AIM 

4/20/23 

TBL 5

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6

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Intercepting Signals 

INTERCEPTING SIGNALS 

Signals initiated by intercepting aircraft and responses by intercepted aircraft 

(as set forth in ICAO Annex 2-Appendix 1, 2.1) 

Series 

INTERCEPTING Aircraft Signals 

Meaning 

INTERCEPTED Aircraft Responds 

Meaning 

1 

DAY

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Rocking wings from a position 

slightly above and ahead of, and normally 

to the left of, the intercepted aircraft and, 

after acknowledgement, a slow level turn, 

normally to the left, on to the desired 

heading. 

NIGHT-Same and, in addition, flashing 

navigational lights at irregular intervals. 

NOTE 1

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Meteorological conditions or 

terrain may require the intercepting 

aircraft to take up a position slightly above 

and ahead of, and to the right of, the 

intercepted aircraft and to make the 

subsequent turn to the right. 

NOTE 2

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If the intercepted aircraft is not 

able to keep pace with the intercepting 

aircraft, the latter is expected to fly a series 

of race

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track patterns and to rock its wings 

each time it passes the intercepted aircraft. 

You have 

been 

intercepted. 

Follow me. 

AEROPLANES: 

DAY

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Rocking wings and following. 

NIGHT

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Same and, in addition, flashing 

navigational lights at irregular intervals. 

HELICOPTERS: 

DAY or NIGHT

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Rocking aircraft, flashing 

navigational lights at irregular intervals and 

following. 

Understood, 

will comply. 

2 

DAY or NIGHT

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An abrupt break

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away 

maneuver from the intercepted aircraft 

consisting of a climbing turn of 90 degrees 

or more without crossing the line of flight 

of the intercepted aircraft. 

You may 

proceed. 

AEROPLANES: 

DAY or NIGHT-Rocking wings. 

HELICOPTERS: 

DAY or NIGHT

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Rocking aircraft. 

Understood, 

will comply. 

3 

DAY

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Circling aerodrome, lowering land-

ing gear and overflying runway in direction 

of landing or, if the intercepted aircraft is a 

helicopter, overflying the helicopter land-

ing area. 

NIGHT

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Same and, in addition, showing 

steady landing lights. 

Land at this 

aerodrome. 

AEROPLANES: 

DAY

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Lowering landing gear, following 

the intercepting aircraft and, if after 

overflying the runway landing is consid-

ered safe, proceeding to land. 

NIGHT

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Same and, in addition, showing 

steady landing lights (if carried). 

HELICOPTERS: 

DAY or NIGHT-Following the intercepting 

aircraft and proceeding to land, showing a 

steady landing light (if carried). 

Understood, 

will comply. 

National Security and Interception Procedures 

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