Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Search and Rescue
Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation Search and Rescue**** Hidden Message ***** Search and Rescue
Annex 12
to the Convention on
International Civil Aviation
This edition incorporates all amendments
adopted by the Council prior to 24 February 2004
and supersedes, on 25 November 2004, all previous
editions of Annex 12.
For information regarding the applicability
of the Standards and Recommended Practices,
see Foreword.
International Civil Aviation Organization
International Standards
and Recommended Practices
Eighth Edition
July 2004
AMENDMENTS
The issue of amendments is announced regularly in the ICAO Journal and in the
monthly Supplement to the Catalogue of ICAO Publications and Audio-visual
Training Aids, which holders of this publication should consult. The space below
is provided to keep a record of such amendments.
RECORD OF AMENDMENTS AND CORRIGENDA
AMENDMENTS CORRIGENDA
No.
Date
applicable
Date
entered
Entered
by No.
Date
of issue
Date
entered
Entered
by
1-17 Incorporated in this edition
(ii)
ANNEX 12 (iii) 25/11/04
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page Page
FOREWORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (v)
CHAPTER 1. Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1-1
CHAPTER 2. Organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.1 Search and rescue services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.2 Search and rescue regions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.3 Rescue coordination centres and
rescue subcentres . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-1
2.4 Search and rescue communications . . . . . . . . 2-2
2.5 Search and rescue units. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
2.6 Search and rescue equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-2
CHAPTER 3. Cooperation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
3.1 Cooperation between States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
3.2 Cooperation with other services . . . . . . . . . . . 3-1
3.3 Dissemination of information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3-2
CHAPTER 4. Preparatory measures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
4.1 Preparatory information. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
4.2 Plans of operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-1
4.3 Search and rescue units . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
4.4 Training and exercises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
4.5 Wreckage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4-2
CHAPTER 5. Operating procedures . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
5.1 Information concerning emergencies. . . . . . . 5-1
5.2 Procedures for rescue coordination centres
during emergency phases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-1
5.3 Procedures where responsibility for
operations extends to two or more
Contracting States . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-2
5.4 Procedures for authorities in the field. . . . . . 5-2
5.5 Procedures for rescue coordination centres —
termination and suspension of operations . . . 5-2
5.6 Procedures at the scene of an accident . . . . . 5-3
5.7 Procedures for a pilot-in-command
intercepting a distress transmission . . . . . . . . 5-3
5.8 Search and rescue signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-3
5.9 Maintenance of records . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5-4
APPENDIX. Search and rescue signals . . . . . . . . . . APP-1
1. Signals with surface craft . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APP-1
2. Ground-air visual signal code . . . . . . . . . . . . . APP-1
3. Air-to-ground signals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . APP-2
ANNEX 12 (v) 25/11/04
FOREWORD
Historical background
In December 1946, the Search and Rescue Division, at its
second session, made recommendations for Standards and
Recommended Practices for Search and Rescue. These were
developed by the Secretariat and the then existent Air
Navigation Committee, and were duly submitted to the
Council. The proposals were not accepted by the Council in
the form in which they were presented and, on 20 April 1948,
were referred back to the Air Navigation Committee for
further consideration.
A further draft Annex was then developed in the light of
experience gained at Regional Air Navigation Meetings and
eventually was approved in principle by the Air Navigation
Commission and circulated to States for comment. Further
development was made by the Air Navigation Commission as
a result of States’ comments and the resulting proposals were
adopted by the Council on 25 May 1950 and designated as
Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.
The Annex became effective on 1 December 1950 and came
into force on 1 March 1951.
Table A shows the origin of subsequent amendments
together with a list of the principal subjects involved and the
dates on which the Annex and the amendments were adopted
by the Council, when they became effective and when they
became applicable.
Applicability
The Standards and Recommended Practices in this document
govern the application of the Regional Supplementary Procedures
— Search and Rescue, contained in Doc 7030, in which
document will be found subsidiary procedures of regional
application.
Annex 12 is applicable to the establishment, maintenance
and operation of search and rescue services in the territories of
Contracting States and over the high seas, and to the coordination
of such services between States.
Action by Contracting States
Notification of differences. The attention of Contracting States
is drawn to the obligation imposed by Article 38 of the
Convention by which Contracting States are required to notify
the Organization of any differences between their national regulations
and practices and the International Standards
contained in this Annex and any amendments thereto.
Contracting States are invited to extend such notification to
any differences from the Recommended Practices contained in
this Annex, and any amendments thereto, when the notification
of such differences is important for the safety of air
navigation. Further, Contracting States are invited to keep the
Organization currently informed of any differences which may
subsequently occur, or of the withdrawal of any differences
previously notified. A specific request for notification of differences
will be sent to Contracting States immediately after
the adoption of each Amendment to this Annex.
Attention of States is also drawn to the provisions of
Annex 15 related to the publication of differences between
their national regulations and practices and the related ICAO
Standards and Recommended Practices through the Aeronautical
Information Service, in addition to the obligation of States
under Article 38 of the Convention.
Promulgation of information. Information relating to the
establishment and withdrawal of and changes to facilities,
services and procedures affecting aircraft operations provided
according to the Standards and Recommended Practices specified
in this Annex should be notified and take effect in accordance
with Annex 15.
Use of the text of the Annex in national regulations. The
Council, on 13 April 1948, adopted a resolution inviting the
attention of Contracting States to the desirability of using in
their own national regulations, as far as practicable, the precise
language of those ICAO Standards that are of a regulatory
character and also of indicating departures from the Standards,
including any additional national regulations that were important
for the safety or regularity of air navigation. Wherever
possible, the provisions of this Annex have been written in
such a way as would facilitate incorporation, without major
textual changes, into national legislation.
