GEN 3.6 SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR)
1. Responsible service
The Search and Rescue services in Portugal are organized in accordance with Standards and Recommended Practices of ICAO, resting with the Air Force and Navy authorities the overall responsibility for providing the necessary resources.
Rescue Coordination Centres:
Lisboa Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Lisboa)
| Post: | RCC Lisboa - Comando Aéreo Avenida Tenente Martins, Monsanto 1500-589 Lisboa PORTUGAL |
| AFS: | LPAMYCYX |
| Phone: | +351 217 708 207/205 (Duty Officer - H24) +351 217 708 101 (RCC Chief) +351 217 708 216 (SAR Mission Coordinator Officer - H24) +351 217 708 109 (RCC Chief Assistance) +351 217 716 000 (General) |
| FAX: | +351 217 708 134 (Duty Officer - H24) +351 217 708 176 RCC working days 09:00-17:00 LMT) +351 217 716 024 (COMCEN CA) |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Search and Rescue Region: | Lisboa SRR |
| Responsible agency or department: | Força Aérea Portuguesa/CA |
| Name and location of rescue sub-centre: | NIL |
| Remarks: | Direct line between RCC and Lisboa ACC |
| RESCUE UNITS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | LOCATION | FACILITIES | REMARKS |
| a | b | c | d |
OVAR - LPOV | 405513N 0083838W | 1 A119 (HEL - L) | Only to 5NM from coast line |
BEJA - LPBJ | 380444N 0075557W | 1 P3 (ELR) | KIT SAR |
MONTIJO - LPMT | 384218N 0090215W | 1 C130 (VLR) | KIT SAR |
1 EH 101 - (HEL-H) | |||
1 C295 (LRG) | KIT SAR | ||
Lisboa (Harbour) | 384012N 0090848W | 2 RESCUE VESSELS | Speed 19 KT Capacity 100 persons |
FUNCHAL (Santa Cruz Harbour) | 323830N 0165454W | 1 RESCUE VESSEL | Speed 20 KT Capacity 50 persons |
PORTO SANTO (Madeira TMA) | 330415N 0162059W | 1 C295 (LRG) | KIT SAR |
1 EH 101 - (HEL-H) | |||
Lajes Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Lajes)
| Post: | RCC Lajes Estrada do Juncal, porta da BA4 9760-402 Praia da Vitória Ilha Terceira, Açores Portugal |
| AFS: | LPLAYCYX |
| Phone: | +351 295 540 515 (working days 09:00 -17:00 LMT) +351 919 552 341 (Duty Officer - H24) +351 295 540 524 (Flight OPS Centre - H24) |
| FAX: | +351 295 540 793 (working days 09:00 -17:00 LMT) |
| Email: | [email protected] |
| Search and Rescue Region: | Santa Maria Oceanic SRR |
| Responsible agency or department: | Força Aérea Portuguesa/Zona Aérea dos Açores |
| Name and location of rescue sub-centre: | NIL |
| Remarks: | Direct RTF circuits between RCC and related units |
| RESCUE UNITS | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| NAME | LOCATION | FACILITIES | REMARKS |
| a | b | c | d |
Lajes - LPLA | 384543N 0270527W | 1 C130 (VLR) | KIT SAR Normally based at Montijo. When necessary, it will eventually operate from Lajes in order to assure Very-Long-Range (VLR) search. |
| 1 C295 (LRG) | KIT SAR | ||
1 EH-101 (HEL-H) | |||
1 P3 (ELR) | KIT SAR Normally based at Beja. When necessary, it will eventually operate from Lajes in order to assure Extra-Long-Range (ELR) search. | ||
PONTA DELGADA (Harbour) | 374412N 0253954W | 1 RESCUE VESSEL | Speed 19 KT Capacity 100 persons |
2. Area of responsibility
The Search and Rescue Service comprises two Search and Rescue Regions (SRR):
- The Lisboa Search and Rescue Region which coincides with Lisboa FIR as describe in AIP Portugal ENR 2.1.
- The Santa Maria Search and Rescue Region which coincides with Santa Maria Oceanic FIR as described in AIP Portugal ENR 2.1.
3. Types of service
For information regarding this section, see AIP Portugal GEN 3.6.3.
4. SAR agreements
Not applicable
5. Conditions of availability
Not applicable
6. Procedures and Signals Use
Procedures
Procedures for pilot-in-command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call and/or message are outlined in ICAO Annex 12, chapter 5.
Communications
Transmission and reception of distress and urgency messages within the Lisboa and Santa Maria SRR are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, volume II, chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.
For communications during SAR operations, the codes and abbreviations published in ICAO DOC 8400 are used.
The frequency 121.500 MHZ is guarded continuously at all Area Control Centres and Flight Information Centres. It is also available at Lisboa and Santa Maria Approach Control Offices. In addition, the aerodrome control towers serving international aerodromes and alternate aerodromes will, on request, guard the frequency 121.500 MHZ. All coastal stations guard the international distress frequencies.
Military radar station, radio callsign BATINA maintain listen watch 121.500 MHZ and 243.000 MHZ continuously.
Rescue aircraft belonging to permanent SAR units use the call-sign “RESCUE” followed by the last 2 digits of the given SSR code during rescue operations. SSR codes for Portugal are 7720 to 7727.
Search and rescue signals
The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, chapter 5, paragraph 5.10. and shown in the following tables.
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 |  |
| In doubt use the International symbol: SOS | ||
Ground-air visual signal code for use by rescue units
| 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 |  |
| Symbols shall be at least 2,5 M (8 FT) 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, etc. | |
| Note 2. | Attention to the above signals may be attracted by other means such as radio, flares, smoke and reflected light. | |
