Search and Rescue

On an End-of-Lesson Test, and in accordance with FAA Orders 7110.10 and 7110.65 and the
AIM, you will identify the:

1. Purpose of the National Search and Rescue Plan.

2. Roles, responsibilities, and procedures of search and rescue.

Purpose
The National Search and Rescue Plan is an interagency agreement which provides for the
effective use of all available facilities in all types of search and rescue missions.

Search and Rescue (SAR) associated with aviation is a service which seeks overdue,
unreported, or missing aircraft and assists those found to be in need of assistance.

It is a cooperative effort using the facilities and services of available Federal, State, and
local agencies.
A search and rescue facility is responsible for maintaining and operating a search and rescue
service to render aid to persons and property in distress.

It is any search and rescue unit, station, net, or other operational activity which can be
usefully employed during the SAR mission.
RESPONSE ITEM

A provision for the effective utilization of all available facilities for search and
rescue missions is called a

A. Search and Rescue Facility.

B. National Search and Rescue Plan.
C. Rescue Coordination Center.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

Under the National Search and Rescue Plan, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA):
Provides emergency service(s) to aircraft in distress.
Ensures that search and rescue procedures are initiated if an aircraft is overdue or
unreported.
Attempts to locate aircraft through communications search via the:
ATC system for IFR aircraft
Flight plan program for VFR aircraft

FAA FACILITY SAR RESPONSIBLITY

 TYPE OF FLIGHT PLAN FACILITY
VFR FSS/AFSS
NO FLIGHT PLAN FILED
VFR PORTION OF
COMPOSITE FLIGHT PLAN
IFR ARTCC
SPECIAL VFR
IFR PORTION OF
COMPOSITE FLIGHT PLAN

Flight Service Stations (FSSs)/Automated Flight Service Stations (AFSSs) initiate search
and rescue procedures for overdue or missing aircraft:
On a VFR flight plan
Where no flight plan has been filed
On VFR portion of composite VFR/IFR flight plan
ARTCC Responsibility
The Air Route Traffic Control Center (ARTCC) initiates search and rescue procedures for
aircraft that are overdue or missing:
On an IFR flight plan.
On a composite VFR/IFR flight plan and 30 minutes have passed since the pilot
requested IFR clearance, and neither communication nor radar contact can be
established.
On a Special VFR clearance.
When an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal is received or reported.

Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) is a search and rescue facility equipped and
manned to coordinate and conduct SAR operations in an area designated by the National
Search and Rescue Plan.

Military Responsibility
The military coordinates and conducts physical search and rescue operations through
Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC). Air Force - Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB)
Responsible for search and rescue coordination for the inland region within the
contiguous states.
(NOTE: All U.S., except Alaska & Hawaii. )
Usually uses civilian resources to conduct physical search, such as Civil Air Patrol
and state agencies.
Coast Guard (USCG)
Using various bases around the country, is responsible for coordination and
conducting search and rescue for the maritime region.
Alaska Air Command Rescue Coordination Center located at Elmendorf AFB is
responsible for Alaska.

Hawaii Joint Rescue Coordination Center located in Honolulu is responsible for Hawaii.

RESPONSE ITEM

Which facility has initial search and rescue responsibility for aircraft on a
VFR flight plan?
A. ARTCC
B. RCC
C. FSS

RESPONSE ITEM

Which facility has search and rescue responsibility for aircraft on a Special
VFR clearance?

A. ARTCC
B. RCC
C. FSS

RESPONSE ITEM

Which air force base is responsible for search and rescue coordination for
the inland region of the conterminous states?

A. Elmendorf AFB
B. Scott AFB
C. Tyndall AFB

RESPONSE ITEM

Which facility is equipped and manned to coordinate and conduct search

and rescue operations in an area designated by the National Search and
Rescue Plan?

A. ARTCC
B. RCC
C. FSS

OVERDUE AIRCRAFT PROCEDURES VFR

Initiating SAR Service The initiation of search and rescue depends on whether or
not a flight plan was filed and/or activated, and the type of flight plan filed:

VFR flight plan IFR flight plan No flight plan

Aircraft on a VFR or DVFR Flight Plan

An aircraft is considered overdue 30 minutes after the estimated time of arrival (ETA) and
communications or location cannot be established.

OVERDUE = ETA + 30 Minutes

 The destination tie-in flight service station is responsible for search and rescue for aircraft
on a VFR flight plan after they acknowledge receipt of the flight notification message.

The departure tie-in flight service station has search and rescue responsibility until they
receive this acknowledgment.
Aircraft NOT on a Flight Plan
An aircraft is considered overdue at the actual time a reliable source reports it to be at least
one hour late at the destination.

Reliable source may be family member, business associate, fixed base operator, etc.

Based on this overdue time, apply the same procedures and action times as for an
aircraft on a VFR flight plan.
A QALQ is a message originated by a Flight Service Station (FSS) concerning an
overdue aircraft. The code, QALQ, means has the aircraft landed at your location?
Direct User Access Terminal Service (DUATS) provides pilots access to a contract
vendor via personal computer. Pilots can receive preflight weather data and file domestic VFR
and IFR flight plans through this vendor.

