SAR/DR Mission Aircrew Refresher SER FL051, Charlotte County Composite Squadron, Civil Air Patrol

Part 1 of 3

Class Outline CAP Reference Material

Mission Aircrew Responsibilities

Primary Missions

1) Electronic Search

2) Visual Search

3) Aerial Photographer Imagery Mission Patterns

Using the GPS

GNS 400W Series GPS

G-1000 (Coupled with KAP140 Autopilot or Integrated GFC700 Flight Management System)

GTN 650 WAAS Touchscreen

Handheld GPS programs on I Pad; ForeFlight/GPS Pilot/Wing X

Typical Mission Responsibilities in a SAREX

CAP Reference Material FL051 Charlotte County

Website: fl051.flwg.us

CAP Reference Material NESA Mission Aircrew

http://nesa.cap.gov/download-curriculum-materials/

CAP Reference Material NESA Mission Aircrew School

http://nesa.cap.gov/mas-curriculum-2

CAP Aircrew Responsibilities Mission Pilot Responsibilities

Aircraft Flight and Ground Safety

Aircraft Navigational Safety

Precision of Flight Path for Mission (Airspeed, Altitude & Location)

Mission Observer Responsibilities

Mission Planning

Mission Navigation Support to Pilot

Mission Logging Support to Aerial Photographer

CAP Communications

Visual Observation

Overall Mission Accomplishment

Aerial Photographer Responsibilities

Camera Equipment Preparations

Customer Requirements

Navigational Directions in the Imagery Area

Normal Mission Crew

3 Members

MP, MO, MS or AP

“Abnormal” Crew

2 Members

MP & MO or AP

Who is “In Charge”

For Aircraft and Aircrew Safety Mission Pilot (MP) “PIC”

For CAP Mission Accomplishment (Mission Briefing, Correct

Targets, Navigation, Proper Documentation, Mission Debrief) Mission

Observer (MO)

For Quality of Search or AP Mission (Correct Targets, Sufficient

Target Coverage, Acceptable Imagery Quality, etc) Mission Scanner

(MS)/Aerial Photographer (AP)

Audio Panel Tactical Radio

Audio Panel Tactical Radio

Contains two independent receivers

– Main

Has many CAP channels and most USCG marine channels

Has it’s own volume control

– Guard

The guard receiver has two CAP channels

Has it’s own volume control

Contains one transmitter

– Can transmit on either the Main channel or the Guard channel

CAP Tactical Radio TDFM 136

The Tactical Radio

TDFM 136 CAP Radio You Tube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jo195qvbRAM&index=2&list=PLG6esggQDDa1CTEAr5x2zmplbShSCV_ZN

Technisonic TDFM-136 Radio

MAIN CHAN UP OOOPS! CHAN

DOWN GUARD1/2 HIGH PWR

MAIN Display Line GUARD Display Line

DIM

BRIGHT Rx/Tx

CAP Mission Frequencies

CAP Mission Frequencies

Esca

mb

ia

San

ta R

osa

Walton

Oka

lo

osa

Washington Ba

y

Holmes

Jackson

Liberty

Leon

Franklin

Wakulla

Gadsden

Gulf

Madison

Taylor

Hamilton

Dixie

Co

lum

bia

Gilchrist Levy

Nassau Du

val Baker

Clay

Bra

dfo

rd

Alachua

Marion

Pasco

St.

Joh

ns

Putnam

Volusia B

revard

Hernando

Citrus

Pin

ella

s

Polk

Su mt

er

DeSoto

Lee Coll

ier

Hardee

Hendry

Highlands

Indian River

Palm Beach

Martin

Broward Miami-Dade

Monroe

Glades

Manatee

St. Lucie

GROUP ONE (6)

GROUP TWO (6)

GROUP THREE (4)

GROUP FIVE (4)

GROUP SIX (3)

GROUP SEVEN (3)

Charlotte

Seminole

Lake

Osceola

Orange

Tampa

RP-2919

R32

Pensacola

RP-2917

R46

Crestview

RP-2902

R33

Jacksonville**

RP-2907 –

R09

Mariana

RP2916

R62

Ocala

RP-2914

R01

Gainesville

RP-2906

R50

Daytona Beach

RP-2903

R56

Orlando

RP-2915

R25

Lake Placid

RP-2910

R18

Live Oak

RP-2911

R12

Tallahassee

RP 2918

R39

Dauphine AL

RP-???

