Search and Rescue

The primary purpose of the three volumes of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual is to assist States in meeting their own search and rescue (SAR) needs, and the obligations they accepted under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These volumes provide guidelines for a common aviation and maritime approach to organizing and providing SAR services. States are encouraged to develop and improve their SAR services, co-operate with neighbouring States, and to consider their SAR services to be part of a global SAR system. Each IAMSAR Manual volume is written with specific SAR system duties in mind, and can be used as a stand-alone document, or, in conjunction with the other two Volumes, as a means to attain a full view of the SAR system. The Organization and Management volume (volume I) 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;

The Mission Co-ordination volume (volume II) assists personnel who plan and co-ordinate SAR operations and exercises; and The Mobile Facilities volume (volume III) is intended to be carried aboard rescue units, aircraft, and vessels to help with performance of a search, rescue, or on-scene co-ordinator functions, and with aspects of SAR that pertain to their own emergencies. This Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization. It has been updated from the first edition by including the amendments that were adopted by the seventy-fourth session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee in June 2001(which entered into force on1 July 2002), amendments adopted by the seventy-fifth session in May 2002 (which apply as from 1 July 2003) and amendments adopted by the seventy-seventh session in June 2003 (which apply as from 1 July 2004). 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.