How to get Found by the Civil Air Patrol Capt John Seten SD Wing DO, CAP.
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Transcript of How to get Found by the Civil Air Patrol Capt John Seten SD Wing DO, CAP.
How to get FoundHow to get Foundby the Civil Air Patrolby the Civil Air Patrol
Capt John SetenCapt John Seten
SD Wing DO, CAPSD Wing DO, CAP
OutlineOutline
What is the Civil Air Patrol (CAP)What is the CAP SAR missionHow is the federal emergency management
of SAR organized
Outline cont’dOutline cont’d
How is CAP activated (and what can be done to make it happen as quickly as possible)
What you can do to help CAP find you, focusing on proper use of your Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) and visual signals.
Case studies of aircraft lost and found
ObjectivesObjectives
By the end of the presentation you will know: What the CAP is and how they began Why they perform nearly all inland SAR missions in the US How the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center works with federal, state, and local agencies to coordinate SAR in the US
Objectives cont’dObjectives cont’d
How to get CAP activated as quickly as possible What to expect when the CAP comes looking for
you How the COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system works How to use your ELT, EPIRB, or PLB effectively
to help the CAP find you How to use visual signals and targets to help the
CAP find you How to learn more about the CAP capabilities in
your own operating area
What is the CAP?What is the CAP?
United States Air Force AuxiliaryCongressionally Chartered Corporation65,000 Civilian Volunteers
– 35,000 Seniors (adults)– 30,000 Cadets– 52 Wings– 550 Corporate, 4500 Member Aircraft
CAP MissionsCAP Missions
Aerospace EducationCadet ProgramEmergency Services
– Search and Rescue– Disaster Relief– Emergency Communications
Homeland Security
CAP Peacetime CAP Peacetime MissionsMissions
Search and Rescue (SAR)– CAP conducts 95% of USAF searches
Peacetime disaster relief as a component of FEMA Urban Search and Rescue program– Damage Assessment, Communications,
Transportation US Customs, DEA, US Forest Service and
others
How do the Feds manage How do the Feds manage SAR?SAR?
Air Force tasked by Congress to perform all Federal Inland Search and Rescue
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) is central clearinghouse for all SAR in North America
AFRCC coordinates over 1000 missions per year
CAP performs 95% of AF missions
How is CAP activated?How is CAP activated?
AFRCC notified by FAA, SARSAT, or other agencies
Once verified as an actual distress situation, AFRCC activates the appropriate search agencies, which may include the CAP, Coast Guard, or other federal, state, or local agencies.
All missions must go through AFRCC
How can you speed it up?How can you speed it up?
In the event of an overdue aircraft, your dispatch center should contact the AFRCC directly as part of its Post Incident Action Plan (PAIP).
AFRCC 1-800-851-3051 Give them the last known position and time,
aircraft type and color, and souls and fuel on board.
Your aircraft is down. What Your aircraft is down. What can you expect to happen?can you expect to happen?
Survival RatesSurvival Rates
Of the 29% who survive a crash, 60% will be injured:– 81% will die if not located within 24 hours– 94% will die if not located within 48 hours
Of those 40% uninjured in the crash:– 50% will die if not located within 72 hours– Survival chances diminish rapidly after 72
hours
Response TimesResponse Times Average time from the aircraft being reported
missing to AFRCC notification:– 15.6 hours if no flight plan was filed– 3.9 hours if a VFR flight plan was filed– 1.1 hours if an IFR flight plan was filed
Average time from the aircraft being reported missing (LKP) to CAP locating and recovering:– 62.6 hours if no flight plan was filed– 18.2 hours if a VFR flight plan was filed– 11.5 hours if an IFR flight plan was filed
How Can You Help UsHow Can You Help UsTo Help You?To Help You?
