Mission Scanner Training Part 1

Civil Air Patrol
United States Air Force Auxiliary
Integrity - Volunteer Service - Excellence - Respect

Mission Scanner
Qualification
Part 1: Fam/Prep Training

Maj Nicholas McLarty

Task P-2013
(Discuss Mission Scanner
Duties and Responsibilities)

America’s Air Force Auxiliary

Peacetime Emergency
Services Missions
 Disaster Relief  Homeland Security
 Component of FEMA Urban  Support DHS (CBP and
Search and Rescue Program FEMA) and DOD
 Damage Assessment  Aerial Photography
 Communications  ARCHER
 Transportation  Border and Coastal Patrols

 Search and Rescue  Counterdrug Operations
 Conduct >90% of inland  Supports DHS (CBP and
SAR on behalf of USAF ICE), DEA, US Forest
Service, and others
 Duties limited to:
 Emergency  Reconnaissance
Communications  Communications
 Transportation


Civil Defense/Wartime
Missions
 OPLAN 1000 provides  Activities Performed
guidance for CAP regions and  Provide emergency
wings to assist the National communications network
Command Authority during  Provide damage
times of national emergency assessment
 Support state and regional
disaster airlift (SARDA)
 Provide radiological
monitoring and
decontamination teams
 Airlift of high priority
resources


Mission Scanner Requirements

 Trainee
 Qualified General Emergency Services (GES)
 At least 18 years of age (minimum; should be mature)
 MS familiarization and preparatory training
 Commanders authorization

 Qualification
 MS requirements
 Exercise participation (two separate missions are
minimum, you probably will need more)
 Unit certification and recommendation


Individual Responsibility

Illness
Medication
Stress
Alcohol
Fatigue
Emotion


Scanner Duties &
Responsibilities
 PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY: Visual Search
 Be prepared to fly the mission — clothing, equipment,
credentials, etc.
 Assist in avoiding obstacles during taxiing
 Obey ‗sterile cockpit‘ rules – limit conversation to mission- and
safe-related topics during critical phases of flight, or anytime the crew
is executing high-load tasks
 Critical phases of flight include takeoff and landing
 Any time the aircraft is low altitude is a critical phase of flight
 Employ effective scanning techniques
 Report observations accurately and honestly
 Keep accurate sketches and notes
 Complete all required paperwork
 Conduct the mission as planned & report availability


Task P-2014
(Discuss CAP Liability
Coverage and Mishap
Reporting)


Liability
(CAPR 900-5, CAP Insurance/Benefits Program)

 Federal Employee Compensation Act (FECA)
 Worker‘s compensation
 Injured or killed on Air Force-assigned missions
 Commercial insurance for corporate missions
 Coverage varies depending on the type of mission
 Know your coverage for the missions you are on

 Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA)
 Liability protection
 CAP members acting within the scope of their duties on
CAP operational missions
 Air Force assigned missions (including 911T)
 CAP corporate missions


Liability & Mishap Reporting

 Wing and Region Commanders may assess CAP
members for the cost of repairs due to damage to
CAP Aircraft

 CAPR 62-2, Mishap Reporting
 CAPF 78, Mishap Report Form

 Avionics lock
 Not installed on all aircraft


Task P-2015
(Enter Data into CAP Forms)


CAPF 101, Civil Air Patrol
Specialty Qualification Card
 Used to identify mission-
qualified personnel
 Obtained through eServices
(My Operations
Qualifications)
 Each member must have a
valid CAPF 101 to participate
on missions
 CAPF 76, Radio Operator
Authorization, now
incorporated into CAPF 101


CAPF 101, Civil Air Patrol
Specialty Qualification Card


Specialty Qualification
Training Record (SQTR)
 Used to document
training towards
qualification in an ES
rating
 Obtained through
eServices (My
Operations
Qualifications)
 Each member in trainee
status must have an
SQTR to participate on
missions


Specialty Qualification
Training Record (SQTR)


CAPF 104, Mission Flight Plan /
Briefing / Debriefing Form
 Online (WMIRS-generated)
version of form is preferred
 CAPR 60-3 requirement
 Completed for each mission
sortie
 Clear and legible


