together or separately, means that grave and imminent danger threatens, and immediate assistance is requested
(a) A signal made by radiotelephony or by any other signalling method consisting of the group SOS (...---... in the morse code).
(b) A signal sent by radio telephony consisting of the spoken word MAYDAY.
(c) Rockets or shells throwing red lights, fired one at a time at short intervals.
(d) A parachute flare showing a red light.