¶ SAR OPERATIONS
In reality, the search and rescue management system is composed of a complex and articulated hierarchy that we will not deal with as superfluous for the purposes of simulation on the network.
¶ RCC
Rescue coordination Centre
A unit responsible for promoting efficient organisation of search and rescue services and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue operations within a SAR region.
There are different field of application: ARCC refers to aeronautical operations,
MRCC refers to Maritime operations and when a rescue coordination centre is responsible for both aeronautical and maritime SAR incidents it is called Joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC).
The term RCC will be used within this Manual to apply to either aeronautical, maritime or joint centres; ARCC, MRCC or JRCC
¶ TASKS OF THE RCC
- It is the Focal point of Information;
- Coordinates all operations centrally;
- Decides the assets to be used;
- Issue the search or rescue plan.
OSC, SC and ACO
On-Scene Coordinator (OSC)
A person designated to coordinate search and rescue operations within a specified area.
Search and rescue coordinator (SC)
One or more persons or agencies within an Administration with overall responsibility for establishing and providing SAR services and ensuring that planning for those services is properly coordinated.
Aircraft coordinator (ACO)
A person or team who coordinates the involvement of multiple aircraft in SAR operations in support of the SAR mission coordinator and on-scene coordinator.
The term OSC will be used within this Manual to apply to either OSC, AOC and SC
For training and events in IVAO, the person in charge of RCC will do tasks assigned to OSC in case of unavailability.
¶ TASKS OF THE OSC
- assume operational coordination of all SAR facilities on scene;
- provide relevant information to other SAR facilities;
- assist in maintaining flight safety by issuing safety-related information;
- Ensure the safety of operations, both on the surface and in the air
- prioritise and allocate tasks;
- Change search methods or rescue planning if the situation at the scene so requires, keeping the RCC informed;
- Make periodic reports on the situation (SITREP) to the RCC;
- Inform the RCC of the names and tasks assigned to units with survivors on board, reporting which survivors are on each asset;
- Ask the RCC for any additional means of assistance (e.g. MEDEVAC of survivors in serious condition).
- forward radio messages when necessary;
¶ RECEIVING THE DISTRESS CALL
The following immediate actions should be taken by any means receiving a distress message:
- Acknowledgement of the message.
- Collect, if possible, the following information from the aircraft/vehicle/ship in danger:
- Location
- Course/route and speed;
- Callsign, identity, international name;
- type of aircraft/vehicle/ship and dangerous goods;
- colour and distinctive markings;
- survival equipment carried;
- number of persons on board;
- nature of the danger or accident;
- type of assistance required;
- number of victims, if any;
- any other relevant information that may facilitate rescue.
¶ SEARCH PLAN
The search plan message includes six parts:
¶ SITUATION
- a brief description of the incident;
- location of the incident and time at which it occurred;
- number of persons on board (POBs);
- primary and secondary objects of the search;
- the amount and type of survival equipment;
- weather forecast and validity period;
- SAR resources on site.
¶ SEARCH AREA(S)
- Designation of the area, size, vertices, centre point and circular radius;
- other essential data.
¶ EXECUTION
- SAR Resource Identification
- Agency, search model, direction of search, search start points and altitude.
¶ COORDINATION REQUIRED
- Designation of the OSC;
- time of arrival on site of SAR assets;
- interval between routes and desired coverage factors;
- OSC instructions (e.g., use of buoys to mark the datum);
- airspace restrictions (e.g., danger area);
- aircraft safety instructions;
- instructions given regarding the shift of the SAR assets;
- authorizations in favour of non-SAR aircraft to access the area.
¶ COMMUNICATIONS
- Channel/freq for coordination;
- Channel/freq for on-site use;
- monitoring channel/freq;
- method for the identification of OSC by SAR assets;
¶ REPORTS
- The OSC reports on on-site weather conditions, the evolution of operations and other SITREP information, using the standard SITREP format;
- The authorities to which the SAR assets belong provide a summary report of the day's operations (hours spent, area(s) patrolled and coverage factor(s).
- The OSC may be authorised by the RCC to vary the search plan according to the situation on the ground.
¶ RADIO COMMUNICATIONS
¶ WITH ATS UNITS
Aircraft typically refer to air traffic services (ATS) for communication and flight control services.
¶ IN THE AREA OF OPERATIONS
The OSC should coordinate on-site communications and ensure that they are maintained at a reliable level.
- SAR assets normally report to the OSC on an assigned frequency.
- If you make a frequency change, you should provide instructions on what to do if communications cannot be re-established on the new frequency.
- The RCC will normally choose frequencies dedicated to SAR for on-site use, which will include primary and secondary frequencies.
¶ ASSISTANCE WITH SAR AIRCRAFT
Assistance by aircraft during a SAR mission may include launching life rafts and equipping units in distress, hoist helicopter-trained personnel, or evacuating survivors by helicopter.