Status of Annex components
An Annex is made up of the following component parts, not
all of which, however, are necessarily found in every Annex;
they have the status indicated:
1.— Material comprising the Annex proper:
a) Standards and Recommended Practices adopted by the
Council under the provisions of the Convention. They
are defined as follows:
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Foreword
25/11/04 (vi)
Standard. Any specification for physical characteristics,
configuration, matériel, performance, personnel or procedure,
the uniform application of which is recognized
as necessary for the safety or regularity of international
air navigation and to which Contracting States will conform
in accordance with the Convention; in the event of
impossibility of compliance, notification to the Council
is compulsory under Article 38.
Recommended Practice. Any specification for physical
characteristics, configuration, matériel, performance,
personnel or procedure, the uniform application of
which is recognized as desirable in the interests of
safety, regularity or efficiency of international air navigation,
and to which Contracting States will endeavour
to conform in accordance with the Convention.
b) Appendices comprising material grouped separately for
convenience but forming part of the Standards and Recommended
Practices adopted by the Council.
c) Definitions of terms used in the Standards and
Recommended Practices which are not self-explanatory
in that they do not have accepted dictionary meanings.
A definition does not have an independent status but is
an essential part of each Standard and Recommended
Practice in which the term is used, since a change in the
meaning of the term would affect the specification.
2.— Material approved by the Council for publication in
association with the Standards and Recommended Practices:
a) Forewords comprising historical and explanatory
material based on the action of the Council and including
an explanation of the obligations of States with
regard to the application of the Standards and Recommended
Practices ensuing from the Convention and the
Resolution of Adoption.
b) Introductions comprising explanatory material introduced
at the beginning of parts, chapters or sections of
the Annex to assist in the understanding of the application
of the text.
c) Notes included in the text, where appropriate, to give
factual information or references bearing on the Standards
or Recommended Practices in question, but not
constituting part of the Standards or Recommended
Practices.
d) Attachments comprising material supplementary to the
Standards and Recommended Practices, or included as a
guide to their application.
Selection of language
This Annex has been adopted in six languages — English,
Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian and Spanish. Each Contracting
State is requested to select one of those texts for the purpose
of national implementation and for other effects provided
for in the Convention, either through direct use or through
translation into its own national language, and to notify the
Organization accordingly.
Editorial practices
The following practice has been adhered to in order to indicate
at a glance the status of each statement: Standards have been
printed in light face roman; Recommended Practices have
been printed in light face italics, the status being indicated by
the prefix Recommendation; Notes have been printed in light
face italics, the status being indicated by the prefix Note.
The following editorial practice has been followed in the
writing of specifications: for Standards the operative verb
“shall” is used, and for Recommended Practices the operative
verb “should” is used.
Throughout this document:
a) measurements are given in the metric system followed
in parentheses by corresponding measurements in the
foot-pound system; and
b) the use of the male gender should be understood to
include male and female persons.
Any reference to a portion of this document, which is
identified by a number and/or title, includes all subdivisions of
that portion.
Foreword Annex 12 — Search and Rescue
(vii) 25/11/04
Table A. Amendments to Annex 12
Amendment Source(s) Subject(s)
Adopted/approved
Effective
Applicable
1st Edition Search and Rescue
Division, Second
Session (1946)
Air Navigation
Commission
International Standards and Recommended Practices — Search and
Rescue Services.
25 May 1950
1 December 1950
1 March 1951
1
(2nd Edition)
Search and Rescue
Division, Third
Session (1951)
Search and rescue organization; communications; appraisals of search
and rescue operations; procedures for search and rescue;
air-to-ground signals.
31 March 1952
1 September 1952
1 January 1953
2
(3rd Edition)
Second Air Navigation
Conference (1955)
Rescue sub-centres; servicing and refuelling rescue units of other
Contracting States.
8 May 1956
1 September 1956
1 December 1956
3 Third Air Navigation
Conference (1956).
Amendment 140 to
Annex 6, Chapter 6
Marking of areas of the fuselage suitable for break-in. 13 June 1957
1 October 1957
1 December 1957
4
(4th Edition)
Rules of the Air,
Air Traffic Services
and Search and Rescue
Divisions (1958)
Cooperation between States; information concerning emergencies;
procedures for rescue coordination centres.
8 December 1959
1 May 1960
1 August 1960
5 Amendment 13 to
Annex 11
Notification of rescue coordination centres by air traffic services units. 13 April 1962
—
1 November 1962
6 Amendment 4 to
Annex 9
Temporary entry of rescue units from other Contracting States. ——
1 July 1964
7 Amendment 14 to
Annex 11, Chapter 5
Alerting of surface vessels and en-route aircraft to assist an aircraft
in distress.
19 June 1964
1 November 1964
1 February 1965
8 International
Convention for the
Safety of Life at Sea.
Amendment 15 to
Annex 11
Updating of reference; alerting service. 10 December 1965
—
25 August 1966
9
(5th Edition)
Air Navigation
Commission review of
the Regional
Supplementary
Procedures
Cooperation between Contracting States; servicing and refuelling of
rescue units of other Contracting States; testing search and rescue
communications facilities; assistance in search and rescue operations by
additional units or services.
25 May 1970
25 September 1970
4 February 1971
10 Air Navigation
Commission
Carriage of the International Code of Signals by search and rescue
aircraft; equipment of search and rescue aircraft with frequency
2182 kHz; information on position of merchant ships.
11 December 1972
11 April 1973
16 August 1973
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Foreword
25/11/04 (viii)
11
(6th Edition)
Complete review of the
Annex by the Air
Navigation Commission
New signal to surface craft; provision of search and rescue services
on a 24-hour basis; dissemination of information on position of
merchant ships; appraisals of search and rescue operations;
improvement of cooperation between neighbouring States;
equipment of rescue units; availability of information on air traffic
services; location of droppable survival equipment; methods for
assisting aircraft in distress and being compelled to ditch to
rendezvous with surface craft; methods for assisting search and
rescue or other aircraft to rendezvous with aircraft in distress.
