Chapter 1 – The search and rescue system 1-2 IAMSAR MANUAL VOLUME II 1.2.3 SAR operations are normally carried out under the direction and supervision of an SMC, who is usually the supervisor of the RCC or RSC watch team. In multiple-incident situations this of?cer could be SMC for all incidents, or, for some of those incidents, the SMC role could be delegated to another suitably quali?ed member of the watch team. The SMC should in all cases be supported by RCC watch team members to undertake functions in the co-ordinating process such as communications, plotting, logging and search planning. For complex cases or those of long duration, the assisting team as well as the SMC must be replaced at regular intervals. The SMC must be able to competently gather information about emergencies, transform emergency incident information into accurate and workable plans and dispatch and co-ordinate the facilities which will carry out the SAR missions. (a) The SMC is in charge of a SAR operation until a rescue has been effected or until it has become apparent that further efforts would be of no avail, or until responsibility is accepted by another RCC. The SMC should be able to use readily available facilities and to request additional ones during the operation. The SMC plans the search and rescue operations and coordinates the transit of SAR facilities to and from the scene. (b) The SMC should be well trained in all SAR processes and be thoroughly familiar with the applicable SAR plans. The SMC must competently gather information about distress situations, develop accurate and workable action plans, and dispatch and co-ordinate the resources which will carry out SAR missions. The plans of operation maintained by the RCC provide information to assist in these efforts. Guidelines for SMC duties include: –obtain and evaluate all data on the emergency; –ascertain the type of emergency equipment carried by the missing or distressed craft; –remain informed of prevailing environmental conditions; –if necessary, ascertain movements and location of vessels and alert shipping in likely search areas for rescue, lookout (visual and electronic) and/or radio watch on appropriate frequencies to facilitate communications with SAR facilities; –plot the area to be searched and decide on the methods and facilities to be used; –develop the search action plan (and rescue action plan as appropriate), i.e., allocate search areas, designate the OSC, dispatch SAR facilities and designate on-scene communications frequencies; –inform the RCC chief of the search action plan; –co-ordinate the operation with adjacent RCCs when appropriate; –arrange brie?ng and debrie?ng of SAR personnel; –evaluate all reports from any source and modify the search action plan as necessary; –arrange for the fuelling of aircraft and, if necessary, rescue vessels and, for prolonged search, make arrangements for the accommodation of SAR personnel; –arrange for delivery of supplies to sustain survivors; –maintain in chronological order an accurate and up-to-date record with a plot, where necessary, of all proceedings; –issue progress reports; –recommend to the RCC chief the abandoning or suspending of the search; –release SAR facilities when assistance is no longer required; –notify accident investigation authorities; –notify police and other government authorities where relevant and necessary; –if applicable, notify the State of registry of the aircraft or vessel in accordance with established arrangements; and –prepare a ?nal report on the results of the operation. Chapter 1 – The search and rescue system IAMSAR MANUAL VOLUME II 1-7 –communications; –operational information; and –training and discussion. 1.6 SAR operations stages 1.6.1 The success of a SAR mission often depends on the speed with which the operation is planned and carried out. The prompt receipt of all available information by the RCC is necessary for thorough evaluation of the situation, immediate decision on the best course of action, and a timely activation of SAR facilities. While no two SAR operations follow exactly the same pattern, SAR incidents do generally pass through de?ned stages, which can be used to help organize response activities. These stages are discussed in general terms below and expanded discussion is found in the remaining chapters of this volume. These stages should be interpreted with ?exibility, as many of the actions described may be performed simultaneously or in a different order to suit speci?c circumstances. Awareness stage 1.6.2 The SAR organization cannot respond to an incident until it becomes aware that people or craft need assistance. Therefore, the general public should be encouraged to report any abnormal occurrence which they have heard about or witnessed. SAR authorities must ensure that noti?cation that an aircraft has crashed, or that an aircraft, ship, other craft or person(s) is overdue or in a state of emergency, can reach an RCC from any source, either directly or via an alerting post. 1.6.3 ATS units receive information on most commercial aircraft ?ights and are periodically in contact with the aircraft. An aircraft emergency therefore is likely to come to ATS attention ?rst. An RCC will usually be noti?ed by an ATS unit when an aircraft is, or may be, in a state of emergency. However, noti?cation of a general aviation aircraft emergency may often come from a local airport, a concerned individual reporting it overdue or witnesses seeing an aircraft in dif?culty or crash. When the nature of the emergency is such that local rescue facilities can handle the emergency, e.g., when an incident occurs at or near an aerodrome, the RCC will not always be informed. 