¶ SEARCH PLANNING
The OSC will have to identify a DATUM, i.e. a point, line or geographical area used as a reference in the planning of a search.
This position will have to take into account various factors, such as the time at which the accident is presumed to have occurred, the slippage due to sea and wind conditions, etc.
¶ PATH SPACING
Most search schemes consist of parallel routes or "sweeps" covering a rectangular area. The distance between adjacent paths is called path spacing.
Helicopter Route Spacing (KM (NM))
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ALTITUDES |
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OBJECT OF THE SEARCH |
500m (150ft) |
300m (1000ft) |
600m (2000ft) |
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Person in water |
0.2 (0.1) |
0.2 (0.1) |
0.2 (0.1) |
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4 people on raft |
5.2 (2.8) |
5.4 (2.9) |
5.6 (3.0) |
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6 people on raft |
6.5 (3.5) |
6.5 (3.5) |
6.7 (3.6) |
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15 people on raft |
8.1 (4.4) |
8.3 (4.5) |
8.7 (4.7) |
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25 people on raft |
10.4 (5.6) |
10.6 (5.7) |
10.9 (5.9) |
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Boats < 5 m (17 ft) |
4.3 (2.3) |
4.6 (2.5) |
5.0 (2.7) |
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Boats 7 m (23 ft) |
10.7 (5.8) |
10.9 (5.9) |
11.3 (6.1) |
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Boats 12 m (40ft) |
21.9 (11.8) |
22.0 (11.9) |
22.4 (12.1) |
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Boats 24 m (79 ft) |
34.1 (18.4) |
34.3 (18.5) |
34.3 (18.5) |
Route spacing for Fixed-wing aircraft (KM (NM))
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ALTITUDES |
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OBJECT OF THE SEARCH |
500m (150ft) |
300m (1000ft) |
600m (2000ft) |
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Person in water |
0.2 (0.1) |
0.2 (0.1) |
- |
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4 people on raft |
4.1 (2.2) |
4.3 (2.3) |
4.3 (2.3) |
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6 people on raft |
5.2 (2.8) |
5.2 (2.8) |
5.4 (2.9) |
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15 people on raft |
6.7 (3.6) |
6.9 (3.7) |
9.2 (4.9) |
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25 people on raft |
8.5 (4.6) |
8.7 (4.7) |
10.9 (5.9) |
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Boats < 5 m (17 ft) |
3.3 (1.8) |
3.7 (2.0) |
4.1 (2.2) |
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Boats 7 m (23 ft) |
8.9 (4.8) |
9.3 (5.0) |
9.4 (5.1) |
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Boats 12 m (40ft) |
19.3 (10.4) |
19.3 (10.4) |
21.5 (11.6) |
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Boats 24 m (79 ft) |
30.9 (16.7) |
30.9 (16.7) |
31.1 (16.8) |
¶ SEARCH SPEED
To carry out a parallel sweeping search in a coordinated manner, all units would have to proceed at the same speed, under the control of the OSC.
This speed, normally, should be the maximum speed of the slowest vehicle present.
In case of poor visibility the OSC will normally order a speed reduction.
¶ SEARCH AREA
Calculate the search radius (R) using one of the following two methods:
- if the SAR have to start immediately assume R = 10 NM;
- If there is time for a more accurate calculation:
- Calculate the area that a unit can cover in a certain time interval with the formula:
A = S (Spacing) x V (Speed) x T (Time)
- the total area (At) that can be covered by multiple units is the sum of the areas that each unit can cover:
At = A1 + A2 + A3 + …
- The search radius is half of the square root of the search area:
- R=At2
- Draw the search area:
- Draw a circle of radius R centred on DATUM
- Form a square tangent to the circle (see figure)
- If multiple units are searching at the same time, divide the square into several eight-zones of the appropriate size and assign them to the units.
¶ SEARCH SCHEMES
¶ Expanding square search (SS)
- Most effective when the position of the object of the search is known with good approximation.
- The starting point of the search is always the position of the datum.
- For fixed-wing aircraft it is difficult to fly in the vicinity of the datum if S is less than 2nm.
¶ Sectors Search (VS)
- Effective when the location of the search object is precisely known and the search area is small.
- Used to search in a circular area centred on the datum
- Due to the small size of the area, this procedure cannot be used by multiple aircraft at the same altitude
- For aircraft normally the range of the scheme is between 5 and 20 nm.
¶ Track line search (TS)
- Normally used when an aircraft or ship has disappeared without a trace along a known route
- Often used as an initial research effort for ease of planning and execution.
- It consists of a quick and reasonably accurate search along the intended route of the vehicle in an emergency.
- The search facility may search along one side of the track line and return in the opposite direction (TSR)
- The search can be carried out along the intended route and only once on each side, after which the research unit continues its route and does not return (TSN).
- Aircraft are frequently used in TS because of their high speed.
- The search altitude of an aircraft is usually between 300 and 600 m (between 1000 and 3000 ft) during daylight hours and between 600 and 900 m (between 2000 and 3000 ft) at night.