25 November 1974
25 March 1975
9 October 1975
12 Amendment 60 to
Annex 3
Supplementary communication facilities between meteorological
offices and search and rescue units.
8 December 1975
8 April 1976
12 August 1976
13 Air Navigation
Commission
Ground-air visual signal code for use by survivors. 15 December 1980
15 April 1981
26 November 1981
14 Air Navigation
Commission
Rescue coordination centre (RCC) responsibilities regarding
preparatory measures in the event an aircraft is subject to unlawful
interference.
12 March 1990
30 July 1990
15 November 1990
15 Air Navigation
Commission
Definition for search and rescue aircraft; communications requirements
for rescue coordination centres (RCCs) and equipment of search and
rescue (SAR) aircraft; SAR point of contact (SPOC).
12 March 1993
26 July 1993
11 November 1993
16
(7th Edition)
Amendments 25, 20 and 7
to Annex 6, Parts I, II and
III, respectively; Air
Navigation Commission
Revised definition of “pilot-in-command”; editorial amendments. 12 March 2001
16 July 2001
1 November 2001
17 ICAO Secretariat/Air
Navigation Commission
Updating to align provisions with the IMO Convention to the extent
practicable; harmonization of definitions between aeronautical and
maritime SAR documents; regional approach to SAR system
establishment; policy agreement between States and operational
coordination between aeronautical and maritime SAR services; ready
availability of essential data to RCC.
23 February 2004
12 July 2004
25 November 2004
Amendment Source(s) Subject(s)
Adopted/approved
Effective
Applicable
ANNEX 12 1-1 25/11/04
INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS
AND RECOMMENDED PRACTICES
Note.— This Annex is supplemented by the International
Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR)
Manual, Volume I — Organization and Management,
Volume II — Mission Co-ordination, and Volume III — Mobile
Facilities (Doc 9731), the purpose of which is to assist States
in meeting their search and rescue (SAR) needs and obligations
accepted under the Convention on International Civil
Aviation. These obligations, as they relate to the provision of
SAR services, are specified in this Annex as Standards and
Recommended Practices. The three volumes of the IAMSAR
Manual provide guidance for a common aviation and maritime
approach to organizing and providing SAR services. States are
encouraged, by use of the manual, to develop and improve
their SAR services and to cooperate with neighbouring States.
CHAPTER 1. DEFINITIONS
When the following terms are used in the Standards and
Recommended Practices for search and rescue, they have the
following meanings:
Alerting post. Any facility intended to serve as an
intermediary between a person reporting an emergency and
a rescue coordination centre or rescue subcentre.
Alert phase. A situation wherein apprehension exists as to the
safety of an aircraft and its occupants.
Distress phase. A situation wherein there is a reasonable
certainty that an aircraft and its occupants are threatened by
grave and imminent danger and require immediate assistance.
Ditching. The forced landing of an aircraft on water.
Emergency phase. A generic term meaning, as the case may
be, uncertainty phase, alert phase or distress phase.
Joint rescue coordination centre (JRCC). A rescue
coordination centre responsible for both aeronautical and
maritime search and rescue operations.
Operator. A person, organization or enterprise engaged in or
offering to engage in an aircraft operation.
Pilot-in-command. The pilot designated by the operator, or in
the case of general aviation, the owner, as being in command
and charged with the safe conduct of a flight.
Rescue. An operation to retrieve persons in distress, provide
for their initial medical or other needs, and deliver them to
a place of safety.
Rescue coordination centre (RCC). A unit responsible for
promoting efficient organization of search and rescue services
and for coordinating the conduct of search and rescue
operations within a search and rescue region.
Rescue subcentre (RSC). A unit subordinate to a rescue
coordination centre, established to complement the latter
according to particular provisions of the responsible
authorities.
Search. An operation normally coordinated by a rescue
coordination centre or rescue subcentre using available
personnel and facilities to locate persons in distress.
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 1
25/11/04 1-2
Search and rescue aircraft. An aircraft provided with
specialized equipment suitable for the efficient conduct of
search and rescue missions.
Search and rescue facility. Any mobile resource, including
designated search and rescue units, used to conduct search
and rescue operations.
Search and rescue service. The performance of distress
monitoring, communication, coordination and search and
rescue functions, initial medical assistance or medical evacuation,
through the use of public and private resources,
including cooperating aircraft, vessels and other craft and
installations.
Search and rescue region (SRR). An area of defined dimensions,
associated with a rescue coordination centre, within
which search and rescue services are provided.
Search and rescue unit. A mobile resource composed of
trained personnel and provided with equipment suitable for
the expeditious conduct of search and rescue operations.
State of Registry. The State on whose register the aircraft is
entered.
Uncertainty phase. A situation wherein uncertainty exists as
to the safety of an aircraft and its occupants.
ANNEX 12 2-1 25/11/04
CHAPTER 2. ORGANIZATION
2.1 Search and rescue services
2.1.1 Contracting States shall, individually or in
cooperation with other States, arrange for the establishment
and prompt provision of search and rescue services within
their territories to ensure that assistance is rendered to persons
in distress. Such services shall be provided on a 24-hour basis.
2.1.1.1 Those portions of the high seas or areas of undetermined
sovereignty for which search and rescue services will
be established shall be determined on the basis of regional air
navigation agreements. Contracting States having accepted the
responsibility to provide search and rescue services in such
areas shall thereafter, individually or in cooperation with other
States, arrange for the services to be established and provided
in accordance with the provisions of this Annex.