CAPF 104, Mission Flight Plan /
Briefing / Debriefing Form


CAPF 108, CAP Payment / Reimbursement
Document for Aviation / Automotive /
Miscellaneous Expenses

 Online (WMIRS-
generated) version of
form is preferred
 Must use current form
(all previous editions
are obsolete)
 CAPR 173-3
requirement
 Completed for each
mission
 File within 30 days after
mission completion
 Complete, accurate and
legible


CAPF 108, CAP Payment / Reimbursement
Document for Aviation / Automotive /
Miscellaneous Expenses


Entering Data onto Forms

 Data must be accurate and legible
 Print, or have another crewmember fill out the form.
 Electronic

 General rules:
 Corrections: line through and initial (no ―Liquid
Paper‖)
 No signature labels or stamped signatures
 Attachments: Name, Date, Mission & Sortie number,
‗N‘ Number, Hobbs time
 Review the form. Make sure blanks or ―N/A‖ are
intentional.


Task P-2016
(Identify and Discuss Major
Aircraft Controls)


The Airplane


Basic Components
Right Vertical
Aileron Stabilizer
Empennage
Right Rudder
Flap

Trim Tabs
Right
Wing Elevator

Left Flap

Left
Aileron
Propeller

Nose Main Landing
Gear Gear Light

Left Wing


Ailerons provide roll control


Elevators provide pitch control


Rudder controls yaw


Trim tabs neutralize control pressures


Fuel selector … selects fuel


Task P-2017
(Identify and Discuss Major
Aircraft Instruments)


Typical Instrument Panel


Magnetic Compass

 Primary
 Doesn‘t require any
power
 Used to set HI (DG)
 Installation problems
 Bank angles and speed
changes can cause a
compass to show the
wrong heading


Heading Indicator

 Vacuum gyro (Directional
gyro)
 Stable indications
 Quick response to turns
 Electrical or vacuum-
driven
 Will drift, requires
periodic re-alignment


Altimeter

 Static pressure
 Usually set to show
pressure altitude above
Mean Sea Level (MSL)
 Accurate altitude is
dependent on the
altimeter setting


Turn Coordinator

 Electric
 Really two instruments
 Miniature aircraft shows
turn rate only - does not
show bank angle
 Inclinometer shows
quality of turn -
Coordinated, slip, skid


Attitude Indicator

 Vacuum gyro
 Highly reliable & useful
 Provides a horizon
reference
 Hash marks indicate
bank angle
 Climb/descent marks


Airspeed Indicator

 Static & Ram pressure
 Knots (and/or MPH)
 Colored markings show
ranges
 Shows aircraft speed
through the air


Vertical Speed Indicator

 Static pressure rate of
change
 Climb or descent rate
 Has a lag due to design
 Use with altimeter


Tachometer

 RPM
 Markings — green arc
 Indicates power


Other Instruments

 Gauges
 Fuel (accurate at empty)
 Manifold pressure
 Fuel flow
 Oil Temperature and
Pressure
 Vacuum and Generator
 Exhaust Gas
Temperature
 Instruments vary from
aircraft to aircraft


Task P-2018
(Discuss Aircraft Weight and
Balance)


Weight and Balance

 The wings generate a
limited amount of lift
 Maximum weight for an Lift
aircraft is set by the
manufacturer
 Pitch stability is
affected by the location Force from horizontal
tail surface
of the center of gravity Weight

 The pilot computes
weight and balance and
controls it by loading
the aircraft correctly


Weight and Balance

 Excessive weight adversely impacts performance:
 Longer take off and landing distance
 Reduced climb performance
 Reduced ability to withstand turbulence and wind shear
forces
 Out of Forward C.G. limits can cause:
 Reduced up-elevator authority (ability to raise the nose)
 Can eliminate the ability to flare for landing
 Out of Rear C.G. limits can cause:
 Reduced down-elevator authority (ability to lower the nose)
 Can make stall recovery difficult or impossible


Task P-2019
(Identify Items Checked During
an Aircraft Preflight
Inspection)


