AIP for Kingdom of Bahrain and State of Qatar (section ENR-1.12) valid from 23 MAR 2023

ENR 1.12 Interception of civil aircraft

1.12.1 Interception procedures

All unknown aircraft within the airspace over territories and territorial waters of states within the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR may be intercepted by air defense fighters by day and by night.

1.12.2 Applicability

1.12.2.1 The procedures and signals set out in this section apply in the event of an interception over the territory and territorial waters of the Kingdom of Bahrain.

1.12.2.2 An aircraft which is intercepted by another aircraft is required immediately to:

follow the instructions given by the intercepting aircraft, interpreting and responding to the signals given under ENR 1.12.3;
notify, if possible, the Air Traffic Services Unit responsible for the airspace in which the aircraft is flying;
make a general call on the emergency frequency 121.500 MHZ to attempt to establish radio communication with the intercepting aircraft or with the intercept control unit, giving the identity and position of the aircraft and the nature of the flight. This call should be repeated on 243.000 MHZ if necessary and practicable;
if equipped with SSR transponder, select Mode A Code 7700, unless otherwise instructed by the appropriate Air Traffic Services Unit.

1.12.2.3 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.

1.12.2.4 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.

1.12.2.5 All aircraft shall, at all times, remain well clear from areas being published as prohibited areas, however, if an aircraft was so be compelled to enter a prohibited area due to weather avoidance or otherwise track deviation from the intended route, which would finally take the aircraft into prohibited areas, was observed and such initiative was made by the pilot without obtaining a specific approval from ATC to carry out the maneouvre, then this particular flight may expect an interception by military jets by the ROYAL BAHRAIN AIR FORCE during which full compliance to the instructions issued by the interceptors must be immediately adhered to.

1.12.2.6 If radio contact is established during interception but communication in a common language is not possible, attempts shall be made to convey instructions, acknowledgement of instructions and essential information by using the phrases and pronunciations in the following table and transmitting each phrase twice:

Phrases for use by INTERCEPTING aircraft
Phrase	Pronunciation 1	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 LAAND	Land at this aerodrome
PROCEED	PRO - SEED	You may proceed
1 Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters.

Phrases for use by INTERCEPTED aircraft
Phrase	Pronunciation 1	Meaning
CALL SIGN2	KOL SA - IN	My call sign is (call sign)
WILCO	VILL - KO	Understood. Will comply.
CAN NOT	KANN - NOTT	Unable to comply
REPEAT	REE - PEET	Repeat your instruction
AM LOST	AM - LOSST	Position unknown
MAYDAY	MAYDAY	I am in distress
HIJACK3	HI - JACK	I have been hijacked
LAND (place name)	LAAND (place name)	I request to land at (place name)
DESCEND	DEE - SEND	I required descent
1 Syllables to be emphasized are printed in bold letters.
2 The call sign required to be given is that used in radio telephony communications with air traffic services units and corresponding to the aircraft’s identification in the flight plan.
3 Circumstances may not always permit, nor make desirable, the use of the phrase "HIJACK"

1.12.3 TABLES OF VISUAL SIGNALS FOR USE IN THE EVENT OF INTERCEPTION

1.12.3.1 Signals initiated by INTERCEPTING aircraft and responses by INTERCEPTED aircraft

Series	INTERCEPTING Aircraft Signals	Meaning	INTERCEPTED Aircraft Responds	Meaning
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 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 racetrack 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 on ENR 1.12.2.6.	Understood, will comply.
2	DAY or NIGHT - An abrupt breakaway manoeuvre from the intercepted aircraft consisting of a climbing turn of 90 degrees or more without crossing the line of the flight of the intercepted aircraft.	You may proceed.	DAY or NIGHT - Rocking the aircraft.	Understood, will comply.
3	DAY or NIGHT - Lowering landing gear (if fitted), showing steady landing lights and overflying the runway in use or, if the intercepted aircraft is a helicopter, overflying the helicopter landing area. In the case of helicopters, the intercepted 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 overflying the runway in use or helicopter landing area, landing is considered safe, proceeding to land.	Understood will comply.

1.12.3.2 Signals initiated by INTERCEPTED aircraft and responses by INTERCEPTING aircraft

Series	INTERCEPTED Aircraft Signals	Meaning	INTERCEPTING Aircraft Responds	Meaning
1	DAY 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 (1000 FT) but not exceeding 600 M (2000 FT) in the case of a helicopter, at a height exceeding 100 M (350 FT) above the aerodrome level, and continuing to circle the runway in use or helicopter landing area. If unable to flash landing lights, flash any other lights available.	Aerodrome you have designated is inadequate.	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.
2	DAY or NIGHT - Regular switching on and off of all available lights but in such a manner as to be distinct from flashing lights.	Cannot comply.	DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.	Understood.
3	DAY or NIGHT - Irregular flashing of all available lights.	In distress.	DAY or NIGHT - Use Series 2 signals prescribed for intercepting aircraft.	Understood.