Note.— The phrase “regional air navigation agreements”
refers to the agreements approved by the Council of ICAO
normally on the advice of Regional Air Navigation Meetings.
2.1.1.2 Basic elements of search and rescue services shall
include a legal framework, a responsible authority, organized
available resources, communication facilities and a workforce
skilled in coordination and operational functions.
2.1.1.3 Search and rescue services shall establish
processes to improve service provision, including the aspects
of planning, domestic and international cooperative arrangements
and training.
2.1.2 In providing assistance to aircraft in distress and to
survivors of aircraft accidents, Contracting States shall do so
regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the
circumstances in which such persons are found.
2.1.3 Contracting States having accepted responsibility to
provide search and rescue services shall use search and rescue
units and other available facilities to assist any aircraft or its
occupants that are or appear to be in a state of emergency.
2.1.4 Where separate aeronautical and maritime rescue
coordination centres serve the same area, States shall ensure
the closest practicable coordination between the centres.
2.1.5 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
facilitate consistency and cooperation between their aeronautical
and maritime search and rescue services.
2.1.6 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
establish joint rescue coordination centres to coordinate aeronautical
and maritime search and rescue operations, where
practical.
2.2 Search and rescue regions
2.2.1 Contracting States shall delineate the search and
rescue regions within which they will provide search and rescue
services. Such regions shall not overlap and neighbouring
regions shall be contiguous.
Note 1.— Search and rescue regions are established to
ensure the provision of adequate communication infrastructure,
efficient distress alert routing and proper operational
coordination to effectively support search and rescue services.
Neighbouring States may cooperate to establish search and
rescue services within a single SAR region.
Note 2.— The delineation of search and rescue regions is
determined on the basis of technical and operational considerations
and is not related to the delineation of boundaries
between States.
2.2.1.1 Recommendation.— Search and rescue regions
should, in so far as practicable, be coincident with corresponding
flight information regions and, with respect to
those areas over the high seas, maritime search and rescue
regions.
2.3 Rescue coordination centres
and rescue subcentres
2.3.1 Contracting States shall establish a rescue coordination
centre in each search and rescue region.
Note.— A Contracting State may establish a rescue
coordination centre with an associated search and rescue
region that, in accordance with regional air navigation agreement,
extends over an area greater than its sovereign airspace.
2.3.2 Recommendation.— Where all or part of the
airspace of a Contracting State is included within a search and
rescue region associated with a rescue coordination centre in
another Contracting State, that former State should establish a
rescue subcentre subordinate to the rescue coordination centre
wherever this would improve the efficiency of search and rescue
services within its territory.
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 2
25/11/04 2-2
2.3.3 Each rescue coordination centre and, as appropriate,
rescue subcentre, shall be staffed 24 hours a day by trained
personnel proficient in the use of the language used for radiotelephony
communications.
2.3.4 Recommendation.— RCC personnel involved in
the conduct of radiotelephony communications should be
proficient in the use of the English language.
2.3.5 Recommendation.— In areas where public telecommunications
facilities would not permit persons observing
an aircraft in emergency to notify the rescue coordination
centre concerned directly and promptly, Contracting States
should designate suitable units of public or private services as
alerting posts.
2.4 Search and rescue communications
2.4.1 Each rescue coordination centre shall have means of
rapid and reliable two-way communication with:
a) associated air traffic services units;
b) associated rescue subcentres;
c) appropriate direction-finding and position-fixing stations;
d) where appropriate, coastal radio stations capable of
alerting and communicating with surface vessels in the
region;
e) the headquarters of search and rescue units in the region;
f) all maritime rescue coordination centres in the region
and aeronautical, maritime or joint rescue coordination
centres in adjacent regions;
g) a designated meteorological office or meteorological
watch office;
h) search and rescue units;
i) alerting posts; and
j) the Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centre servicing the
search and rescue region.
Note.— Maritime rescue coordination centres are identified
in relevant documents of the International Maritime Organization.
2.4.2 Each rescue subcentre shall have means of rapid and
reliable two-way communication with:
a) adjacent rescue subcentres;
b) a meteorological office or meteorological watch office;
c) search and rescue units; and
d) alerting posts.
2.5 Search and rescue units
2.5.1 Contracting States shall designate as search and
rescue units elements of public or private services suitably
located and equipped for search and rescue operations.
Note.— The minimum units and facilities necessary for
provision of search and rescue operations within a search and
rescue region are determined by regional air navigation agreements
and are specified in the appropriate Air Navigation Plan
and Facilities and Services Implementation Document publications.
2.5.2 Contracting States shall designate as parts of the
search and rescue plan of operation, elements of public or private
services that do not qualify as search and rescue units but
are nevertheless able to participate in search and rescue
operations.
2.6 Search and rescue equipment
2.6.1 Search and rescue units shall be provided with
equipment for locating promptly, and for providing adequate
assistance at, the scene of an accident.
2.6.2 Recommendation.— Each search and rescue unit
should have means of rapid and reliable two-way communication
with other search and rescue facilities engaged in the
same operation.
2.6.3 Each search and rescue aircraft shall be equipped to
be able to communicate on the aeronautical distress and onscene
frequencies and on such other frequencies as may be
prescribed.
2.6.4 Each search and rescue aircraft shall be equipped
with a device for homing on distress frequencies.
Note 1. — Emergency locator transmitter (ELT) carriage
requirements are given in Annex 6, Parts I, II and III.
Note 2.— Specifications for ELTs are given in Annex 10,
Volume III.
2.6.5 Each search and rescue aircraft, when used for
search and rescue over maritime areas, shall be equipped to be
able to communicate with vessels.