¶ Parallel sweep search (PS)
- Used for searches in a large area when the location of survivors is uncertain.
- Most effective on water or flat terrain.
- It is usually used when a large search area needs to be divided into sub-areas to be assigned to individual research units simultaneously on site.
- The search starting point is located in a corner of the sub-area at a distance of half the spacing between the paths from each of the two sides that form the corner.
- The research arms develop parallel to each other, following the long side of the sub-area.
¶ Contour search (OS)
- It is used around mountains and within valleys, when there is a significant variation in elevation, which makes other research schemes impractical.
- The search starts from the highest part of the mountain and continues from the top to the base with a different altitude for each circuit.
- Search altitude ranges can be from 150 to 300 metres (500-1000 feet).
- The aircraft can make an orbit descending from the mountain before resuming the search at the lowest altitude.
- The aircraft can make downward spirals around the mountain with a low and constant rate of descent, when there is not enough space to make a circuit opposite to the direction of research.
- If the mountain cannot be circuited, successive sweeps shall be carried out at the same altitude ranges.
- The search in the valleys is carried out in circles by moving the centre of the circle on a stroke, after completing each individual circle.
¶ FLIGHT PLAN
The SAR flight plan has no limit in the time of submission and is filled in as a normal GAT flight except for the status of the flight to be entered in field 18 as follows:
STS/SAR
¶ CALLSIGNS
During search and rescue missions and exercises it is recommended that the following prefix call signs be used before the ordinary radio call sign or as a specific mission call sign.
- “RESCUE” for all airborne units involved in a rescue mission
- “SAREX” for all airborne units involved in international/national exercises
¶ CHECKLIST – SEQUENCE OF EVENTS
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RCC |
Receiving of the distress message |
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ACK and request of detailed Info |
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Preparation of the search plan |
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identification of SAR and OSC assets (if any) |
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Issuing the search message |
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SAR - OSC ASSETS |
SAR BRIEFING |
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Arrival on the search area |
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OSC assumes responsibility for Operations |
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Start Research Phase as established on the SAR plan |
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Situation reports (SITREP) as required |
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End of research phase |
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Asset re-entry phase SAR |
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SAR DEBRIEFING |
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¶ Plan
Depending on the complexity of the simulation you want to recreate, you can omit or "merge" certain steps.
SAR SEARCH PLAN MESSAGE
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FROM: |
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TO: |
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DISTRESS: |
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SEARCH ACTION PLAN: |
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SITUATION |
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DESCRIPTION |
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TYPE |
POB |
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PRIMARY SEARCH OBJECTS |
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SAR AREAS |
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EXECUTION |
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AREA |
FACILITY |
PATTERN |
CREEP |
CSP |
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COORDINATION |
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RCC |
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OSC |
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ACTIONS |
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SPACING |
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OTHER |
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COMMUNICATIONS |
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ON SCENE |
PRIMARY |
SECONDARY |
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REPORTS - - - |
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¶ SITREP FORMAT
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DATE |
TIME UTC |
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FM |
TO |
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SITREP N° |
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UNIT IDENTIFICATION (NAME, CALLSIGN, NATIONALITY) |
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POSITION (LAT/LONG) |
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SITUATION |
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NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN DANGER |
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ASSISTANCE REQUIRED |
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OTHER |
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¶ SAR BRIEFING
The RCC or OSC should provide SAR units with information on important details of the emergency and all necessary instructions prior to the conduct of SAR operations.
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SAR |
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DATE |
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Name and n# of units |
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NATURE OF THE HAZARD OR URGENCY |
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DESCRIPTION OF THE CRAFT TO BE SEARCHED |
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TYPE |
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LENGTH |
WIDTH |
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PEOPLE ON BOARD |
COLOR |
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ASSIGNED SEARCH AREA |
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AREA |
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TYPE OF SEARCH |
DURATION OF OPERATIONS |
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COMMENCE SEARCHES AT (POSITION) |
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AND TRACK (N-S-E-W) |
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FREQUENCIES |
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COORD UNIT. |
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NAVAL UNITS |
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OTHER |
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¶ SAR DEBRIEFING
The debriefing of SAR units, on the other hand, provides important information on the effectiveness of the research and can influence the planning of subsequent research.
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SAR |
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DATE |
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SEARCH UNIT |
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STARTING POINT |
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LANDING POINT |
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STARTING TIME |
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START OPERATIONS |
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END OF OPERATIONS |
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EXPLORED AREA |
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TYPE OF SEARCH |
ALTITUDE |
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STATE OF THE SEA |
NUMBER OF OBS |
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RESEARCH AREA WEATHER CONDITIONS |
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SEARCH SUBJECT |
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LOCALIZATION |
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NUMB. AND CONDITION OF SURVIVORS |
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MISCELLANEOUS ANNOTATIONS |
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OTHER |
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