Preparation– PAIP: Notify AFRCC immediately– Equipment:
Clothing ELT, Handheld Radios, Signaling, Survival
– Training Know how to use everything you carry PRACTICE using it regularly
– Crash Survive! Think BIG, VISIBLE, ELT
Preparation Preparation
Carry a survival kit in the aircraft and be sure all crew members know what is in the kit and how to use it. Inspect contents periodically
Rhoda’s Rule states, “If you cannot walk from the end of the runway to the terminal without getting cold then you are not dressed properly!”
Consider the weather over the worst conditions you are flying over
Carry your cell phone (fully charged)
SurvivalSurvival
The purpose of this section is to introduce you to the fundamentals of aircrew survival.
It is not to teach you how to build a shelter out of parachutes and garbage bags.
Your Attitude!Your Attitude!
Having a positive mental attitude is Having a positive mental attitude is often the difference between life and often the difference between life and
death in a survival situation. Be death in a survival situation. Be mentally prepared to survive in the mentally prepared to survive in the
wilderness for the rest of your life, or wilderness for the rest of your life, or it might be the rest of your life!it might be the rest of your life!
Survival EquipmentSurvival Equipment
Signaling equipment is critical Some of the signals you might use include…
– ELT – the most important item you have– Signal Mirrors (best method when the sun is out)– Flares– Tarps– Compact Disks (akin to the signal mirror)– Strobes, Laser Flares– Smoke or other man-made signals– Fire-starting materials– PUT A WHISTLE IN YOUR POCKET!
Survival EquipmentSurvival Equipment
Ensure all crewmembers know the location and operation of the ELT
If possible, have a small survival manual in your equipment kit with suggestions on food gathering, shelter construction, and other survival techniques
Survival EquipmentSurvival Equipment
If you make your own signal, use the “CLASS” acronym:– Color - Make it unusually colored– Location - Put it where it can be seen; best
is high and open– Angles - Because they do not occur in
nature– Size - Make them visible from the air– Shape - Make them an eye-catching shape
Survival Equipment Survival Equipment
Water may be the most important resource - If in desert areas staying still during the heat of the day and working when it is cooler conserves water
Carry water or have purification tablets Have a container for water and consider a
metal cup for boiling (purification)
Survival EquipmentSurvival Equipment
You can also include…– A good knife– Fire starters and matches– A space blanket– Rations– Anything else that would make you stay
more comfortable
TrainingTraining
Make sure all crew members know how to use everything they have, especially the ELT
Practice signaling your OWN aircraft using what you carry on board!
Emergency EgressEmergency Egress
Prior preparation is important. Follow the checklist to prop open doors, tighten seat and shoulder belts, secure cargo, and turn off the electricity and fuel.
If doors jam, kick them open or kick out the windows.
If you can’t move from the front seats to the rear, agree on who does what and in what sequence.
Discuss what to do if one or more of the crew is incapacitated.
Post-Crash ActionsPost-Crash Actions
Get clear of the aircraft if there is any danger of fire or having it fall on you.
Check everyone for injuries and apply first aid.Try your cell phone or radio. Activate the ELT.Make yourself BIG and VISIBLE.Stay with the aircraft if in a remote area - we can
find an aircraft but it’s easy to miss a survivor.Finally, consider water, shelter and food (listed in
order of importance -- you can go for days without food).
Remember...Remember...
A little planning and a few pieces of equipment could be the difference between life and death! Prepare for the area and conditions you will operating in and update your survival kit seasonally. Finally, remember your most important tool is your WILL TO SURVIVE!
How does CAP Search?How does CAP Search?
Electronic: Tracking your ELT– Fast: once we are receiving your signal, we can usually
locate you to within 100 meters in less than 20 minutes– Can be performed in IMC and at night
Visual– Slow– Difficult– VFR only
How does CAP Search?How does CAP Search?
Airborne– Three-person air crews perform electronic and visual
search Ground Teams
– Four-person Teams perform electronic and visual search
– Work in all weather– Manpower intensive, need to localize search area to be
successful– Work as a Team with the air crews
©2000 Scott E. Lanis 31
Objective: The Elusive ELTObjective: The Elusive ELT Automatic radio beacon (100 milliwatts)
– Roughly equal to that of a regular flashlight
Can be heard on a line-of-sight basis.
