The Operations and Rescue Coordination Center (ORCC) is a unique technical facility in the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP). As the 24/7 technical extension of the Office of the Director General, the ORCC ensures that the Director General always has information and control on practically all CAAP operations. It virtually stands at the helm of operations coordination and information sharing across the operational entities within CAAP.
The ORCC has the capability to serve as a principal or supplemental incident management center during aircraft or airport incidents or accidents in support of other CAAP offices, and during natural disasters or other critical incidents in support of other government and civilian agencies. It promotes the efficient organization of Search and Rescue (SAR) services during aircraft incidents and accidents, and coordinates the conduct of SAR operations within the Philippine search and rescue region.
Aside from being the SAR Point of Contact (SPOC), the ORCC is also the administrator of the International 406MHz Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) of the COSPAS-SARSAT System for the Philippines.
The ORCC manages the extension of airport hours of operations. It also ensures that requests for flight operations permits and waivers are processed even during weekends, public non-working holidays, and unholy hours of the night.
Operating under the Air Traffic Service (ATS), the ORCC distributes information needed to ensure the safety, regularity and efficiency of air navigation by functioning as the International NOTAM Office of the Philippines that promulgates NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). It also manages the AFTN (Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network) messages for the Office of the Director General and for other non-technical CAAP offices.
ORCC is also CAAP’s public response desk operating on a 24-hour basis (in compliance with DOTC’s (Department of Transportation and Communication) directive, dated 2 August 2001). ORCC ensures that it is equipped with information to be able to answer queries related to CAAP operations such as: status of CAAP Airports, navigational aids, air traffic control and communications facilities.