United States National Search and Rescue Supplement to the International Aeronautical and ...

234 Pages·2000·1.7 MB·English

United States
National Search and Rescue Supplement

to the
International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue Manual

D O I DOC

N
A
D S
OD A

F
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National Search and Rescue Committee
Washington DC

May 2000
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United States National Search and Rescue Supplement
to the
International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual
Foreword

1. PURPOSE.

This National Search and Rescue Supplement (NSS), prepared under the direction of the National Search and Rescue
Committee (NSARC), provides guidance to federal agencies concerning implementation of the National Search and
Rescue Plan (NSP). The NSS provides specific additional national standards and guidance that build upon the baseline
established by the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual. The IAMSAR
Manual is a three-volume set published jointly by both the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) for use by all countries. The NSS provides guidance to all federal forces,
military and civilian, that support civil search and rescue (SAR) operations.

2. BACKGROUND.

a. The NSP, included as Appendix A to this NSS, centers on three key concepts. First, the Plan implements provisions
of relevant conventions, standards, and recommendations of ICAO, IMO and other international organizations.
International law requires establishment of a national civil SAR system with internationally recognized aeronautical
and maritime SAR coordination responsibilities. Secondly, the Plan includes provisions to satisfy national civil SAR
requirements. Finally, since no single U.S. organization has sufficient SAR resources to provide adequate SAR
services, the NSP establishes the principle that SAR authorities should use "all available" resources, including
federal, state, local, private and volunteer resources, to respond to persons and property in distress.

b. The objectives of the NSP, and of NSARC, are described in Appendix A. The Plan provides insight regarding
principles upon which the SAR-related international conventions, the IAMSAR Manual, and this NSS were all
based.

c. The member agencies of NSARC are: the Department of Transportation, the Department of Defense, the Department
of Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and
the Department of Interior.

d. This NSS builds upon, as appropriate, the baseline established by the IAMSAR Manual. It is written for use in
conjunction with the IAMSAR Manual.

3. SCOPE.

This NSS is designed to serve as both a training and operational tool for civil SAR operations.

a. SAR planning is both an art and a science, relying greatly on the creativity and experience of the personnel involved.
Because of the many variables encountered during SAR operations and the individuality of each SAR case, the
guidance provided in this NSS must be tempered with sound judgement, having due regard for the individual
situation. Nothing in this NSS should be construed as relieving SAR personnel of the need for initiative and sound
judgement. Therefore, few actions or procedures discussed in this NSS are mandatory. Use of the words "must" or
"shall" only distinguish those actions or procedures normally considered mandatory from those that are discretionary.

b. Any federal agency that is signatory to the NSP may promulgate an “Addendum” to this NSS for their respective
agency. Such documents would include information, policies, procedures, etc., on civil SAR matters applicable to
the agency concerned, and consistent with provisions of the IAMSAR Manual and NSS. Similarly, the Civil Air
Patrol and the Coast Guard Auxiliary are each authorized to develop an Addendum to the NSS.

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Record of Changes

Change Number Date of Change Date Entered Entered By

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Table of Contents

Title Page
Foreword
Table of Contents
Abbreviations and Acronyms
Glossary

Chapter 1 Search and Rescue Service and Organization

1.1 Search and Rescue Service
1.2 Search and Rescue System
1.3 National Search and Rescue Plan
1.4 National Search and Rescue Supplement
1.5 Addenda to the National Search and Rescue Supplement
1.6 Response to Search and Rescue Situations
1.7 Search and Rescue System Organization
1.8 Search and Rescue Regions and Sub-regions
1.9 Search and Rescue Plans
1.10 Elements of the Search and Rescue System
1.11 Search and Rescue Coordinator
1.12 Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator (SMC)
1.13 Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)
1.14 Rescue Sub-Center (RSC)
1.15 Alerting Post
1.16 Staging Base
1.17 On-scene Coordinator (OSC) and Aircraft Coordinator (ACO)
1.18 Search and Rescue Facilities
1.19 Liaison, Base, and Briefing Officers
1.20 Incident Command System (ICS)

Chapter 2 Agencies and Resources

2.1 Domestic Agencies
2.2 Federal Agencies
2.3 State Agencies
2.4 County Agencies
2.5 Municipal Agencies
2.6 Law Enforcement Agencies
2.7 Commercial Agencies and Resources
2.8 Private Agencies and Resources
2.9 SAR Resources
2.10 Aeronautical Facilities
2.11 Maritime Facilities
2.12 Land Facilities
2.13 Primary Federal SAR Resources