Chapter 2 Annex 12 — Search and Rescue
2-3 25/11/04
Note.— Many vessels can communicate with aircraft on
2182 kHz, 4125 kHz and 121.5 MHz. However, these frequencies,
and in particular 121.5 MHz, may not be routinely
monitored by vessels.
2.6.6 Each search and rescue aircraft, when used for
search and rescue over maritime areas shall carry a copy of the
International Code of Signals to enable it to overcome
language difficulties that may be experienced in communicating
with ships.
Note.— The International Code of Signals is published in
English, French and Spanish by the International Maritime
Organization as documents I994E, I995F and I996S.
2.6.7 Recommendation.— Unless it is known that there
is no need to provide supplies to survivors by air, at least one
of the aircraft participating in a search and rescue operation
should carry droppable survival equipment.
2.6.8 Recommendation.— States should locate, at
appropriate aerodromes, survival equipment suitably packed
for dropping by aircraft.
ANNEX 12 3-1 25/11/04
CHAPTER 3. COOPERATION
3.1 Cooperation between States
3.1.1 Contracting States shall coordinate their search and
rescue organizations with those of neighbouring States.
3.1.2 Recommendation.— Contracting States should,
whenever necessary, coordinate their search and rescue operations
with those of neighbouring States especially when these
operations are proximate to adjacent search and rescue
regions.
3.1.2.1 Recommendation.— Contracting States should,
in so far as practicable, develop common search and rescue
plans and procedures to facilitate coordination of search and
rescue operations with those of neighbouring States.
3.1.3 Subject to such conditions as may be prescribed by
its own authorities, a Contracting State shall permit immediate
entry into its territory of search and rescue units of other States
for the purpose of searching for the site of aircraft accidents
and rescuing survivors of such accidents.
3.1.4 The authorities of a Contracting State who wish
their search and rescue units to enter the territory of another
Contracting State for search and rescue purposes shall transmit
a request, giving full details of the projected mission and the
need for it, to the rescue coordination centre of the State concerned
or to such other authority as has been designated by
that State.
3.1.4.1 The authorities of Contracting States shall:
— immediately acknowledge the receipt of such a request,
and
— as soon as possible, indicate the conditions, if any, under
which the projected mission may be undertaken.
3.1.5 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
enter into agreements with neighbouring States to strengthen
search and rescue cooperation and coordination, setting forth
the conditions for entry of each other’s search and rescue units
into their respective territories. These agreements should also
provide for expediting entry of such units with the least
possible formalities.
3.1.6 Recommendation.— Each Contracting State
should authorize its rescue coordination centres to:
a) request from other rescue coordination centres such
assistance, including aircraft, vessels, persons or equipment,
as may be needed;
b) grant any necessary permission for the entry of such
aircraft, vessels, persons or equipment into its territory;
and
c) make the necessary arrangements with the appropriate
customs, immigration or other authorities with a view to
expediting such entry.
3.1.7 Recommendation.— Each Contracting State
should authorize its rescue coordination centres to provide,
when requested, assistance to other rescue coordination centres,
including assistance in the form of aircraft, vessels,
persons or equipment.
3.1.8 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
make arrangements for joint training exercises involving their
search and rescue units, those of other States and operators, in
order to promote search and rescue efficiency.
3.1.9 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
make arrangements for periodic liaison visits by personnel of
their rescue coordination centres and subcentres to the centres
of neighbouring States.
3.2 Cooperation with
other services
3.2.1 Contracting States shall arrange for all aircraft,
vessels and local services and facilities which do not form part
of the search and rescue organization to cooperate fully with
the latter in search and rescue and to extend any possible
assistance to the survivors of aircraft accidents.
3.2.2 Recommendation.— Contracting States should
ensure the closest practicable coordination between the relevant
aeronautical and maritime authorities to provide for the
most effective and efficient search and rescue services.
3.2.3 Contracting States shall ensure that their search and
rescue services cooperate with those responsible for investigating
accidents and with those responsible for the care of
those who suffered from the accident.
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 3
25/11/04 3-2
3.2.4 Recommendation.— To facilitate accident investigation,
rescue units should, when practicable, be accompanied
by persons qualified in the conduct of aircraft accident
+investigations.
3.2.5 States shall designate a search and rescue point of
contact for the receipt of Cospas-Sarsat distress data.
3.3 Dissemination of information
3.3.1 Each Contracting State shall publish and disseminate
all information necessary for the entry of search and
rescue units of other States into its territory or, alternatively,
include this information in search and rescue service
arrangements.
3.3.2 Recommendation.— When such information could
benefit the provision of search and rescue services, Contracting
States should make available, through the rescue coordination
centres or other agencies, information regarding their
search and rescue plans of operation.
3.3.3 Recommendation.— Contracting States should, to
the extent desirable and practicable, disseminate information
to the general public and emergency response authorities
regarding actions to be taken when there is reason to believe
that an aircraft’s emergency situation may become cause for
public concern or require a general emergency response.
ANNEX 12 4-1 25/11/04
CHAPTER 4. PREPARATORY MEASURES
4.1 Preparatory information
4.1.1 Each rescue coordination centre shall have readily
available at all times up-to-date information concerning the
following in respect of its search and rescue region:
a) search and rescue units, rescue subcentres and alerting
posts;
b) air traffic services units;
c) means of communication that may be used in search and
rescue operations;
d) addresses and telephone numbers of all operators, or
their designated representatives, engaged in operations
in the region; and
e) any other public and private resources including medical
and transportation facilities that are likely to be useful in
search and rescue.
