ICAO 9731 VOL II PDF

Foreword

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, cooperate 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 standalone document, or, in conjunction with the other two volumes, as a means to attain a full view of the SAR system. Depending on the duties assigned, it may be necessary to hold only one, or two or all three volumes.

The Organization and Management volume (volume I) discusses the global SAR system concept, establishment and improvement of national and regional SAR systems, and cooperation with neighbouring States to provide effective and economical SAR services;

The Mission Coordination volume (volume II) assists personnel who plan and coordinate 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 coordinator functions, and with aspects of SAR that pertain to their own emergencies.

Mission Coordination

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 coordination centres (RCCs), operational and support facilities and the on-scene coordinator (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 coordination, 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 provides guidance for the management and conduct of multiple aircraft SAR operations.

Chapter 8 contains guidance for emergency assistance other than SAR in which the SAR system may become involved.

Chapter 9 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.

An extensive set of appendices is provided. These contain useful information, forms, checklists, step-by-step procedures, worksheets, and tables and graphs appropriate for daily use by RCC staff.

This Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This edition of the Manual includes amendments adopted by the following MSC circulars:

A new edition is published every three years. The 2019 edition includes the 2018 amendments (adopted by ICAO and approved by IMO’s Maritime Safety Committee at its ninety-ninth session in May 2018 by means of MSC.1/Circ.1594), which became applicable on 1 July 2019. The amendments were prepared by the ICAO/IMO Joint Working Group on Harmonization of Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue and were endorsed by the IMO Sub-Committee on Navigation, Communications and Search and Rescue (NCSR) at its fifth session in February 2018.

The IAMSAR Manual is subject to copyright protection under ICAO and IMO. However, limited reproduction of forms, checklists, tables, graphs and similar content is allowed for operational use or training purposes.