What can I do to help Search & Rescue find me if I go down?

June 12, 2002 Is it… Safe, Smart, Legal? Copyright © Susan Wolber 2002 1

What can I do to help Search & Rescue find me

if I go down?


Agenda• Why airplanes crash

• What you can do

• How Civil Air Patrol searches

• About CAP


Why Airplanes Crash

• > 80% are pilot error– VFR into IMC– Fuel exhaustion– Spatial disorientation and hypoxia– Exceeding aircraft or pilot capabilities: terrain,

weight, get-there-itis

• Mechanical failure is relatively rare


Your Tasks

• Don’t crash • If you crash, survive the crash!

• Get the search started

• Make it easy for us to find you

• Stay with the plane!

• Survive until we find you


Starting the Search• IFR & drop off radar – immediate, sometimes…• MAYDAY – immediate• Squawk 7700 – immediate (trick: back 2, back 3)• “Reported Missing” – immediate• ELT – after 2 satellite passes (2-6 hours) or high-

flyers report or local repeaters *only until 2009*• VFR flight plan – close time + 30 min + ALNOT

(ramp check, ~1 hr)• VFR flight following – not!• No flight plan – whenever reported missing


Narrow the search area

• Flight plan – not “direct” unless at 18,000. Give mountain pass names. List fuel stops. Give Local and Destination Contacts.

• Turn on your transponder• Mayday call – give location• Position Reports• Modify flight plan in the air if you change

route or fuel stops

Clues…


Stay with the plane

• Sit. Hug a tree. SIT. STAY!

• Turn on the ELT

• Use the plane – shelter, tires & fuel for fire, metal for signal mirror…

• Easier to find the plane than you

• Increases your survival chance


Finding You

• Cell phone • Turn on your ELT – leave it on!• Hand-held radio or a/c radios• Visual clues

– Signal mirror– Hunter orange clothes– Un-natural shapes in snow or on ground– Streamers – bright colors, movement– Build a fire – smoke and fire both visible


Survive until we find you• Take a Survival Course!• Always carry a survival kit• Take a First Aid course – medical “golden hour”• Dress for the weather (not shorts in March)• 3 / 3 / 3 Rule – shelter, water, food• Tarps, garbage bags, wool clothes• Fire starter, knife, water• Signal mirror, whistle, hand-held radio• NOT a compass – stay put.


How CAP searches

• CAP works under the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center – AFRCC

• Your Tax $$ - victim is not billed


Mayday, IFR, ELT

• Position known within 5-30 miles

• Concentrate heavily on that area

• 2-3 aircraft, ground teams


Unclosed or No Flight Plan

• Last Known Position (fuel stops!)• Fly route search – direct or over passes?• Radar data?• Weather data, did they get a weather briefing?• Interviews:

– Anyone seen or heard plane

– Flying buddies -- pilot habits

• Grid search for 10-14 days

Clues…


Obligatory Preaching• Check 121.5 after landing – call FSS• 98% false alarms!• Check your ELT and change your batteries• Upgrade to 406 ELT• File a flight plan – better to forget to close it than not have

one• Do position reports (and Pireps )• Mountain flying training to predict downdrafts• Within weight & balance • Within your limits (IMSAFE, ACES)• Join CAP


What is CAP?

• Volunteer Auxiliary of the US Air Force

• Search for Missing Aircraft, and others on request

• Aerospace Education

• Cadet Program

• Need Dedicated People

• Best Kept Secret


Ask Yourself on Every Flight

If I crash:

• Would anyone know where to look for me?

• Do I have on-board what it takes to survive and get found?

Documents

What can I do to help Search & Rescue find me if I go down?