QALQ (LOCAL) SEARCH:

DEPARTURE AND DESTINATION AIRPORTS
departure
COU airport &
AFSS
AFSS

destination
airport PNC
QALQ
MLC
AFSS

Address:
COU

As soon as an aircraft on a VFR or DVFR flight plan (military or civil) or an aircraft not on a
flight plan becomes overdue, the destination location tie-in FSS shall attempt to locate the
aircraft by checking the:

Destination airport and all adjacent airports that could accommodate the aircraft

Appropriate Airport Traffic Control Tower (ATCT) facilities and ARTCC sectors

If this search does not find the aircraft, the destination location tie-in FSS transmits a
QALQ message to the departure location tie-in FSS.

Also transmits the QALQ message to the DUATS vendor or FSS where the flight plan
information is on file if different from the departure location tie-in FSS.

Pilots may elect to file their flight plan with a FSS other than the designated tie-
in station for the departure airport.

Action Upon Receipt of QALQ

Upon receipt of the QALQ, the departure location tie-in FSS will check locally for any
information about the aircraft and take the following action:
 If the aircraft is located, notify the destination tie-in FSS, and they will cease searching
for the aircraft.

If the aircraft is NOT located, send a message to the destination FSS containing all
information about the aircraft not previously sent.

The DUATS vendor, or the FSS where the flight plan information is on file, transmits all
information about the aircraft not previously sent.

Cancellation of QALQ
If the aircraft is located by the destination location tie-in FSS after the QALQ is sent,
then a cancellation message is sent to all recipients of the original QALQ message by the
originating FSS.

An Information Request (INREQ) is a request originated by the destination FSS for

information concerning an overdue VFR aircraft. An INREQ contains all flight plan information
including the proposed route of flight and the pilots name and a contact phone number.
If the reply to the QALQ is negative or the aircraft has not been located within 30 minutes
after it becomes overdue (1 hour after its ETA):

The destination FSS will transmit an INREQ to the departure FSS, flight watch stations
that have communication outlets along the route, other FSSs and ARTCCs along the
route, RCC, and DUAT vendors.

All information concerning the overdue aircraft is included in the INREQ to assist in
search activities.
Action Upon Receipt of INREQ
Stations receiving an INREQ message will seek information about the aircraft by:

Checking facility air traffic records.

Checking all airports along the route of flight that can accommodate the aircraft.

Notifying appropriate ATCT facilities via phone lines.

( NOTE: ATCT facilities do not have the capability of receiving SAR messages. )

INREQ SEARCH: AIRPORTS ALONG ROUTE

 INREQ SEARCH: AIRPORTS
ALONG ROUTE

ZKC COU
ARTCC AFSS

BUM
ICT CNU
AFSS

PER BVO
PNC
MLC
AFSS
Addresses:
COU
ICT
MLC
ZKC
SAR

ATB29-12

A reply to the INREQ should be sent to the destination FSS within 1 hour:

If unable to complete the search within the hour, a status report is sent, followed by a
final report when the search is complete.

In the reply, facilities will report any new information about the aircraft or send a
negative statement if no new information is found.

If new information is found, the destination FSS will retransmit the INREQ to all
INREQ addressees, including the new information.
Cancellation of INREQ
If the aircraft is located, a cancellation message is sent by the destination FSS containing
the location of the aircraft to all INREQ addressees.

ATCT facilities will have to be notified separately via phone.

Previously contacted

Alert Notice (ALNOT) is an alert notice originated by an FSS or ARTCC for an extensive
communications search for overdue, unreported, or missing aircraft.

An ALNOT contains all information in the INREQ plus any additional information
received from replies from the INREQ.

Issuance of ALNOT
If the replies to the INREQ are negative or if the aircraft is NOT located within 1 hour after
transmission of the INREQ (2 hours after its ETA), whichever occurs first, the destination
FSS will transmit an ALNOT.

Ten minutes after issuance, RCC is called to ensure receipt.

 An ALNOT is transmitted by circuit code to ARTCCs, other air traffic facilities, and BASOPS
along the route, along with the Regional Operations Center (ROC), RCC, and DUATS
vendors.
The search area expands from the proposed route of flight only to 50 miles on either side
of the proposed route of flight from the last reported position to the destination.

The search area may be expanded to the maximum range of the aircraft at the request
of RCC or the air traffic facility issuing the ALNOT.

All information about the overdue aircraft is included in the ALNOT to assist in search
activities.

Action Upon Receipt of ALNOT

Upon receipt of an ALNOT, each facility whose airspace/flight plan area extends into the
ALNOT search area should:

Conduct a communications search of all airports within the ALNOT search area that
could accommodate the aircraft that were NOT checked during the INREQ search.

Request law enforcement agencies to check airports which cannot be contacted

otherwise.

