What is one of the responsibilities of the facility communicating with an aircraft in distress?

The responsibility of coordinating and directing activities of assisting facilities is critical when an aircraft is in distress. In such situations, it is essential for the facility in communication with the distressed aircraft to ensure that all parties involved—such as other air traffic control units, emergency services, and relevant agencies—are effectively synchronized in their approach to handling the situation. This coordination helps facilitate the immediate assistance needed, whether it involves rerouting other aircraft, mobilizing emergency response teams, or establishing communication with rescue services.

While maintaining communication with the aircraft is important, simply providing weather updates, remaining silent, or initiating landing protocols without proper coordination can lead to confusion and potential risks. Each of those actions may have their place, but without an overarching effort to coordinate the response, the outcome could be jeopardized. Thus, directing the activities of all relevant facilities ensures a comprehensive and effective response to the aircraft in distress.