Aircraft Preflight Inspection

 WALK AROUND
 WINGS
 FUSELAGE
 PROPELLER
 CONTROLS
 LIGHTS
 TIRES
 OIL
 FUEL
 COWLING
 TIE DOWNS
 CHOCKS


Task P-2020
(Discuss the Dangers of Wake
Turbulence)


Wake Turbulance

 Caused by aircraft
moving through the
air generating lift
(proportional to
weight)
 Settle 500 to 800 feet
below the flight path
 Drift out slowly (5
mph) on the ground
 Takeoff before, land
after other aircraft


Task P-2021
(Discuss how Atmospheric and
Lighting Conditions Effect
Scanning Effectiveness)


Sighting Distance
Average Visibility

Object Distance
Person in life jacket (open water or moderate seas) 1/2 mile

Person in small life raft (open water/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


Atmospheric and Lighting
Conditions
 Position of the sun
 Clouds and shadows
 Terrain and ground cover
 Surface conditions
 Cleanliness of the windows
 Use of binoculars
 Use of sunglasses


Atmospheric and Lighting Conditions:
Fog


Cloud Shadows


Dust Storm


Haze


Clouds & Haze


Lighting Conditions

 Use of binoculars can rapidly bring on eye fatigue and
lead to disorientation and even airsickness.
 Use only for brief periods to check sightings and for
detailed viewings of an assessment area or target.

 Looking through a camera or camcorder viewfinder for
extended periods can be equally as discomforting. Take
breaks.

 Sunglasses reduce eye fatigue and glare, but can:
 lead to reduced retinal image.
 lead to reduced color discrimination.
 Don‘t wear sunglasses under reduced visibility
conditions!


Task P-2022
(Identify Visual Clues and
Wreckage Patterns)


Visual Clues

 Light colored or shiny objects
 Smoke, fire, blackened areas
 Disturbed or discolored foliage
 Fresh bare earth
 Breaks in cultivated field patterns
 Disturbances in water and snow
 Birds and animals
 Signals and messages


Wreckage Patterns

 Hole in the ground
 Cork screw or auger
 Creaming or smear
 The four winds
 Hedge-trimming
 Splash


Scanning Sloping Terrain


Missing Person Search
 A person is very difficult to spot from the air if they
are not actively trying to be spotted
 Lost children and people with diminished capacity
can be especially difficult to spot from the air; often
they will hide from searchers
 Lost people often fight topography; children under
five years frequently travel uphill
 Important to know what color clothes they were
wearing (not just the outer clothes) and their habits


Plain Shirt at 1,000’ AGL


Plain Shirt at 500’ AGL


Camo Shirt at 500’ AGL


Yellow Shirt at 500’ AGL


Blue Shirt at 500’ AGL


Orange Shirt at 500’ AGL


Signal Mirror at 500’ AGL


Task P-2023
(Discuss How Reduced
Visibility and Turbulence Effect
Search Operations)


Task P-2024
(Discuss Strategies to Combat
High Altitude Effects)


Task P-2025
(Discuss Common Search
Terms)


Search Terms
 Ground track is an imaginary line on the ground that
is made by an aircraft‘s flight path over the ground

 Maximum Area of Possibility is normally a circular
area centered at the search objective‘s last know
position, with certain corrections

 Meteorological visibility is the maximum distance at
which large objects (e.g., a mountain) can be seen


Search Terms
 Probability Area is a smaller area, within the maximum area of
possibility, where there is an increased likelihood of locating
the search objective

 Probability of Detection (POD) is the likelihood, expressed in
percent, that a search airplane might locate the objective

 Scanning range is the lateral distance from a scanner‘s aircraft
to an imaginary line on the ground, parallel to the ground
track, that a scanner is expected to have a good chance at
spotting the search objective


Search Terms
 Search Altitude is the altitude the aircraft will fly above the
ground (AGL)

 Search track is an imaginary swath across the surface formed
by the scanning range and the length of the aircraft‘s ground
track

 Search visibility is the distance at which an object on the
ground can be seen and recognized from a particular height

 Track Spacing (S) is the distance between adjacent visual or
electronic search legs