1.6.4 In some areas, a coast radio station (CRS) provides the main link for ship-to-shore and shore-to-ship communications and, in this situation, it may be that the CRS usually receives the ?rst information that a ship or other craft on the water is in distress. A CRS is required by international regulations to relay this information to SAR authorities. As a result, an RCC will often receive ?rst noti?cation that a ship or other craft is in distress from a CRS with which it is associated, or via its own communications facilities. Some RCCs may have radio or satellite communications capability that enables them to be alerted directly. 1.6.5 The RCC must keep a complete record of information it receives. Pre-printed forms often are used to ensure that full information about the SAR incident is obtained and remains available for review. Chapter 3 discusses these topics. Initial action 1.6.6 Once an RCC receives an initial report about persons or craft in distress, some immediate action often is appropriate pending receipt and evaluation of more complete information. RCCs usually have in their plans of operation a checklist of steps to accomplish for each type of incident with which the RCC expects that it may become involved. 1.6.7 After evaluating all available information and taking into account the degree of emergency, the SMC should declare the appropriate emergency phase and immediately inform all appropriate centres, personnel and facilities. Three emergency phases have been established for classifying incidents and to help in determining the actions to be taken for each incident. These are: –uncertainty phase; –alert phase; and –distress phase. Chapter 1 – The search and rescue system 1-12 IAMSAR MANUAL VOLUME II 1.8.10 Adjacent RCCs should periodically carry out SAR exercises together to develop and maintain ef?cient co-operation and co-ordination between their services. These exercises need not always be on a large scale, but at least those SAR facilities which are likely to operate together should engage periodically in co-ordinating exercises. Much may be learned by exchanging information on training methods (e.g., programmes, literature, and ?lms) and visits between staff of adjacent SRRs. 1.8.11 Additional information on planning and conducting exercises is provided in chapter 6 with regard to mass rescue operations. Training of RCC and RSC personnel 1.8.12 The RCC and RSC have particularly important duties. Their personnel usually need formal SAR training. If unable to immediately attend formal training, they must receive a period of on-the-job training. Upon completion of training, the prospective RCC personnel should undergo quali?cation procedures. RCC staff should be fully quali?ed in SAR incident analysis, search planning, and SAR operations management. 1.8.13 One advantage of combining aeronautical and maritime RCCs into a joint RCC, and staf?ng the facility with both aviation and maritime specialists, is a synergistic approach to the solution of SAR incidents. RCC staff can share subject matter expertise and determine a more balanced and complete evaluation of each incident. 1.8.14 The formal training of RCC personnel should include: –organization: –knowledge of the SAR organization and its relationship to the air traf?c services; –knowledge of the SAR organization and its relationship to maritime safety and communication services; –knowledge of agreements made with facilities, neighbouring SAR services, etc.; –knowledge of capabilities and limitations of available facilities; and –knowledge of legal aspects, e.g., in a maritime incident, policies on towing and salvage; –procedures: –how to obtain and evaluate information and reports; –alerting of facilities and commencement of SAR operations; –interpretation of different systems of position reporting; –determination of a search area; –search techniques and patterns for air, maritime and land facilities; –plotting of search information; –communications procedures; –rescue procedures; –supply-dropping procedures; –ditching assistance, interception and escort procedures; and –brie?ng and questioning of SAR personnel; –administration: –routine administrative functions; and –information: –visits to SAR facilities and supply depots, and participation in exercises, including packing and loading of survival stores; and –instruction through ?lms, relevant journals, etc., on recent developments in the ?eld of SAR.