???

K.S.C.

RP-2908

R58

CIVIL AIR PATROL

FLORIDA WING

Repeaters & Groups

Martin Ft Myers

RP-2901

R44

Marco Island

RP- 2904

R31

Ft Pierce

RP-2920

R50

WPB

RP-2921

R21

Miami

RP-2913

R13

Oakland Pk

RP-2905

Marathon

RP-2912

R14

Key West

RP-2909**

*PROPOSED SITES

FOUO

FOUO

CAP Mission Frequencies

CAP Mission Frequencies

P= Digital

CAP Airborne Repeaters

• Aircraft must be Equipped with compatible Power and external

Antenna.

• Aircraft will usually fly “Race Track” Pattern at High Altitude

(6000’ or above) Depending on Coverage Required.

• Two Airborne Repeaters in Florida Wing.

CAP Mission Communications Initial Radio Check on the Ground

Report of Takeoff Time (Wheels UP)

Operations Normal (Ops Normal) at Designated times

on the Clock

In Search Sector (Photo Area) / Commencing Search

Out of Search Sector (Photo Area) / Completed Search

Request Further Instructions

Returning to Base

Report of Landing Time (Wheels Down)

Primary Mission – Electronic Search

Aircraft ELTs (Electronic Locator Transmitters)

Marine – EPIRB Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon

• Activated by g-force (when armed) – Some can be activated by the pilot in the cockpit

• Three frequencies: – 121.5 MHz (VHF emergency)

– 243 MHz (UHF emergency – military guard)

– 406 MHz (third generation advanced ELT/EPIRB/PLB)

• General types: – General aviation aircraft

– Military (“beepers” or “beacons”)

– Marine EPIRB

– Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs)

– Advanced (406 MHz)

– Test station (training practice beacon)

Practice Beacon Frequency 121.775

The ELT

©2000 Scott E. Lanis 26

NO SIGNAL

SIGNAL HEARD!

NO SIGNAL ELT

Beginning The Search: Altitude Selection

• Higher altitudes allow for reception of the ELT signal at greater distances • ELTs transmit on 121.5 MHz and 243.0 MHz, both of which limit

reception to “line of sight” • Terrain will block ELT signals • HIGHER is therefore usually BETTER to acquire a signal • Medium altitude is generally better for searching (after signal heard)

– 3,000 to 5,000 AGL

Aircraft Radio Dialed to 121.5 (or practice 121.775) Squelch OFF

Finding 121.5 Signal using the Aircraft Radio

• Aircraft UHF Radio (Comm 1 or Comm 2) is usually much more

Sensitive than Becker or L-Tronics Receiver from a Distance.

•Altitude is your Friend!

SIGNAL

ELT

NULL

NULL

NULL

Wing Shadowing:

Signal Blocking For Antennas Above the Wings

Primary Mission – Electronic Search

L-Tronics DF

Normal Flight : Alarm toggle in ‘up’ position Red Light will illuminate when Frequency is detected Direction Finding: toggle is ‘down’ for DF to work

Becker SAR-DF 517 • Completely different theory of

operation from L-Tronics DF

– Pseudo Doppler Shift

– The advanced ELT course has an explanation

• Easy to use

• Displays a delayed average heading to the beacon

• Can be used on 121.5, 243.0, or on 406.025 MHz

• Some Newer Models able to process newest ELTs, EPIRBs, & PLBs (Sort of!!)

CAP Airborne Direction Finder Modernization Efforts: CAP’s National Headquarters is currently modernizing its fleet of Becker SAR-DF 517 equipped aircraft with the RHOTHETA RT-600 airborne DF. New aircraft are being acquired with the RT-600. Based on available funding, the RT-600 may be used to replace unrepairable SAR-DF 517 units. Some SAR-DF 517 units are getting newer Software The DF-600 uses state of the market technology to simultaneously monitor all 406 MHz Distress Beacon channels.

Notes on 406 Transmitters

Becker – NEW OR OLD Version??