Task P-2026
(Identify what to Look for and
Record during Damage
Assessment Missions)


Aerial survey of WTC


Flooding over levee


Seeping behind levee


Flooded approach


Bridge damage


Tornado


Tornado leaves slabs


Close-up of tornado damage


Wide image of train wreck

Chemical
spill
(hazmat)


Close image of train wreck


Infrared image of train wreck


Plume from train wreck


Task P-2027
(Describe CAP Search
Patterns)


Route Search Pattern


Parallel Track Search Pattern
(Grid Search)


Creeping Line Search Pattern


Expanding Square Search
Pattern

3S

1S
5S

2S

4S


Sector Search Pattern


Contour Search Pattern


Task P-2028
(Discuss Crew Resource
Management)


Why Crew Resource
Management (CRM)?
 Properly trained aircrew members can collectively
perform complex tasks better and make more
accurate decisions than the single best performer
on the team

 An untrained team's overall performance can be
significantly worse than the performance of its
weakest single member

 We will cover behavior and attitudes of teamwork
and communication among team members


Safety Statistics
General Aviation compared to CAP / per 100,000 hours

Civil Air General 9
Year Patrol Aviation
1996 7.79 7.65 8
1997 4.16 7.17 7
1998 4.76 7.43
1999 2.34 6.50 6
2000 0.94 6.57 5
2001 3.57 6.78
2002 7.37 6.69 4 Civil Air Patrol
2003 4.43 6.68 3 General Aviation
2004 5.23 6.49
2005 2.77 7.20 2
2006 1.84 6.35 1
2007 3.70 6.93
2008 2.84 6.86 0
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2009 3.57 7.20
2010 1.78 6.89
All rates per 100,000 hours
NTSB - Avg of past 15 years
*NTSB 2009 - Prelim Rate


Safety Statistics
CAP FY10 Data: # of Mishaps Reported in Phase of Operation

CAP FY10 Data: # of Mishaps Reported in Phase of Operation
35
30
25
20
15
10 # of Mishaps
5
0


Causes of Failure

 Parts and equipment
 Mechanical failures

 People

 Human failures


The Error Chain

 A series of event links that, when considered
together, cause a mishap
 Should any one of the links be ―broken,‖ then the
mishap probably will not occur
 It is up to each crewmember to recognize a link and
break the error chain


Situational Awareness

 Know what is going on around you…
AT ALL TIMES

 Requires:
 Good mental health
 Good physical health
 Attentiveness
 Inquisitiveness


Loss of Situational
Awareness
 Strength of an Idea
 Hidden agenda
 Complacency
 Accommodation
 Sudden Loss of Judgement


Symptoms of Loss of
Situational Awareness
 Fixation
 Ambiguity
 Complacency
 Euphoria
 Confusion
 Distraction
 Overload


Hazardous Attitudes

 Anti-authority
 Impulsiveness
 Invulnerability
 Macho
 Resignation
 Get There-itis


Regaining Situational
Awareness
 Reduce workload: Suspend the mission
 Reduce threats:
 Get away from the ground and other obstacles
(e.g., climb to a safe altitude)
 Establish a stable flight profile where you can
safely analyze the situation
 Remember:
―Aviate, Navigate, Communicate‖


How Do We Get It Back?

 Trust your gut feelings
 ―Time Out,‖ ―Abort,‖ or ―This is Stupid.‖
 Pilot establishes aircraft in a safe and stable
configuration, and then discuss the problem
 Sterile Cockpit
 Limit talk to the minimum necessary for safety.
 Taxi, takeoff, departure, low-level
flying, approach, landing


Task Saturation

 Keep your workload to an acceptable level
 If you feel overwhelmed, tell the others before
becoming saturated and losing you situational
awareness
 Watch your team members for signs of saturation


Separation of Duties

 CAPR 60-3

 Flight-related –
 Aircraft commander (MP/PIC)

 Mission-related –
 Mission commander (MO)


Task O-2015
(Demonstrate Ground
Operations and Safety)


Three Rules of Safety

 NEVER sacrifice safety to save time
 Use established procedures and checklists
 You may have to deviate from common procedures
— if you do, use common sense and prudent
judgment (see Rule #1)

 The most dangerous part of a mission is driving to
and from the airport or mission base!