Wave Sound
Activated by g-force (when armed)– Some can be activated by a switch in the cockpit
Three frequencies:– 121.5 MHz (VHF emergency)– 243 MHz (UHF emergency – military guard)– 406.025 MHz (third generation advanced ELT/EPIRB/PLB)
General types:– General aviation aircraft– Personal (PLBs)– Marine EPIRB– Advanced (406)
The ELTThe ELT
Aircraft ELT OperationAircraft ELT Operation
3 Switch positions– ON– ARM / STANDBY– OFF
G-switch will activate (Generally 9G)ELT will activate upon impact if armedMay be manually operated by placing the
switch in in the ‘ON’ position
Best Use of ELTBest Use of ELT
Turn switch to Manual ON positionALWAYS LEAVE THE ELT ON!Place outside of the aircraftAll ELT’s should have a separate portable
antenna attached for use outside the aircraftAntenna should be vertical and extendedPlace on conducting surface if possible
Can You Test An ELT?Can You Test An ELT?
YES! There are restrictions, however:– First 5 minutes of the hour, no more than 3
sweeps
Battery must be replaced after:– One cumulative hour of use or– 50% of useful life has expired– FAR §91.207(c)
Inadvertent Activation Inadvertent Activation of an ELT of an ELT
May Occur From:May Occur From:– Excessively hard landing– Inadvertent change of switch position– Removal of the unit from the aircraft
inadvertent activation of the manual switch or G-switch– dropping the unit can activate the G-switch
– Malfunction switch short battery leakage
Who is listening?Who is listening?
– SARSAT/COSPAS (406 Only)– FAA Facilities
FSS, Centers, Towers
– Airliners Only if pilot chooses
– Military Aircraft Monitoring 243.0 Required
– General Aviation Aircraft That’s us! Help the system work: Monitor 121.5 MHz!
– Signal report is relayed to AFRCC
Beacon Type ComparisonsBeacon Type Comparisons
121.5/243.0 MHZ Beacons1Local satellite coverage Signal Power - O.1 Watt Signal Type - Analog Alert Time - 2 Hours Satellite Doppler Location - 2
passes Location Accuracy - 12-15 nm Search Area - 500 sq nm GPS Capability - N/A Actual Beacon % - 20 to 30% Actual Distress % - 2% Unique Beacon ID - NO
406 MHZ BeaconsGlobal satellite coverage• 5 Watts• Digital encoded• Nearly Instantaneous• 1 pass• 1-3 nm• 25 sq nm• 300-foot accuracy• 100% • 8%• YES
Limitations of 121.5 / 243 MHz Limitations of 121.5 / 243 MHz Beacons…Beacons………Poorer AccuracyPoorer Accuracy
121.5 MHz406 MHz
406 MHz with GPS
Search Time = 12+ hours
Search Time = 2 - 3 hours
Search Time = Minimal
Narrowing The Search Narrowing The Search
LATITUDE
DISTANCE
LOCATION? First pass: Ambiguity
– Latitude and Distance is Determined
– Target could be on either orange dot
– We can’t know which! (yet)
LATITUDE
DISTANCE
LOCATION!
Eliminating Ambiguity: The Eliminating Ambiguity: The Second PassSecond Pass
Is the ELT on the Left or Right side?– The Second Pass Determines
It’s Where the circles coincide! (orange dot) Ambiguity resolved
– AVERAGE 30-45 minute wait (sometimes much longer)– 5-12 Nautical Mile Average Error (sometimes larger)
Accuracy of SARSATAccuracy of SARSAT
For A Regular 121.5 Beacon:– Said to be a 12 NM radius– Actually an ellipse– 50% Probability in this ellipse:
15 NM Wide (East to West) 7 NM High (North-South)
– The system is more accurate North to South because Doppler is better for figuring exactly when the satellite is directly overhead (the latitude) than in figuring the distance away (the longitude)
50% Possibility Area
System Accuracy for Different System Accuracy for Different ELT TypesELT Types
406: 2 NM
406 w/GPS: 0.05 NM
121.5: 12 NM– 121.5 MHz ELT 12 NM Radius, 452 Sq Mi Average 6 Hour Notification 75 Milliwatt Transmitter
– 406 MHz ELT 2 NM Radius, 12.5 Sq Mi Average 1 Hour Notification 25 Milliwatt 121.5 Beacon
– 406 ELT with GPS 0.05 NM Radius, 0.008 Sq Mi Average 5 minute Notification 25 Milliwatt 121.5 Beacon
Size equals visibilityContrast is important
– Body signals– Paulin signals
Ground-to-Air SignalsGround-to-Air Signals
Think BIG!
