INTRODUCTION TO IAMSAR

ABB. ACRONYM
NBDP Narrow-Band Direct Printing
OSC On-Scene Co-Ordinator
RCC Rescue Coordination Centre
RSC Rescue Sub-Centre
SAR Search and Rescue
Search and Rescue Radar
SART
Transponder
SES Ship Earth Station
SITREP Situation Report
FIR Flight Information Region
CES Coast Earth Station
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
Emergency Position-Indicating
EPIRB
Radio Beacon
Global Maritime Distress and
GMDSS
Safety System
International Civil Aviation
ICAO
Organization
LES Land Earth Station
MSI Maritime Safety Information
SPOC Single Point of Contact
SRR Search and Rescue Region
SRS Search and Rescue Sub-Region
SRU Search and Rescue Unit
ACO Aircraft Co-ordinator
CSP Commence Search Point
OpCen Operations Center
ATS Air Traffic Service
Aeronautical Information and
AICD
Communications Division
CRS Coast Radio Station
Operations and Rescue
ORCC
Coordination Center
Civil Aviation Authority of the
CAAP
Philippines
Philippine Rescue Coordinating
PhilRCC
Center
Aeronautical Fixed
AFTN
Telecommunications Network
ALE Automatic Link Establish
DSC Digital Selective Calling
Joint (aeronautical and maritime)
JRCC
Rescue Co-ordination Centre
LES Land Earth Station
Maritime Rescue Co-ordination
MRCC
Centre
Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided
SarSat
Tracking
MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity
International Telecommunication
ITU
Union
GES Ground Earth Station
Automated Mutual-assistance
AMVER
Vessel Rescue
Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination
ARCC
Centre
RANP Regional Air Navigation Plan
 ABB. GLOSSARY
Maritime name for an Inmarsat
CES shore-based station linking ship
earth stations with terrestrial
communications networks.
Point, normally specified by the
CSP SMC, where a SAR facility is to
begin its search pattern.
A satellite system designed to
Cospas–
detect and locate activated
Sarsat
distress beacons transmitting in
system
the frequency band of 406.0–
406.1 MHz.
 A person or team who co-
ordinates the involvement of
ACO multiple aircraft in SAR operations
in support of the SAR mission co-
ordinator and on-scene co-
ordinator.
A world-wide ship reporting
Amver
system for search and rescue.
A system used by ships and
AIS vessel traffic services (VTS),
principally for identifying and
locating vessels.
 A geographic point, line, or area used
Datum
as a reference in search planning
A technique using digital codes which
enables a radio station to establish
DSC contact with, and transfer information
to, another station or group of
stations.
A device, usually carried on board
maritime craft, that transmits a
EPIRB distress signal that alerts search and
rescue authorities and enables
rescue units to locate the scene of
the distress.
 Distress alert initiated for other than an
False appropriate test, by communications
alarm equipment intended for alerting, when
no distress situation actually exists.
Distress alert received from any source,
including communications equipment
intended for alerting, when no distress
False alert
situation actually exists, and a
notification of distress should not have
resulted.
The reporting of a distress incident to a
Distress
unit which can provide or co-ordinate
alert
assistance.
 A global communications service
based upon automated systems,
both satellite-based and
GMDSS terrestrial, to provide distress
alerting and promulgation of
maritime safety information for
mariners.
A system of geostationary
satellites for world-wide mobile
communication services and
Inmarsat
support of the GMDSS and other
emergency communication
systems.
 The international radio telephony
MAYDAY
distress signal.
Automated telegraphy, as used by
NBDP the NAVTEX system and telex-
over-radio.
The system for the broadcast and
automatic reception of maritime
NAVTEX safety information by means of
narrow-band direct-printing
telegraphy.
A person designated to co-
OSC ordinate SAR operations within a
specified area.
 The international radiotelephony
PAN.PAN
urgency signal.
A unit responsible for promoting
efficient organization of search
and rescue services and for co-
RCC
ordinating the conduct of search
and rescue operations within a
search and rescue region.
A unit subordinate to a rescue co-
ordination centre established to
RSC complement the latter according
to particular provisions of the
responsible authorities.
 A service of Inmarsat EGC
system specifically designed for
SafetyNET
promulgation of MSI as a part of
the GMDSS.
The official temporarily
assigned to co-ordinate response
SMC
to an actual or apparent distress
situation.
An area of defined dimensions,
associated with a rescue co-
SRR ordination centre, within which
search and rescue services are
provided.
 A unit composed of trained
personnel and provided with
SRU equipment suitable for the
expeditious conduct of search
and rescue operations.