Safety In and Around Aircraft

 No smoking
 Keep clear
 Fire on the ground
 Moving and loading the aircraft
 Entry/Egress - normal and emergency
 Seat belts and shoulder harnesses (<1,000‘)
 Fuel management – you have an interest in making
sure you don‘t run out of fuel. The pilot should brief
the crew on how much fuel will be needed and where
you‘ll refuel, if necessary.


Aircraft Refueling Procedures


Task O-2017
(Demonstrate Emergency
Egress and Post-Crash
Actions)


Survival 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)


Emergency 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.
May also exit through the baggage door.

 Can‘t move the front seats from the rear, so agree on
who does what and in what sequence

 Discuss what to do if one or more of the crew is
incapacitated


Emergency Egress


Post-Crash Actions

 Get clear of the aircraft if there is any danger of fire or
having it fall on you

 Treat yourself for shock by sipping water

 Check everyone for injuries and apply first aid

 Try your cell phone or radio. Activate the ELT.

 Stay with the aircraft if in a remote area - we can find an
aircraft but its easy to miss a survivor

 Finally, consider water, shelter and food (listed in order
of importance -- you can go for days without food)


Survival Equipment

 Water is the most  Some of the signals you
important resource - If in might use include…
desert areas staying still  Signal Mirrors (best
during the heat of the day method when the sun is
and working when it is out)
cooler conserves water  Flares
 Tarps
 Carry water or have
purification tablets  Compact Disks (akin to
the signal mirror)
 Strobes
 Have a container for water
and consider a metal cup  ELT
for boiling (purification)  Smoke or other man-
made signals
 Signaling equipment is
critical


Task O-2019
(Demonstrate Proper Number
and Character Pronunciation)


Phonetic Alphabet

 CAP uses the NATO / ICAO phonetic
alphabet exclusively

 Eachletter is represented by a uniquely
pronounced word to enable consistent
and accurate pronunciation


Phonetic Alphabet

A – Alpha (AL-FAH) N – November (NO-VEM-BER)
B – Bravo (BRAH-VOH) O – Oscar (OSS-CAH)
C – Charlie (CHAR-LEE) P – Papa (PAH-PAH)
D – Delta (DELL-TAH) Q – Quebec (KEH-BECK)
E – Echo (ECK-OH) R – Romeo (ROW-ME-OH)
F – Foxtrot (FOKS-TROT) S – Sierra (SEE-AIR-RAH)
G – Golf (GOLF) T – Tango (TANG-GO)
H – Hotel (HOH-TEL) U – Uniform (YOU-NEE-FORM)
I – India (IN-DEE-AH) V – Victor (VIK-TAH)
J – Juliet (JEW-LEE-ETT) W – Whiskey (WISS-KEY)
K – Kilo (KEY-LOH) X – X-Ray (ECKS-RAY)
L – Lima (LEE-MAH) Y – Yankee (YANG-KEY)
M – Mike (MIKE) Z – Zulu (ZOO-LOO)


Numbers / Figures

 Numbers (figures) transmitted using CAP standard
 During abbreviated procedures: Figures in a message
may be spoken as in normal speech
 During full procedures: Figures are sent digit-by-digit
preceded by the proword FIGURES
 Call signs, grid/latitude/longitude references, date-
time-groups in formal messages, and authentication
must be transmitted using digit-by-digit pronunciation
 Exception: CAP aircraft use the FAA-assigned air carrier
callsign “CAP XXXX” which may be stated in “group
form”, in groups of one or two digits


Numbers / Figures

0 – Zero (ZEE-RO) 5 – Five (FIFE)
1 – One (WUN) 6 – Six (SIX)
2 – Two (TOO) 7 – Seven (SEV-EN)
3 – Three (TREE) 8 – Eight (AIT)
4 – Four (FOW-ER) 9 – Nine (NIN-ER)