4.1.2 Recommendation.— Each rescue coordination
centre should have readily available all other information of
interest to search and rescue, including information regarding:
a) the locations, call signs, hours of watch, and frequencies
of all radio stations likely to be employed in support of
search and rescue operations;
b) the locations and hours of watch of services keeping
radio watch, and the frequencies guarded;
c) locations where supplies of droppable emergency and
survival equipment are stored; and
d) objects which it is known might be mistaken for
unlocated or unreported wreckage, particularly if
viewed from the air.
4.1.3 Recommendation.— Each rescue coordination
centre whose search and rescue region includes maritime
areas should have ready access to information regarding the
position, course and speed of ships within such areas that may
be able to provide assistance to aircraft in distress and information
on how to contact them.
Note.— This information may either be kept in the rescue
coordination centres or be readily accessible.
4.1.4 Recommendation.— Contracting States should,
individually or in cooperation with other States, either establish
ship reporting systems in cooperation with maritime
authorities or arrange communication links with Amver or
regional ship reporting systems to facilitate search and rescue
operations at sea.
Note.— Amver is a cooperative international ship reporting
system with worldwide coverage that is available for interrogation
by all rescue coordination centres. A number of Contracting
States also operate regional ship reporting systems.
4.2 Plans of operation
4.2.1 Each rescue coordination centre shall prepare
detailed plans of operation for the conduct of search and rescue
operations within its search and rescue region.
4.2.2 Recommendation.— Search and rescue plans of
operations should be developed jointly with representatives of
the operators and other public or private services that may
assist in providing search and rescue services or benefit from
them, taking into account that the number of survivors could
be large.
4.2.3 The plans of operation shall specify arrangements
for the servicing and refuelling, to the extent possible, of aircraft,
vessels and vehicles employed in search and rescue
operations, including those made available by other States.
4.2.4 Recommendation.— The search and rescue plans
of operation should contain details regarding actions to be
taken by those persons engaged in search and rescue,
including:
a) the manner in which search and rescue operations are to
be conducted in the search and rescue region;
b) the use of available communication systems and
facilities;
c) the actions to be taken jointly with other rescue coordination
centres;
d) the methods of alerting en-route aircraft and ships at
sea;
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 4
25/11/04 4-2
e) the duties and prerogatives of persons assigned to
search and rescue;
f) the possible redeployment of equipment that may be
necessitated by meteorological or other conditions;
g) the methods for obtaining essential information relevant
to search and rescue operations, such as weather
reports and forecasts, appropriate NOTAM, etc.;
h) the methods for obtaining, from other rescue coordination
centres, such assistance, including aircraft,
vessels, persons or equipment, as may be needed;
i) the methods for assisting distressed aircraft being
compelled to ditch to rendezvous with surface craft;
j) the methods for assisting search and rescue or other
aircraft to proceed to aircraft in distress; and
k) cooperative actions taken in conjunction with air traffic
services units and other authorities concerned to assist
aircraft known or believed to be subject to unlawful
interference.
4.2.5 Recommendation.— Search and rescue plans of
operation should be integrated with airport emergency plans
to provide for rescue services in the vicinity of aerodromes
including, for coastal aerodromes, areas of water.
4.3 Search and rescue units
4.3.1 Each search and rescue unit shall:
a) be cognizant of all parts of the plans of operation
prescribed in 4.2 that are necessary for the effective
conduct of its duties; and
b) keep the rescue coordination centre informed of its
preparedness.
4.3.2 Contracting States shall:
a) maintain in readiness the required number of search and
rescue facilities; and
b) maintain adequate supplies of rations, medical stores,
signalling devices and other survival and rescue
equipment.
4.4 Training and exercises
To achieve and maintain maximum efficiency in search and
rescue, Contracting States shall provide for regular training of
their search and rescue personnel and arrange appropriate
search and rescue exercises.
4.5 Wreckage
Recommendation.— Each Contracting State should
ensure that wreckage resulting from aircraft accidents within
its territory or, in the case of accidents on the high seas or in
areas of undetermined sovereignty, within the search and rescue
regions for which it is responsible, is removed, obliterated
or charted following completion of the accident investigation,
if its presence might constitute a hazard or confuse subsequent
search and rescue operations.
ANNEX 12 5-1 25/11/04
CHAPTER 5. OPERATING PROCEDURES
5.1 Information concerning
emergencies
5.1.1 Any authority or any element of the search and
rescue organization having reason to believe that an aircraft is
in an emergency shall give immediately all available information
to the rescue coordination centre concerned.
5.1.2 Rescue coordination centres shall, immediately
upon receipt of information concerning aircraft in emergency,
evaluate such information and assess the extent of the
operation required.
5.1.3 When information concerning aircraft in emergency
is received from other sources than air traffic services units,
the rescue coordination centre shall determine to which emergency
phase the situation corresponds and shall apply the
procedures applicable to that phase.
5.2 Procedures for rescue
coordination centres
during emergency phases
5.2.1 Uncertainty phase
Upon the occurrence of an uncertainty phase, the rescue coordination
centre shall cooperate to the utmost with air traffic
services units and other appropriate agencies and services in
order that incoming reports may be speedily evaluated.
5.2.2 Alert phase
Upon the occurrence of an alert phase the rescue coordination
centre shall immediately alert search and rescue units and
initiate any necessary action.
