Flying the SAR MissionFlying the SAR Mission

LTC Edmund H. Smith, Jr.CAPFL051

SAR Chain of CommandSAR Chain of Command

RCC

SMC

OSC

SAR Participants

Inform, dispatch andStart operation

Direct and control mission

Control operations on thescene

Carry out the mission

1-prepare plan and distribute2-establish communications3-appoint a SAR missionCoordinator (SMC)

Report findings to theSAR mission coordinator

Duties Responsibilities

Defining Where to LookDefining Where to Look

Track lineGeographical points, directions, distancesCenter pointCorner points

– Search Grid

Search Pattern DefinitionsSearch Pattern Definitions

CSP = Commence Search PointS = track spacingW = sweep widthCross LegMajor Axis Minor AxisGrid

corner point

CSP

major axis 060 degrees true 44-33 N

072-20 W

center point

cross leg

search leg

D = 18 miles

S= 2 miles

corner point

corner pointcorner point

150 T

minor axis

direction of drift and search

S = track spacing

20 nm

12 nm

d

Aircraft Turn RadiusAircraft Turn Radius

At 90 knots, d = 0.5 nm

At 100 knots, d = 0.55 nm

for a standard rate turn

Search PatternsSearch Patterns

TSR = Track Line ReturnCS = Creeping Line PS = Parallel TrackSQ = Expanding SquareVS = Sector Search0 = Contour Search

Track Line Return (TSR)Track Line Return (TSR)CSP

½ track spacing

Longitude and latitude areprovided for these points

Creeping Line (CS)Creeping Line (CS)

CSPCenter point

Corner point Leg Track spacing

Majoraxis

Expanding SquareExpanding Square

CSP

11

2

2

3

3

4

4

5

5

Initialheading

Sector Search (VS)Sector Search (VS)

Datum CSP

1

c

2

c

3

c

Initial headingAll turns 120 degreesto the right

Sector Search TurnsSector Search Turns

At 100 Knots

Leg Time

1 1 min 12 sec2 36 seconds3 2 min 24 seconds

2

Turn radius = 0.55 nmfor standard rate turnat 100 knots

2

3

1

At 100 knots it takes 36 seconds to travel 1 nautical mile

It takes 40 seconds to turn 120 degrees in a standard rate turn

Find the Gooney Bird !Find the Gooney Bird !

26 degrees 59.9 minutes North Latitude

081 degrees 34.1 minutes West Longitude

It is in old grid square 102

It is in standardized grid square 26/81 ABB

Old Grid Old Grid Square Square

Grid Square 101

Square is 15 minutesof longitude by 15 minutes of Latitude

15.0 nautical miles

13.4 nautical miles

Standardized Lat/Long Grid SystemStandardized Lat/Long Grid System

This system does not require special numbering

Lat-long of lower right corner defines the grid

Letters are used to define sub-grids

103-00 W

103-00 W

102-00 W

102-00 W

36-00 N

37-00 N

A B

CB

C D

36/102 AA

36-30 N102-45 W

102-30 W

A B

C D

36/102 ADB

Find the Gooney Bird !Find the Gooney Bird !

26 degrees 59.9 minutes North Latitude

081 degrees 34.1 minutes West Longitude

It is in old grid square 102

It is in standardized grid square 26/81 ABB

Grid Grid Search Search

Worksheet Worksheet ExampleExampleno aircraft searching

adjacent grids

Expanding Expanding Square Square search search

worksheet worksheet exampleexample

Using the Lat/Long Function of Using the Lat/Long Function of the GPSthe GPS

Push the NAV button

Rotate the large knob untilyour position appears

Learning to Interpret the GPSLearning to Interpret the GPS

Tracking a meridian of longitude– Flying true north or south

A number greater that the desired longitude means you are west of track

A number less that the desired longitude means you are east of track

Learning to Interpret the GPSLearning to Interpret the GPS

Tracking a parallel of latitude– Flying true east or west

A number greater that the desired latitude means you are north of track

A number less that the desired latitude means you are south of track

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Desired track 081 degrees 45.0 minutes west longitude– You are headed north

GPS reads 081 45.3 GPS reads 081 45.8 GPS reads 081 45.0 GPS reads 081 43.2

– You are headed south GPS reads 081 45.3 GPS reads 081 45.0 GPS reads 081 45.8 GPS reads 081 43.2

Do you turn left or right?

Do you turn left or right?

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Desired track 26 degrees 46.0 minutes north latitude– You are headed west

GPS reads 26 46.3 GPS reads 26 45.3 GPS reads 26 45.1 GPS reads 26 46.0

– You are headed east GPS reads 26 46.3 GPS reads 26 45.3 GPS reads 26 45.0 GPS reads 26 46.1

Do you turn left or right?

Do you turn left or right?

Some ExamplesSome Examples

You are headed north along the 081 degree 45.0 meridian. You need to make a turn to the west so that you stay at least 0.5 nm from the 27 degree 0.0 minute grid square boundary. Your ground speed in 90 knots.

– You begin your turn at? 27 degrees 1.0 minutes north 26 degrees 59.5 minutes north 26 degrees 59.0 minutes north

An Actual Flight An Actual Flight

Cessna 172IAS=90 KnotsWinds east at 5 knots1000 feet AGL4 degrees W variation

SummarySummary

Search Pattern TypesSearch Pattern DefinitionsTurn RadiusGrid SquareWorksheetUsing latitude and longitude from GPS for

navigation

PracticePracticePracticePracticePracticePractice