Old Version On Power-up Choose between Training & Emergency

New Version On Power-up No Choice

Becker Operations

• Power

• Mode

• Page

• Tune

• Squelch

• DF

• Locate

Power

• POWER Press the ON/OFF button—unit should power up and illuminate

• Be prepared to execute the next steps…

• If you’re not fast enough, you may need to recycle power (turn it off and back on)

Mode • MODE Using the PAGE knob (upper

right knob), select: • EMERGENCY for an actual SAR or • TRAINING for a training mission • This setting can only be changed on

power up • Recycle power to change the Mode • After setting EMERGENCY or TRAINING,

just WAIT until the unit automatically goes to the next page

• The “wait time” is about 15 seconds • Don’t push any buttons or turn any

knobs during this period

Page

• Use the PAGE knob to cycle to desired page

• Page 1 is most like an ADF

• Page 2 is good for forward quarter only

• Page 3 is most easily read by the entire crew, but only in relative bearing

Tune • The lower-right +/- knob changes

the frequency • You want 121,500 for an actual SAR

or 121,775 for training • You can alternately use 243,000 or

243,550 respectively • You will only be able to select

training frequencies while in the training mode

• Similarly, you can only select actual SAR frequencies in the emergency mode

• 156,800 is for Marine Band Channel 16 EPIRBs

• Notice the commas: the Becker is made in Europe; the commas replace a decimal point

Squelch • Adjust the squelch knob on the

upper left of the unit • The squelch knob may be

marked SQL or DIM (depending when your Becker was made)

• Adjust the small triangle arrow until it is pointing barely above the solid bar

• The solid bar represents static or ambient noise, but you will want to listen and make sure that the “static” is not actually a signal

• When trying to acquire a signal, you may want the squelch all the way down

• You may also want to do this to make sure you can hear audio from the Becker

• Turn the lower left knob to adjust the volume to a comfortable listening level

Squelch Knob

Squelch Setting Triangle

Ambient Noise Level

DF (Direction Find) • Follow the relative bearings to the ELT • Use homing procedures like an ADF • Correct for strong winds, if known • Remember that these are RELATIVE bearings with the nose of

the aircraft being 360°/ 000° !!! • If you are showing a >006> that means turn right 6° • If the unit shows <354<, then turn LEFT 6°

Becker Direction Finding Notes

• The clear marbles indicate when the Becker first and last receives the ELT signal in its circle

• Watching the clear marbles will give you an indication of how coherent your DF solution is

– The marbles will always jump around; if they jump around a LOT you don’t have a good DF

– You can test this by seeing what your indications are when you reduce the squelch enough to “DF” static

– The clear marbles will jump all over the place

– Static can sometimes look like a carrier-only signal

• The dark marble should be fairly stable on an actual signal because of signal-averaging software

>020>

DARK MARBLE

CLEAR MARBLES

Locate

• After flying over the ELT, you should get a “station passage” indication

• Turn around and re-DF to locate the target

• This is similar to locating with the L-Tronics DF

• If you keep the signal at 090 or 270, you can fly a “turn around a point” using the DF

• If the target isn’t visually significant, this will give your Scanner(s) the opportunity to put eyes on the target

Becker Thoughts • Look to the “dark marble” to indicate the relative direction of

the signal; this acts as an ADF-type pointer

• If you do not have an operable training beacon to practice with, pick an AWOS, ASOS, or other continuously-transmitting source that is within the training frequency range. If you tune it in (see the manual, training mode only) you can DF it. A caution with this method, however, is that an AWOS transmits at least 250 times the power level of an ELT. This makes DFing an AWOS much easier than an ELT

• Be careful with the unit as it costs roughly $10,000. MAKE SURE THE UNIT IS OFF DURING ENGINE START/SHUTDOWN. Some installations have the DF independent of the avionics master and the unit is sensitive to surges from start/shutdown.

• The complete user manual is available at http://www.beckerusa.com

43

After Locating The ELT

• After location, coordinate with ground teams to bring them on-scene

• Use radio communication and relay GPS coordinates

• Pick up the ground team at a predetermined location and lead them to the target

• Alternately, coordinate a new pick up point on the radio

• Practice your air-to-ground coordination skills often

– try it both with and without radio communication

• Air-to-ground is CAP’s best unique ES skill!

Becker SAR-DF 517

Becker SAR DF-517.wmv