5.2.3 Distress phase
Upon the occurrence of a distress phase, the rescue coordination
centre shall:
a) immediately initiate action by search and rescue units in
accordance with the appropriate plan of operation;
b) ascertain the position of the aircraft, estimate the degree
of uncertainty of this position, and, on the basis of this
information and the circumstances, determine the extent
of the area to be searched;
c) notify the operator, where possible, and keep the operator
informed of developments;
d) notify other rescue coordination centres, the help of
which seems likely to be required, or which may be
concerned in the operation;
e) notify the associated air traffic services unit, when the
information on the emergency has been received from
another source;
f) request at an early stage such aircraft, vessels, coastal
stations and other services not specifically included in
the appropriate plan of operation and able to assist to:
1) maintain a listening watch for transmissions from the
aircraft in distress, survival radio equipment or an
ELT;
Note.— The frequencies contained in the specifications
for ELTs given in Annex 10, Volume III, are
121.5 MHz and 406 MHz.
2) assist the aircraft in distress as far as practicable; and
3) inform the rescue coordination centre of any developments;
g) from the information available, draw up a detailed plan
of action for the conduct of the search and/or rescue
operation required and communicate such plan for the
guidance of the authorities immediately directing the
conduct of such an operation;
h) amend as necessary, in the light of evolving circumstances,
the detailed plan of action;
i) notify the appropriate accident investigation authorities;
and
j) notify the State of Registry of the aircraft.
The order in which these actions are described shall be
followed unless circumstances dictate otherwise.
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 5
25/11/04 5-2
5.2.4 Initiation of search and rescue action
in respect of an aircraft
whose position is unknown
In the event that an emergency phase is declared in respect of
an aircraft whose position is unknown and may be in one of
two or more search and rescue regions, the following shall
apply:
a) When a rescue coordination centre is notified of the
existence of an emergency phase and is unaware of
other centres taking appropriate action, it shall assume
responsibility for initiating suitable action in accordance
with 5.2 and confer with neighbouring rescue coordination
centres with the objective of designating one rescue
coordination centre to assume responsibility
forthwith.
b) Unless otherwise decided by common agreement of the
rescue coordination centres concerned, the rescue coordination
centre to coordinate search and rescue action
shall be the centre responsible for:
— the region in which the aircraft last reported its
position; or
— the region to which the aircraft was proceeding when
its last reported position was on the line separating
two search and rescue regions; or
— the region to which the aircraft was destined when it
was not equipped with suitable two-way radio communication
or not under obligation to maintain radio
communication; or
— the region in which the distress site is located as
identified by the Cospas-Sarsat system.
c) After declaration of the distress phase, the rescue
coordination centre with overall coordination responsibility
shall inform all rescue coordination centres that
may become involved in the operation of all the circumstances
of the emergency and subsequent developments.
Likewise, all rescue coordination centres becoming
aware of any information pertaining to the emergency
shall inform the rescue coordination centre that has
overall responsibility.
5.2.5 Passing of information to aircraft in respect
of which an emergency phase has been declared
Whenever applicable, the rescue coordination centre responsible
for search and rescue action shall forward to the air
traffic services unit serving the flight information region in
which the aircraft is operating, information of the search and
rescue action initiated, in order that such information can be
passed to the aircraft.
5.3 Procedures where responsibility for
operations extends to two or more
Contracting States
Where the conduct of operations over the entire search and
rescue region is the responsibility of more than one Contracting
State, each involved State shall take action in accordance
with the relevant plan of operations when so requested by the
rescue coordination centre of the region.
5.4 Procedures for
authorities in the field
The authorities immediately directing the conduct of operations
or any part thereof shall:
a) give instructions to the units under their direction and
inform the rescue coordination centre of such instructions;
and
b) keep the rescue coordination centre informed of
developments.
5.5 Procedures for rescue coordination
centres — termination and suspension
of operations
5.5.1 Search and rescue operations shall continue, when
practicable, until all survivors are delivered to a place of safety
or until all reasonable hope of rescuing survivors has passed.
5.5.2 The responsible rescue coordination centre shall
normally be responsible for determining when to discontinue
search and rescue operations.
Note.— Contracting States may require input from other
appropriate State authorities in the decision-making process
leading to termination of SAR operations.
5.5.3 When a search and rescue operation has been
successful or when a rescue coordination centre considers, or
is informed, that an emergency no longer exists, the emergency
phase shall be cancelled, the search and rescue operation
shall be terminated and any authority, facility or service that
has been activated or notified shall be promptly informed.
5.5.4 If a search and rescue operation becomes impracticable
and the rescue coordination centre concludes that there
might still be survivors, the centre shall temporarily suspend
on-scene activities pending further developments and shall
promptly inform any authority, facility or service which has
been activated or notified. Relevant information subsequently
received shall be evaluated and search and rescue operations
resumed when justified and practicable.
Chapter 5 Annex 12 — Search and Rescue
5-3 25/11/04
5.6 Procedures at the
scene of an accident
5.6.1 When multiple facilities are engaged in search and
rescue operations on-scene, the rescue coordination centre or
rescue subcentre shall designate one or more units on-scene to
coordinate all actions to help ensure the safety and effectiveness
of air and surface operations, taking into account facility
capabilities and operational requirements.
5.6.2 When a pilot-in-command observes that either
another aircraft or a surface craft is in distress, the pilot shall,
if possible and unless considered unreasonable or unnecessary:
a) keep the craft in distress in sight until compelled to
leave the scene or advised by the rescue coordination
centre that it is no longer necessary;
b) determine the position of the craft in distress;
c) as appropriate, report to the rescue coordination centre
or air traffic services unit as much of the following
information as possible:
— type of craft in distress, its identification and
condition;
— its position, expressed in geographical or grid coordinates
or in distance and true bearing from a
distinctive landmark or from a radio navigation aid;
— time of observation expressed in hours and minutes
Coordinated Universal Time (UTC);
— number of persons observed;
— whether persons have been seen to abandon the craft
in distress;
— on-scene weather conditions;
— apparent physical condition of survivors;
— apparent best ground access route to the distress site;
and
d) act as instructed by the rescue coordination centre or the
air traffic services unit.
