COMPETENCE : Respond to a distress signal

at sea
KUP: Knowledge of the contents of the
International Aeronautical and Maritime
Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual
Methods for demonstrating competence:
Examination and assessment of evidence
obtained from practical instruction or approved
simulator training, where appropriate
Criteria for evaluating competence: The type
and scale of the emergency is promptly
identified

GENERAL SYSTEM CONCEPT OF IAMSAR


CO1 Respond to a distress signal at sea
TOPIC: General System Concept of IAMSAR
1. Abbreviations, Acronyms and
Glossary used in the IAMSAR
LO1 Explain the General System Concept
TEACHER ACTIVITY CADET ACTIVITY
1. Present the
Abbreviations,
Acronyms and
Glossary used in the
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
SART
Search and Rescue Radar
Transponder
SES Ship Earth Station
SITREP Situation Report
FIR Flight Information Region
CES Coast Earth Station
ELT Emergency Locator Transmitter
EPIRB
Emergency Position-Indicating Radio
Beacon
GMDSS
Global Maritime Distress and Safety
System
ICAO
International Civil Aviation
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
AICD
Aeronautical Information and
Communications Division
CRS Coast Radio Station
ORCC
Operations and Rescue Coordination
Center
CAAP Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines
PhilRCC Philippine Rescue Coordinating Center
AFTN
Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunications
Network
ALE Automatic Link Establish
DSC Digital Selective Calling
JRCC
Joint (aeronautical and maritime)
Rescue Co-ordination Centre
LES Land Earth Station
MRCC Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre
SarSat
Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided
Tracking
MMSI Maritime Mobile Service Identity
ITU International Telecommunication Union
GES Ground Earth Station
AMVER
Automated Mutual-assistance Vessel
Rescue
ARCC
Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination
Centre
RANP Regional Air Navigation Plan
ABB. GLOSSARY
CES

Maritime name for an Inmarsat
shore-based station linking ship earth
stations with terrestrial
communications networks.
CSP
Point, normally specified by the SMC,
where a SAR facility is to begin its
search pattern.
Cospas
Sarsat
system

A satellite system designed to detect
and locate activated distress
beacons transmitting in the frequency
band of 406.0406.1 MHz.
ACO

A person or team who co-ordinates
the involvement of multiple aircraft in
SAR operations in support of the
SAR mission co-ordinator and on-
scene co-ordinator.
Amver
A world-wide ship reporting system
for search and rescue.
AIS

A system used by ships and vessel
traffic services (VTS), principally for
identifying and locating vessels.
Datum
A geographic point, line, or area used as
a reference in search planning
DSC
A technique using digital codes which
enables a radio station to establish
contact with, and transfer information to,
another station or group of stations.
EPIRB

A device, usually carried on board
maritime craft, that transmits a distress
signal that alerts search and rescue
authorities and enables rescue units to
locate the scene of the distress.
False alarm
Distress alert initiated for other than an
appropriate test, by communications
equipment intended for alerting, when no
distress situation actually exists.
False alert
Distress alert received from any source,
including communications equipment
intended for alerting, when no distress
situation actually exists, and a notification of
distress should not have resulted.
Distress
alert
The reporting of a distress incident to a unit
which can provide or co-ordinate assistance.
GMDSS
A global communications service
based upon automated systems,
both satellite-based and terrestrial, to
provide distress alerting and
promulgation of maritime safety
information for mariners.
Inmarsat
A system of geostationary satellites
for world-wide mobile communication
services and support of the GMDSS
and other emergency communication
systems.
MAYDAY
The international radio telephony
distress signal.
NBDP
Automated telegraphy, as used by
the NAVTEX system and telex-over-
radio.
NAVTEX
The system for the broadcast and
automatic reception of maritime
safety information by means of
narrow-band direct-printing
telegraphy.
OSC
A person designated to co- ordinate
SAR operations within a specified
area.
PAN.PAN
The international radiotelephony
urgency signal.
RCC
A unit responsible for promoting
efficient organization of search and
rescue services and for co-ordinating
the conduct of search and rescue
operations within a search and
rescue region.
RSC
A unit subordinate to a rescue co-
ordination centre established to
complement the latter according to
particular provisions of the
responsible authorities.
SafetyNET
A service of Inmarsat EGC system
specifically designed for
promulgation of MSI as a part of the
GMDSS.
SMC
The official temporarily assigned to
co-ordinate response to an actual or
apparent distress situation.
SRR
An area of defined dimensions,
associated with a rescue co-
ordination centre, within which
search and rescue services are
provided.
SRU
A unit composed of trained
personnel and provided with
equipment suitable for the
expeditious conduct of search and
rescue operations.
SART
A survival craft transponder that,
when activated, sends out a signal
automatically when a pulse from a
nearby radar reaches it the 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.