Think BIG and VISIBLEThink BIG and VISIBLE
Smoky fire is best – we investigate all fires Don’t wait to light the fire until you hear the
search aircraft; it’s too late Flares punch out of the forest canopy but are
momentary PLAN TO BE SEEN BY THE FIRST
AIRCRAFT THAT YOU HEAR It will be several hours before you hear another!
Open TerrainOpen Terrain
Includes bogs, fields, swamps, waterSignal Mirrors
– Need point source of light– Requires practice to use
Rescue Laser– Works best at night– Requires practice to use
Open TerrainOpen Terrain
Fabric Panels– Fluorescent Orange or Lime– Can be made from old GI parachutes
Dye Markers– Work in snow, open water, or swamps
Ashes from your fire excellent on snowDon’t use a yellow “X”
Common PitfallsCommon Pitfalls
A common misconception of downed air crews is that a circling aircraft has the crash in sight 100% of the time.
In wooded areas the aircraft can see the crash for only a few seconds during each orbit. It is important that the downed air crew realizes the aircraft’s limitations.
Sighting DistanceSighting DistanceAverage VisibilityAverage Visibility
Object Distance
Person in life jacket (open water or moderate seas) 1/2 mile
Person in small life raft (open water or moderate seas) 3/4 mile
Person in open meadow within wooded area 1/2 mile or less
Crash in wooded area 1/2 mile
Crash on desert or open plain 2 miles
Person on desert or open plain 1 mile or less
Vehicle in open area 2 miles or less
Mt. Kearsarge, NH 7/5/04Mt. Kearsarge, NH 7/5/04
1505: Lake Buccaneer impacts mountain 1530: Injured pilot calls 911 on cell phone. States
location unknown, but was able to give origin and intended destination.
1531: 911 notifies local FD 1540: 911 notifies AFRCC 1545: AFRCC notifies NH CAP IC 1548: CAP IC notifies CAP aircrew 1600: Aircrew is airborne enroute
Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04
1605: CAP IC notifies Ground Team Leader (GTL)
1607: GTL initiates calldown1610: GTL enroute to local staging area1630: CAP AC, on IMC route search, starts
to receive ELT signal1640: GT assembled and enroute to scene
staging area, established by local FD
Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04
1700: CAP AC, in IMC conditions, determines location of ELT source, relays direct to GTL, maintains communication orbit over scene.
1730: GT arrives scene staging area 1740: GT heads into the woods. Conditions: 100ft
visibility in thick fog, light drizzle. GT navigates using handheld GPS to coordinates reported by AC. Conditions steep granite, scrub spruce.
Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04
1845: GT begins to hear whistle of downed pilot. 1851: Local SP and GT locate downed aircraft.
Determines one patient critical, one deceased. Relays message to staging area via orbiting comm link requesting needed supplies and assistance. GT stays to render medical assistance while PD heads out to establish access trail. ELT is secured.
Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04Mt. Kearsarge 7/5/04
1950: Local FD, Fast Squad, and NHSP members arrive with Stokes litter. Trail cutting team sets to work while CAP GT extricates and packages patient. CAP AC heads home.
2010: Carryout begins. Some team members stay to secure crash site.
2115: Carryout Team and Patient arrives staging area. Patient transported by ground ambulance to trauma center.