Chapter 3 Communications

3.1 General
3.2 Emergency Communications
3.3 Visual Signals
3.4 IFF Equipment
3.5 EPIRB and ELT
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Table of Contents
3.6 Sound Communications
3.7 Global Maritime Distress and Safety System
3.8 Communication Facilities
3.9 SAR Operations Communications
3.10 Mobile Facility Communications
3.11 SAR Operations Messages
3.12 Alerting Ships at Sea and En Route Aircraft

Chapter 4 Search Planning and Operations

4.1 General
4.2 FAA Emergency Phases
4.3 Communications Searches
4.4 Preliminary Communication Search
4.5 Extended Communication Search
4.6 Search Planning Methods
4.7 Airspace Control
4.8 Search Operations
4.9 Search Object
4.10 SAR Facilities Movement
4.11 Conclusion of SAR Operations

Chapter 5 Land SAR Operations

5.1 General
5.2 Terrain
5.3 Searches by Aircraft
5.4 Grid Searches
5.5 Land Probability of Detection
5.6 Weather Conditions
5.7 Aerial Sightings
5.8 Mountain Searches
5.9 Helicopter Operations in Mountainous Terrain
5.10 Contour Search Patterns
5.11 Air/Ground Coordination
5.12 Search Execution
5.13 Recording Search Coverage
5.14 Information Gathering
5.15 Wreckage Precautions
5.16 Lost Persons
5.17 Preplanning
5.18 Incident Command System (ICS)
5.19 Action Plans
5.20 Urban SAR

Chapter 6 Rescue Planning and Operations

6.1 General
6.2 Rescue Planning
6.3 Survivability Considerations
6.4 Environmental Considerations
6.5 Rescue Method
6.6 Selection of Rescue Facilities
6.7 Rescue Plan
6.8 Delivery Planning
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Table of Contents
6.9 Selection of a Safe Delivery Point
6.10 Rescues in Difficult Environments
6.11 Rescue Operations
6.12 Briefing and Debriefing of SAR Personnel
6.13 SAR Helicopter Escort
6.14 Coordinated Helicopter-Boat Rescue
6.15 Underwater Rescue
6.16 Cold Water Near-Drowning
6.17 Special Considerations
6.18 Debriefing of Survivors
6.19 Emergency Medical Services
6.20 EMS Personnel
6.21 Emergency Care
6.22 SAR Facility Procedures
6.23 Survivor Evacuation and Transport
6.24 Evacuation From Marine Craft
6.25 Evacuation From Land Areas
6.26 Survivor Delivery
6.27 Fixed Medical Facilities

Chapter 7 Legal Aspects

7.1 Relevance of Law to SAR Managers
7.2 General Background
7.3 Domestic Legislation and National SAR Plans
7.4 International Law
7.5 Charging for SAR Services
7.6 Liability
7.7 Assistance by Commercial Ships
7.8 Post-SAR Handling of Deceased persons and Alien Survivors
7.9 International SAR Agreements

Appendices

A National Search and Rescue Plan - 1999
B SAR Treaties and International Instruments
C Temporary Flight Restrictions
D Emergency Assistance to Aircraft Other Than Search and Rescue
E Gridding
F SAR References and Web Sites
G Tables and Graphs
H Coordinated Search Patterns