Numbers / Figures

Number Satisfactory Conditions Difficult Conditions
23 Twenty three FIGURES too tree
50 Fifty FIGURES fife zee-ro
146 One hundred and forty six FIGURES wun fow-er six
200 Two hundred FIGURES too zee-ro zee-ro
1009 One thousand and nine FIGURES wun zee-ro zee-ro nin-er
1630 hours Sixteen thirty hours FIGURES wun six tree zee-ro hours
2800 Two thousand eight hundred FIGURES too ait zee-ro zee-ro
12000 Twelve thousand FIGURES wun too zee-ro zee-ro zee-ro


Mixed Groups

Number Satisfactory Conditions Difficult Conditions
ACP 125 ACP one twenty-five I SPELL ALFA CHARLIE PAPA
FIGURES wun too fife


Date-Time-Groups

 The Date-Time-Group (DTG) is made up of the day of
the month, the time in Universal Coordinated Time
(UTC) or Zulu (Z), the calendar month, and the last
two digits of the year

Example:
1100 hours Central Standard Time on 3 January 2006
DTG reads as: 031700Z JAN 06

 Central Standard Time = UTC – 6 hours
 Central Daylight Time = UTC – 5 hours


Task O-2020
(Use Prowords and Code
Words)


Prowords

 Proper use significantly
enhances accuracy and
clarity of communications
when all operators
understand their use

 During abbreviated
procedures:
 You may omit certain prowords
 Do not substitute other words
proword
or phrases in their place


Prowords

Proword Explanation
AFFIRMATIVE You are correct. Yes.
ALL AFTER The portion of the message that follows _____.
ALL BEFORE The portion of the message that precedes _____.
BREAK I indicate separation of text from other portions of message.
CORRECTION An error has been made in this transmission.
FIGURES A group of one or more numbers.
INITIAL(S) A group of one or more letters.
I READ BACK The following is in response to your request to read back.
I SAY AGAIN I am repeating the transmission or portion.
I SPELL I will spell the next word phonetically.
NEGATIVE Not received. No.


Prowords

Proword Explanation
OUT End of my transmission; no answer or reply required.
OVER End of my transmission; an answer is required or expected.
READ BACK Repeat this transmission back to me exactly as received.
SAY AGAIN Repeat the portion of your last transmission I am indicating.
THIS IS This transmission is from the station whose call sign follows.
TIME The figures that follow are a Date-Time-Group (DTG).
WAIT I must pause. Standby. Do not transmit.
WAIT OUT I must pause. Contact terminated until I call again. Continue.
WILCO I have received, and understood, and will comply.


Prowords

 End a transmission with
―Over‖ or ―Out‖

 Not both

 Acknowledge a
transmission with
―Roger‖ or ―Wilco‖

 Not both


Codes and Ciphers

 Use only officially
authorized codes

 It has been a practice
within CAP to assign
―code words‖ to
various mission events
 Seldom effective
 Violates the principles of
the Incident Command
System
 Is not authorized


Task O-2021
(Interpret Emergency Signals
and Demonstrate Air/Ground
Team Coordination)


Air to Ground Coordination

 Air-to-Ground Coordination is a core competency:
 It is the best way to keep CAP in the SAR business!
 CAP is the nation‘s premier air-to-ground coordination SAR
organization: in fact, we are the only nationwide
organization that practices it!
 CAP must continue to specialize in this area to eliminate
duplication of resources with other organizations
 CAP capitalizes upon this strength during interagency
operations for the mutual benefit of all


Staging

 If aircraft are the primary search resource, ground units
should be placed on standby at the same time, or preferably
dispatched to advance positions
 Sudden weather changes may force suspension of the air
search. If ground units aren‘t staged, considerable time
may be lost.
 Should the aircrew make a sighting and ground units aren‘t
immediately available, valuable time is lost
 If ground units are the primary search resource but aircrews
may be needed, the air units should be alerted at the
beginning of the search
 Time is needed to locate aircraft and aircrews, brief
them, plan and preflight, launch, and fly to the scene


Briefing

 Often, aircrews will ignore the importance of the
ground team and will not brief with the team prior to
launch
 Although this is not always possible, the opportunity
to establish ground rules can be the difference
between success and failure on an actual mission


