SAR Flashcards
Minimum Equipment Required (3-50.1)
- DRH
- Rescue strop
- One QSR
- One (1) hoist quick splice plate
- One (1) cable grip with its own crewman’s safety belt
- One (1) rescue hand tool (pneumatic or manual webbing/cable cutter)
- Crewman’s safety belts: Minimum of three (3)
- Six (6) general-purpose, and six (6) high-intensity chemical lights
- Three (3) chemical light straps
- One pair of heavy-duty hoisting gloves
- Three (3) additional cranial assemblies
- Two (2) wool blankets
- One (1) helicopter rescue equipment bag
- One (1) trail line assembly
- One (1) rescue litter sling assembly (2 pieces)
- One (1) Level “A” medical kit
- One (1) rescue litter or SAR MEDEVAC litter assembly
- One (1) Level “B” medical kit (SAR corpsmen use only)
- One (1) SAR medical oxygen system (SAR corpsmen use only).
Additional Required SAR Equipment for Overwater (3-50.1)
- Two (2) MK-58 smoke flares*
- Four (4) MK-25 smoke flares*
- Three (3) electrical marine marker lights
- One (1) electronic datum-marking device (when available)
- Three (3) LPP-1/1A, or three (3) LPU-32/P, preservers
- One (1) MPLR weak link per MPLR carried.
*Six (6) MK-58 flares may be substituted for items 1 and 2
Smoke Marker Burn Times
MK-25: 10-20 min (3-50.1); 13.5-18.5 min (NTRP/NAVAI 11-15-7)
MK-58: at least 45 min (3-50.1); 40-60 min (NTRP/NAVAIR 11-15-7)
MK-18 (overland): 50-90 sec
How are smoke markers activated?
Salt water activated battery that ignites the pyrotechnical compostion.
Mk-58 Warnings/Notes
- Breathing in the smoke from a MLM may result in injury.
- Low altitude flight over a burning MK-58 MLM during the ignition of the second candle may result in the aircraft flying into the ejected flame.
Note: Removal of the marker pull ring from the MK-58 exposes the battery cavity. Entrance of seawater in the cavity will immediately activate the marker. This ring shall not be removed until launching is to be accomplished.
Note: After the tear strip is removed from the M-58, use care to avoid cutting hands on the sharp edges of the can.
Mk-25 Warning/Note
Warning: MK-25 shall not be launched while in hover because of valve plug possibly striking aircraft or personnel
Note: Both the protective cap and arming cap should be kept until marker is deployed. If marker is not deployed, resafe the marker.
Marine Location Marker (MLM) Limitations
- MLMs produce high temperatures and flame, and should not be used to mark survivor positions if there is a change of igniting fuel in the immediate area.
- Avoid dropping MLMs upwind of survivors. MLMs produce abundant smoke that is a caustic irritant to the skin and mucous lining of the nose and throat.
- Avoid low-altitude flight over burning markers. Ignition of the second candle can be forceful with flame occasionally ejected up to 50’.
Direct Deployment Usage (NATOPS)
- In sea states of three or above (Douglas Sea State), it is recommended that the swimmer deploy on the hoist.
- Rescue via direct deployment is recommended in situations where sea states or proximity to obstacles prohibit the swimmer from safely approaching the survivor.
On-Scene Commander Responsibilities
SAR Responsibility Breakdown
- SAR Commander
- SAR Mission Coordinator
- On-Scene Commander
- Search Asset
SAR Publications
MH-60R NATOPS
IAMSAR (International Aeronautical Maritime Search and Rescue Manual)
National SAR Plan
NTTP 3-50.1A Navy Search and Rescue Manual
NTTP 3-22.5 (TACAID)
OPNAV 3130.6E (Navy SAR Instruction)
OPNAV 3130.1A (HSM-35 SAR Instruction)
-SAR TACAID (NTTP 3-22.5): an operational checklist that includes SAR checklists, communications, frequencies, procedures, pattern selection, and miscellaneous information
-SAR Manual (NTTP 3-50.1): has detailed info on a variety of SAR procedures including maritime, aviation, surface, inland, rescue swimmer procedures, info on equipment, etc.
-IAMSAR (Int’nl Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Manual): manual for organization and operation of maritime and aviation SAR. Published jointly by IACO (International Civil Aviation Organization) and International Maritime Organization (IMO). Main purpose is to ensure that cooperation between the areas of operation is effective, and that different rescue units can work well together.
-NSRS (National Search & Rescue Supplement): provides guidance to federal agencies about the implementation of the National Search & Rescue Plan. Provides specific additional national standards and guidance that build upon the baseline established by the IAMSAR.
Requirements to be considered “SAR Capable”
All required equipment
A crew that has the required currency
NATOPS:
-One HAC, one PQM, one MH-60R aircrewman, and one H-60 Search and Rescue Aircrewman
CNAF:
-Any naval helicotper that is assigned to the primary mission to operate as a rescue vehicle over water shall have as a member of its crew one aircrewman who is completely outfitted for water entry.
-Where SAR/Plane Guard is briefed as a primary mission, or when it becomes the primary mission, the rescue aircrewman shall be prepared for immediate water entry.