U.S. Search and Rescue Regions
Index

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

Note: Entry in bold font is from the IAMSAR Manual

A search area B cross-over barrier pattern
A/C aircraft BC bottom current
ACC area control center
ACO aircraft coordinator C coverage factor
ACP Allied Communications Publication C creeping line pattern
ACV air cushion vehicle CAP Civil Air Patrol
ADF automatic direction finding CASP Computer-Assisted Search
AE assistance entry Planning
AES aeronautical earth station CASPER Contact Area Summary Position
AFB air force base Report
AFN aeronautical fixed network CC command center
AFRCC Air Force Rescue Coordination C/C cabin cruiser
Center CCIR International Radio Consultative
AFS aeronautical fixed service Committee
AFTN aeronautical fixed CES coast earth station
telecommunications network CF drift error confidence factor
AIM Airman's Information Manual CGAS Coast Guard Air Station
AIP Aeronautical Information CGAUX Coast Guard Auxiliary
Publication CHOP Change Operational Control
AIS aeronautical information services CHRIS Chemical Hazard Response
AIS automatic identification system Information System
ALNOT alert notice CIC combat information center
AM amplitude modulation CIRM Centro Internazionale Radio-
AMS aeronautical mobile service Medico
AMS(R)S aeronautical mobile satellite CMSS commercial mobile satellite
(route) service services
AMSS aeronautical mobile satellite COMCEN communications center
service Cospas Cosmicheskaya Sistyema Poiska
Amver Automated Mutual-assistance Avariynych Sudov (Russian
Vessel Rescue language for “Space System for
ANC Air Navigation Commission Search of Vessels in Distress”)
ARC American (National) Red Cross COTP captain of the port
ARCC aeronautical rescue coordination CPA closest point of approach
center CPR cardiopulmonary resuscitation
ARSC aeronautical rescue sub-center CRS coast radio station
ARINC Aeronautical Radio Incorporated C/S call sign
ARTCC air route traffic control center CS creeping line single-unit
ARTSIII Automated Radar Tracking System CSC creeping line single-unit
ASCC Air Standardization Coordinating coordinated
Committee CSP commence search point
ASW anti-submarine warfare CW continuous wave
ASW average surface wind
ATC air traffic control D total drift
ATCC air traffic control center d surface drift
ATN aeronautical telecommunications D aeronautical drift
a
network DAN Diver's Alert Network
ATS air traffic service DD Navy destroyer
AUSREP Australian ship reporting system D total drift error
e
AWACS airborne warning and control de individual drift error
system dea aerospace drift error
DF direction finding
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Abbreviations and Acronyms
DMB datum marker buoy FOV field of view
DME distance measuring equipment FS flare single-unit
DMS defense message system f optimal search factor
S
DOC Department of Commerce FSS flight service station
DOD Department of Defense Fv aircraft speed correction factor
DOI Department of Interior F/V fishing vessel
DOT Department of Transportation f weather correction factor
W
dp parachute drift f effort factor
Z
DR dead reckoning
DR disaster response GCI ground control intercept
DRe dead reckoning error GEOREF geographic reference
DRU desert rescue unit GES ground earth station
DSC digital selective calling GHz gigahertz
DSN defense switched network GLONASS Global Orbiting Navigation
DTG date-time group Satellite System
GMDSS Global Maritime Distress and
E total probable error of position Safety System
E-ARTS En Route Automated Radar GNSS global navigation satellite system
Tracking System GPS global positioning system
ECM electronic countermeasures GS ground speed
EGC enhanced group calling gt gross tons
ELINT electronic intelligence
ELR extra-long-range aircraft H homing pattern
ELT emergency locator transmitter HEL-H heavy helicopter
EMS emergency medical services HEL-L light helicopter
EMT emergency medical technician HEL-M medium helicopter
ENID enhanced identity HF high frequency
EPIRB emergency position-indicating HFDF high frequency direction-finding
radio beacon HQ headquarters
ETA estimated time of arrival HS homing single-unit
ETD estimated time of departure
ETI estimated time of intercept IADB Inter-American Defense Board
EXCOM extended communication search IAMSAR International Aeronautical and
Maritime Search and Rescue
F flare patterns I/B inboard
FACSFAC Fleet Area Control and IC Incident Commander
Surveillance Facility ICAO International Civil Aviation
FAA Federal Aviation Administration Organization
FAR federal aviation regulation ICS incident command system
FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation IFF identification, friend or foe
FCC Federal Communications IFR instrument flight rules
Commission ILS instrument landing system
FEMA Federal Emergency Management IMC instrument meteorological
Agency conditions
FF Navy fast frigate IMO International Maritime
FIC flight information center Organization
FIR flight information region IMSO International Mobile Satellite
FIS flight information Service Organization
FIXe navigational fix error Inmarsat International Mobile Satellite
FLAR forward-looking airborne radar Organization
FLIP flight information publication INREQ information request
FLIR forward-looking infrared INS inertial navigation system
FM flare multiunit INS Immigration and Naturalization
FM frequency modulation Service
FNOC Fleet Numerical Oceanographic INTERCO International Code of Signals
Command IP initial position
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