5.6.2.1 If the first aircraft to reach the scene of an
accident is not a search and rescue aircraft, it shall take charge
of on-scene activities of all other aircraft subsequently arriving
until the first search and rescue aircraft reaches the scene of
the accident. If, in the meantime, such aircraft is unable to
establish communication with the appropriate rescue coordination
centre or air traffic services unit, it shall, by mutual
agreement, hand over to an aircraft capable of establishing and
maintaining such communications until the arrival of the first
search and rescue aircraft.
5.6.3 When it is necessary for an aircraft to convey
information to survivors or surface rescue units, and two-way
communication its not available, it shall, if practicable, drop
communication equipment that would enable direct contact to
be established, or convey the information by dropping a hard
copy message.
5.6.4 When a ground signal has been displayed, the
aircraft shall indicate whether the signal has been understood
or not by the means described in 5.6.3 or, if this is not practicable,
by making the appropriate visual signal.
5.6.5 When it is necessary for an aircraft to direct a
surface craft to the place where an aircraft or surface craft is
in distress, the aircraft shall do so by transmitting precise
instructions by any means at its disposal. If no radio communication
can be established, the aircraft shall make the
appropriate visual signal.
Note.— Air-to-surface and surface-to-air visual signals are
published in Volume III of Doc 9731.
5.7 Procedures for a pilot-in-command
intercepting a distress transmission
Whenever a distress transmission is intercepted by a pilot-incommand
of an aircraft, the pilot shall, if feasible:
a) acknowledge the distress transmission;
b) record the position of the craft in distress if given;
c) take a bearing on the transmission;
d) inform the appropriate rescue coordination centre or air
traffic services unit of the distress transmission, giving
all available information; and
e) at the pilot’s discretion, while awaiting instructions, proceed
to the position given in the transmission.
5.8 Search and rescue signals
5.8.1 The air-to-surface and surface-to-air visual signals
in the Appendix shall, when used, have the meaning indicated
therein. They shall be used only for the purpose indicated and
no other signals likely to be confused with them shall be used.
5.8.2 Upon observing any of the signals in the Appendix,
aircraft shall take such action as may be required by the interpretation
of the signal given in that Appendix.
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Chapter 5
25/11/04 5-4
5.9 Maintenance of records
5.9.1 Recommendation.— Each rescue coordination
centre should keep a record of the operational efficiency of the
search and rescue organization in its region.
5.9.2 Recommendation.— Each rescue coordination
centre should prepare appraisals of actual search and rescue
operations in its region. These appraisals should comprise any
pertinent remarks on the procedures used and on the emergency
and survival equipment, and any suggestions for
improvement of those procedures and equipment. Those
appraisals which are likely to be of interest to other States
should be submitted to ICAO for information and
dissemination as appropriate.
ANNEX 12 APP-1 25/11/04
APPENDIX. SEARCH AND RESCUE SIGNALS
(Note.— See Chapter 5, 5.8 of the Annex)
1. Signals with surface craft
1.1 The following manoeuvres performed in sequence by
an aircraft mean that the aircraft wishes to direct a surface
craft towards an aircraft or a surface craft in distress:
a) circling the surface craft at least once;
b) crossing the projected course of the surface craft close
ahead at low altitude and:
1) rocking the wings; or
2) opening and closing the throttle; or
3) changing the propeller pitch.
Note.— Due to high noise level on board surface craft, the
sound signals in 2) and 3) may be less effective than the visual
signal in 1) and are regarded as alternative means of
attracting attention.
c) heading in the direction in which the surface craft is to
be directed.
Repetition of such manoeuvres has the same meaning.
1.2 The following manoeuvres by an aircraft means that
the assistance of the surface craft to which the signal is
directed is no longer required:
— crossing the wake of the surface craft close astern at a
low altitude and:
1) rocking the wings; or
2) opening and closing the throttle; or
3) changing the propeller pitch.
Note.— The following replies may be made by surface craft
to the signal in 1.1:
— for acknowledging receipt of signals:
1) the hoisting of the “code pennant” (vertical red and
white stripes) close up (meaning understood);
2) the flashing of a succession of “T’s” by signal lamp
in the Morse code;
3) the changing of heading to follow the aircraft.
— for indicating inability to comply:
1) the hoisting of the international flag “N” (a blue and
white checkered square);
2) the flashing of a succession of “N’s” in the Morse
code.
Note.— See Note following 1.1 b), 3).
2. Ground-air visual
signal code
2.1 Ground-air visual signal code
for use by survivors
No. Message Code
symbol
1 Require assistance
2 Require medical assistance
3 No or Negative
4 Yes or Affirmative
5 Proceeding in this direction
Annex 12 — Search and Rescue Appendix
25/11/04 APP-2
2.2 Ground-air visual signal code
for use by rescue units
2.3 Symbols shall be at least 2.5 metres (8 feet) long and
shall be made as conspicuous as possible.
Note 1.— Symbols may be formed by any means such as:
strips of fabric, parachute material, pieces of wood, stones or
such like material; marking the surface by tramping, or
staining with oil.
Note 2.— Attention to the above signals may be attracted by
other means such as radio, flares, smoke and reflected light.
3. Air-to-ground signals
3.1 The following signals by aircraft mean that the
ground signals have been understood:
a) during the hours of daylight:
— by rocking the aircraft’s wings;
b) during the hours of darkness:
— flashing on and off twice the aircraft’s landing lights
or, if not so equipped, by switching on and off twice
its navigation lights.
3.2 Lack of the above signal indicates that the ground
signal is not understood.
— END —
No. Message Code
symbol
1 Operation completed
2 We have found all personnel
3 We have found only some personnel
4 We are not able to continue. Returning
to base
5 Have divided into two groups. Each
proceeding in direction indicated
6 Information received that aircraft is in this
direction
7 Nothing found. Will continue to search hahahahhahahahah 下载下来看看，谢谢。。。 好东西，下载了保存
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