ALNOT SEARCH:
AIRPORTS WITHIN 50 MILES EACH SIDE OF ROUTE

ALNOT SEARCH: AIRPORTS WITHIN 50 MILES EACH

SIDE OF ROUTE

ZKC COU
50

ARTCC AFSS
NM 50 NM

BUM
ICT CNU
AFSS

PER BVO
PNC
MLC
AFSS

Addresses:
XXS
SAR (includes RCC and DUATS vendors)
RFW

ATB24-13

Notify appropriate ATCT facilities.

Request search assistance from aircraft traversing the search area.
A reply to the ALNOT should be sent to the originator within 1 hour.

If unable to complete the search within the hour, a status report is sent, followed by a
final report when the search is complete.

In the reply, facilities will report any new information about the aircraft or send a
negative statement if no new information is found.
 If new information is found, the originator of the ALNOT will retransmit the
ALNOT, including the new information
Responsibility Transfer to RCC
The responsibility transfer to RCC for further search occurs when:

The ALNOT search has been completed with negative results.

The aircraft has not been located within 1 hour after ALNOT issuance.

30 minutes have elapsed after the estimated aircraft fuel exhaustion time.

Cancellation of ALNOT
The ALNOT remains active until the aircraft is located or RCC suspends the search.

The ALNOT originator then transmits a cancellation message with the location of the
aircraft, if found, to all recipients of the ALNOT.

ATCT facilities will have to be notified via phone.

TYPE OF MESSAGE SUMMARY

TYPE OF MESSAGE SUMMARY

TYPE OF
MESSAGE SENT TO:
MESSAGE
QALQ Departure Tie-in AFSS/FSS (also, AFSS or DUATS Vendor
holding flight plan)

INREQ Departure Tie-in AFSS / FSS

AFSSs & ARTCCs along the route of flight
AFSSs monitoring the EFAS outlets along the route of fllght
SAR (includes RCC & DUATS Vendors)

ALNOT ARTCC Circuit Codes

ROC
SAR (includes RCC & DUATS Vendors)

ATB24-14

QUESTION: When is an aircraft on a VFR flight plan considered overdue?

RESPONSE ITEM

At the QALQ stage, where would a search be conducted when attempting to

locate an overdue aircraft?

A. Between the point of departure and the last reported position

B. Between the last reported position and the destination
C. At the points of departure and destination

RESPONSE ITEM
An INREQ message is sent
A. 30 minutes after the ETA.
B. 1 hour after it becomes overdue.
C. if the reply to the QALQ is negative.

Aircraft Crossing Hazardous Area

Reporting service programs have been established over:
Lakes
Islands
Mountains
Swamps
Action depends on the pilot requesting the service and establishing contact every 10
minutes or at designated check points.
Normal QALQ and INREQ procedures are bypassed

If 10 minutes has passed since the last actual contact with the pilot, and no further contact
can be established, an additional 5 minute period (a buffer) is allowed to pass prior to
initiating search and rescue procedures.
Total of 15 minutes since last pilot contact.
LAKE, ISLAND, MOUNTAIN, and SWAMP REPORTING SERVICE

10 10
MIN MIN

10 10
10 10 10 10 10 MIN MIN
MIN MIN MIN MIN MIN

10 10 10 10 10 10 10
MIN MIN MIN MIN MIN MIN MIN

HAZARDOUS AREAS

Aircraft on an IFR Flight Plan

 An aircraft on an IFR flight plan is considered overdue when neither communications nor
radar contact can be established and 30 minutes have passed since its:

ETA over a specified or compulsory reporting point or at a clearance limit.

Clearance void time.

If you have reason to believe that the aircraft is unreported or missing prior to 30 minutes,
the Center in whose area the aircraft is first unreported or missing will make the
determination and take any subsequent actions required.
Issuance of ALNOT
If an IFR aircraft is determined to be overdue, unreported, or missing, the search and
rescue process starts at this stage.

ARTCCs are responsible for transmitting ALNOT messages for IFR aircraft.

Actions necessary for transmitting, upon receiving, or canceling an ALNOT are the
same as for a VFR aircraft.

Transfer of responsibility to RCC is also the same

QUESTION: When is an aircraft on an IFR flight plan considered

overdue?

Search Matrix
Phase of Search Area Searched
QALQ Departure and destination airports and all adjacent
airports around the destination airport.
INREQ All airports along the route of flight that can
accommodate the aircraft.
ALNOT The area extending 50 miles on either side of the route
of flight from the last reported position to the
destination.
 VFR TIMELINE

ETA 30 min 1 hour 1.5 hours 2 hours 2.5 hours

VVF QALQ INREQ ALNOT

R

NO FP---TIMELINE

RELIABLY At Least At Least QALQ QALQ + QALQ

REPORTED 30 min 1 hour + 30 mins 1 hrs + 1.5 hrs
ETA

NO FP QALQ INREQ ALNOT

IFR TIMELINE

ETA 30 min 1 hour 1.5 hours 2 hours 2.5 hours

IFR ALNOT