Briefing

 Air and ground teams should agree on…
 Communication frequencies
 A rendezvous location and time window
 Pre-coordinated signals
 Lost communications procedures
 The type of support the aircraft can provide the
ground team


Briefing

 Air and ground teams should use the same maps:
 Sectionals are not detailed enough for ground
search, but are necessary when ground units
work with aircraft
 Medium-scale maps, such as U.S. Forest
Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S.
Geological Survey intermediate scale
(1:100,000), and local maps are the most versatile
for air/ground coordination
 Topographic maps are difficult for aircrews to
use but are needed when low-level and contour
searches are flown


Basic Plan

 The aircrew locates the search objective
 The aircrew then must bring the ground team to the
objective to complete the mission
 There are several ways to accomplish this
 A combination of techniques is also effective


GPS Coordination

 An aircrew can mark the target using GPS equipment
 The crew can then radio the Lat/Long coordinates to the
ground team
 Agree on Number format DDD MM.mmm (Degrees, Minutes
Decimal minutes is standard for reporting to AFRCC, make
sure both teams know how the information is going to be
transmitted
 Even if the ground team is not GPS-equipped, they can mark
the coordinates on a map and navigate to them


Getting It Together

 It is often difficult to get the aircrew and ground team within
positive visual contact of one another
 A common rendezvous point may be used
 e.g., ―Bill‘s Gas Station at the corner of I-15 & Hwy 66‖
 Ground team can also radio their current GPS coordinates to
the aircrew, and the aircrew then navigates to the GT
 Aircrews must know what the ground team members are
wearing (high visibility)
 Orange panel or ID on top of vehicle helps


Wreck with CAP On-Scene


Who Does What?

 Once positive visual contact is established, one of
the most challenging tasks is to maintain sight of
the ground team
 Distinctive vehicle markings of the roof of the
vehicle aid in this task (e.g., panel or ID)
 The scanner is usually the best choice to keep sight
of the ground team


What Did You See on the Last
Slide?
 There were four people in the previous slide
 Did you see them all?
 Two individuals are wearing orange vests
 Two aren‘t

 Conclusion:
 Ground Team Members need to wear highly
visible vests!
 Aircrews can‘t help Ground Teams very well if
they can‘t see them!


Air-to-Ground Coordination
Signals
 Air-to-ground coordination is an art that should be
practiced regularly, both during daylight and at
night
 There are a number of standard air-to-ground visual
signals we will cover in the following slides
 Air and ground teams can also use non-standard
signals if the mission requires, as long as they are
pre-briefed


Ground Team Coordination

 Ground-to-Air Signals
 Size equals visibility
 Natural materials (contrast is important)
 Body signals
 Paulin signals

 Air-to-Ground Signals
 Aircraft motion
 Circling and heading
 Racing the engine
 Message drop


Body Signals


Paulin Signals


Distress Messages

Require doctor Require medical Unable to Require food
Serious injuries supplies proceed and water

Indicate direction Proceeding in this Aircraft seriously
Will attempt
to proceed direction takeoff damaged

All well Not understood
Require fuel and Probably safe to
oil land here

Require signal
No Require map and
Yes lamp
compass

Require firearm Require engineer Information that
and ammunition A/C in this
direction

Divided into 2
Have found only
groups, in Unable to
some personnel
directions as continue;
indicated returning
Nothing found.
Have found all Operation Will continue to
personnel complete search


Aircraft Motion Signals


Task O-2024
(Demonstrate Use of Sectional
Charts)


Sectional Aeronautical
Charts
 1:500,000 Scale
 Medium to slow speed aircraft
 Types of Information: Legend, Aeronautical,
Topographical


Position Determination

 Sectional or Map
 Work from larger to
smaller
 Work from a known
location to present
location
 Watch the scale on maps
 Remain suspicious if all
points don‘t seem to line
up right
 Use groups of 3
characteristics to verify
position


Obstacles and Other Dangers:
Tall Towers


Guy Wires


Power Lines


Low-Flying, Heavy Aircraft


Mission Scanner Training Part 1

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