Search and Rescue

Air Regulations · Chapter 10 · DGCA CPL and ATPL

Who comes looking when an aircraft is in trouble, and how pilots, ships and survivors talk to each other without a radio.

Remember

In India, AAI runs 4 rescue coordination centres for land, and the Coast Guard runs 3 MRCCs for the ocean.
The first aircraft at an accident scene takes charge until the first SAR aircraft arrives.
On hearing a distress call: acknowledge, record the position and a bearing, inform the RCC or ATS, then you may proceed toward it.
Survivor symbols: V assistance, X medical assistance, N no, Y yes; at least 2.5 m long.
Rescue units: LLL operation completed, LL all personnel found, NN nothing found but still searching.

Who runs search and rescue in India?

SAR in India

Land, sea and satellite each have their own set-up. Tap a box with + to open it.

Search and rescue 24 hours a day States must arrange search and rescue so that persons in distress get help. The service runs on a 24-hour basis: AAI over land, the Coast Guard over the ocean.
- Over land aeronautical SAR over Indian airspace, excluding oceanic areas, is coordinated by AAI with the SAR agencies, under NASARCC.
  - NASARCC chair: Secretary, MoCA National Aeronautical SAR Coordination Committee, chaired by the Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation.
  - 4 AAI RCCs Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai AAI coordinates SAR through four rescue coordination centres, at Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai FIRs.
  - Region = Indian FIR except over Bhutan The part of the FIR over Bhutan is excluded; Bhutan has a bilateral SAR arrangement with India.
- Over the ocean maritime SAR over the oceanic parts of the Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai FIRs is provided by the Indian Coast Guard, under NMSARB.
  - NMSARB chair: DG, Indian Coast Guard National Maritime SAR Board, which runs SAR over oceanic areas. Its chairman is the Director General, Indian Coast Guard.
  - 3 Coast Guard MRCCs Mumbai, Chennai, Port Blair Over the high seas the Indian Coast Guard provides SAR through three maritime rescue coordination centres at Mumbai, Chennai and Port Blair.
- By satellite COSPAS-SARSAT India takes part in the COSPAS/SARSAT satellite-aided SAR system, which detects 406 MHz transmissions across the Indian SRR and neighbouring regions.
  - 406 MHz beacon located within 5 km COSPAS/SARSAT works on 406 MHz, and the beacon's position is normally found to within 5 km.
  - 2 LUTs Bangalore, Lucknow Two local user terminals, at Bangalore and Lucknow, receive the satellite data.
  - INMCC Bangalore linked to the RCCs Linked over the AFS network to the rescue coordination centres in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai.
- At the scene who is in charge A pilot who sees a craft in distress keeps it in sight, fixes its position and reports to the RCC or ATS unit. The first aircraft there runs the scene until a SAR aircraft arrives.
  - First aircraft takes charge if it is not a SAR aircraft It directs all later arrivals until the first SAR aircraft reaches the scene.
  - First SAR aircraft takes over on arrival An aircraft that is not a search and rescue aircraft stays in charge at the scene only until the first SAR aircraft turns up.
  - Radio contact with ATC does not decide command Being able to talk to ATC or the RCC does not change who is in charge; command at the scene goes to the first aircraft, then the first SAR aircraft.

Memory hook: 4 RCCs on land, 3 MRCCs at sea, 2 LUTs for satellites.

Takeaway: Land: AAI's 4 RCCs under NASARCC. Ocean: the Coast Guard's 3 MRCCs under NMSARB. Beacons: INMCC Bangalore.

How is search and rescue organised in India?

SAR map

Land, sea and satellite coverage. Tap each number.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

Who runs SAR, on which frequencies, with what kit?

SAR at a glance

Three views: the centres, the frequencies and the kit on board.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

What do you do if you hear a distress call?

Distress heard

Four actions, in order. Press Fly it.

Acknowledge IF FEASIBLE Acknowledge the distress transmission when you can.
Log POSITION AND BEARING Note where the craft in trouble is and, if you can, take a bearing on it.
Inform RCC OR ATS, WITHOUT DELAY Pass everything you have to the rescue coordination centre or ATS unit.
Proceed AT PILOT'S DISCRETION While awaiting instructions, you may head toward the position given.

Memory hook: A-L-I-P: Acknowledge, Log, Inform, Proceed.

Takeaway: Acknowledge if you can, log the position and a bearing, tell the RCC or ATS, then you may head there.

What do you do on seeing a craft in distress?

First on scene

If possible and reasonable, in this order.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

How do you direct a ship from the air?

Guiding a ship

Two manoeuvres seen from above: one sends the ship, the other stands it down.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

What signal do you give from the air?

Which signal

Read each case and press the stamp that applies.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

How do you signal a ship and read its reply?

Ship and ground signals

Aircraft manoeuvres, ship replies, and ground-to-air acknowledgements. Tap a card.

This lesson is part of the Exam-Ready plan. See plans

What are survivors on the ground telling you?

Survivor signs

Laid on the ground, at least 2.5 m (8 ft) long. Point at one.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

What are the ground rescue teams telling you?

Rescue unit signs

Ground search parties use their own set. Point at one to read it.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Numbers to know

Numbers

The figures examiners like, in one list.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Pairs that catch students out

Don't mix up

Five pairs that look alike in the exam.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans

Test yourself

Ten questions from this chapter.

This lesson is part of the Core plan. See plans