Where to take survivors (Local Area / Out at Sea)
Local Area:
Scripps La Jolla - Has Level II Trauma Center for severely inured people / civilians
Balboa Hospital for everything else
At Sea:
Take to the carrier if possible; they have a full medical suite
Otherwise, go back to your ship and then the closest shore medical facility of a nation we are allies with that will allow us to fly there.
Salt Water Ingestion Concerns
When operating in a salt spray environment for any period of time, a TGT of 20 degrees or more for a constant torque is an indication of engine performance degradation and possible salt encrustation.
A TGT rise of greater than 40 degrees for a constant torque is an indication of engine performance degradation that may result in compressor stalls.
Callsign when you have survivors in the aircraft
RESCUE
Short Haul Caution
During short-haul evolutions, the aircraft should not exceed 40 knots indicated air speed, or T/M/S NATOPS restrictions; whichever is lower.
Note: During transit, it is recommended that the personnel on the rescue hoist be no higher than 30 feet above ground level (AGL), and airspeed be no faster than safe single engine airspeed.
What types of litter do ships have?
Stokes litter - does not float
Chemlight Illumination Time
4” Green = 6 hours
6” Green = 12 hours
Yellow = 30 min
4” Orange = 8 hours
6” Red = 12 hours
6” IR = 3 hours
White type of flame and smoke do the MK-25/58 make?
Yellow flame, white smoke.
MK-58 is visible for at least 3 miles under normal operating conditions.
Trackline Search Pattern
Used when a craft or person is missing and the intended route of the missing craft or person is the only search lead.
Parallel Search Patterns
Used in the maritime region when the search area is large, only the approximate position of the target is known, and a uniform coverage is desired.
Creeping Line Search Pattern
Used in the maritime region when the search area is long and narrow, the probable location of the target is thought to be on either side of a line between two points, and immediate coverage of one end of the area, followed by rapid advancement of successive search legs along the line is desired.
Man Overboard
Square Search Pattern
Used for concentrated search of small areas where the position of the survivors is known within close limits and the area to be searched is not extensive.
Sector Search Pattern
Used when the position of distress is accurately known and the search area is small.
Also usfeul for overland and multiple passes required.
SAR Condition I
The aircraft shall be spotted for immediate launch. It shall be headed into the relative wind with rotor blades spread, starting equipment plugged in, and a landing signal enlisted (LSE), starting crewman, plane captain, and required plane handlers standing by. Unless otherwise directed, at least four tie-downs shall be attached to the aircraft. The flight crew shall be ready for launch in all respects, with all personal equipment attached and adjusted as in flight. When the air officer passes the word to stand by to launch the Condition I helicopter(s), engines shall be started without further instructions; however, rotor engagement and launch shall be positively controlled by the tower.
SAR Condition II
The same conditions apply as for Condition I, except that flight crews shall stand by in the ready rooms or in other such suitable locations.
SAR Condition III
Main rotor blades may be folded and the aircraft need not be in position for immediate launch; however, it must be parked so as to allow direct access to a suitable launch spot. A tow bar shall be attached to the aircraft and a specific LSE, tractor driver, handling crew, and starting crewman shall be designated and assigned to each helicopter. These personnel must be thoroughly briefed so that when the order is given to prepare launch, the aircraft can be safely and expeditiously moved into position and readied for launch. Flight crews should be briefed for the launch and be standing by at a designated location.
SAR Condition IV
This is similar to Condition III except that minor maintenance may be performed on the aircraft if no delay in launch is involved.
Double Rescue Hook
*When hoisting personnel, the large hook of the double rescue hook (DRH) shall always be used, without exception. Under no circumstances is it permissible to use the small hook of the rescue hook to hoist personnel.
- The DRH is the primary rescue device for helicopter and shipboard recovery. The DRH assembly includes a large hook rated at 3,000 lbs., a small hook rated at 1,000 lbs., and an equipment ring rated at 1,500 lbs. Both the large and small hooks have a spring-loaded latch to prevent inadvertent release of personnel or equipment.
Rescue Strop
- The rescue strop is primarily designed as a rescue device for uninjured personnel. Failure to properly use the retaining straps on the rescue strop may allow the survivor to slip out and fall.
*Primarily used on nonaviator/civilian survivors, and allows the RS and survivor to be hoisted at the same time
*Deploying to a nonaviator survivor without the aid of RS is not recommended and should only be performed when no RS is readily available from a nearby Search and Rescue Unit, and immediate survivor recovery is deemed necessary.
*During night/IMC operations the free end of the rescue strop shall be illuminated
*The arm retainer straps shall be put around both of the survivor’s arms. The arm retainer straps should ideally go over both of the survivor’s arms, above the elbows, and be cinched down tightly to preclude the survivor’s arms from slipping out.
Quick Splice Plate
The hoist quick splice plate is intended for use when the hoist cable has been intentionally cut. The bitter end of the severed cable is threaded through five numbered holes and secured with a stainless steel clip. Once the hoist quick splice plate is attached to the cable, the DRH is used to complete the rescue.
Cable Grip
The cable grip consists of two jaws, which open and close onto the cable, and a shackle, which enables the cable grip to be attached to the air crewman’s safety belt to take the weight of the hoist load off the hoist brake assembly during a hoist failure. The cable grip is capable of supporting 1,000 pounds.
Employed by throwing gunners belt over the boom going aft to forward to avoid the engine intake.