A survival craft transponder
that, when activated, sends out a
signal automatically when a pulse
from a nearby radar reaches it the
SART
signal appears on the interrog-
ating radar screen and gives the
bearing and distance of the
transponder for SAR purposes.
TOPIC: General System Concept of IAMSAR
2. The primary purpose of the
three volumes of the IAMSAR
Manual
LO1 Explain the General System Concept
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
Present the primary
purpose of the three
volumes of the
IAMSAR Manual
The primary purpose of the three volumes
of the IAMSAR Manual is to:
1. assist States in meeting their own SAR
needs and
2. Support States in their obligations they
accepted under the ICAO, the SAR 1979
and SOLAS 1974 as amended
3. provide guidelines for a common aviation
and maritime approach to organizing and
providing SAR services.
4. encouraged to develop and improve their
SAR services, co-operate with
neighbouring States
5.consider their SAR services to be part of
a global system.
IAMSAR Manual consist of:
Vol. I – The Organization and Management
volume discusses the global SAR system
concept, establishment and improvement
of national and regional SAR systems and
co-operation with neighbouring States to
provide effective and economical SAR
services;
Vol. II – The Mission Co-ordination volume
assists personnel who plan and co-ordinate
SAR operations and exercises; and
 Vol. III – The Mobile Facilities volume is
intended to be carried aboard rescue units,
aircraft, and vessels to help with
performance of a search, rescue, or on-
scene co-ordinator function and with
aspects of SAR that pertain to their own
emergencies.
Vol. 1 – Organization and Management
Chapter 1 presents an overview of the
SAR concept, including what is involved in
providing SAR services, and why such
services are required and beneficial. The
SAR system is examined from a global,
regional and national perspective.
Chapter 2 introduces some of the key
components of the SAR system. These
include communications, rescue co-
ordination centres and sub-centres,
operational and support facilities and the
on-scene co-ordinator.
 Chapter 3 considers the use of training,
qualification, and certification processes to
develop professionally competent SAR
personnel. A number of aspects of training
and of exercises used for training, are
examined in detail.
Chapter 4 describes the communications
needs of the SAR organization for
reception of distress alerts and for
supporting effective co-ordination among
the various components of the SAR
system.
 Chapter 5 provides an overall
management perspective of the SAR
system.
Chapter 6 discusses the necessary
factors and recommends some techniques
for creating an organizational environment
that fosters improvement of services.
Vol. II – Mission Co-ordination
Chapter 1 presents an overview of the
SAR system concept, including what is
involved in providing SAR services, and
why such services are required and
beneficial. The SAR system is examined
from a global, regional, and national
perspective. Key components of the SAR
system, such as rescue co-ordination
centres (RCCs), operational and support
facilities and the on-scene co-ordinator
(OSC), are discussed.
 Chapter 2 focuses primarily on SAR
communications topics. These include
distress communications, emergency
beacons, communications for SAR
operations and a variety of
communications and safety systems
related to or used by the SAR system.
 Chapter 3 introduces the five stages
through which responses to SAR incidents
typically progress, describes the three
emergency phases (Uncertainty, Alert, and
Distress) and the first two stages
(Awareness and Initial Action) in detail, and
provides additional valuable guidance for
the early stages of a SAR incident.
 Chapter 4 contains a detailed discussion
of the theory and practice of search
planning. It presents a complete yet
practical application of search theory to the
SAR search planning problem. It provides
guidance for balancing the conflicting goals
of covering large areas with limited facilities
or using those facilities to achieve high
probabilities of detection in small areas. The
procedures outlined allow the search
planner to determine the optimal area to
search so that the chances of success are
maximized.
 Chapter 5 discusses search techniques
and operations, including search facility
selection, assessment of search
conditions, search pattern selection for
visual, electronic, night and land searches,
search sub-area assignments, standard
methods for designating and describing
search sub-areas, planning of on-scene co-
ordination, and finally compiling all this
data into an attainable search action plan.
 Chapter 6 describes aspects of rescue
planning and operations such as logistics,
modes of rescue, care and debriefing of
survivors, handling of deceased persons,
and certain special requirements involving
aircraft crash sites.
Chapter 7 contains guidance for
emergency assistance other than SAR in
which the SAR system may become
involved.
 Chapter 8 discusses the orderly
conclusion of SAR operations. The topics
covered include closing of SAR cases,
suspending search operations, reopening a
suspended SAR case, completing final
reports, conducting performance
improvement reviews and case studies,
and archiving SAR case files.