Search Patterns
This search pattern starts at the LKP and increases in distance at 90 degree turns at an increasing distance
Expanding square
This is the personal equivalent of an ELT
Personal locator beacon
Cut, cut, cut
This is always the most important consideration for any search and rescue crew
Safety
Prior to starting a standard circuit, the aircraft should overfly the survivor and do this
Mark position and GPS
This search pattern is used when an ELT signal is heard over 121.5 VHF frequency
Aural homing (ELT)
This can be received by SARSATs
ELT
This crewmember guides the helicopter over the survivor
Hoist operator
in SAR operations, much of this is done enroute to the scene
Planning
Forward, aft, left, right, up, down + units are standard commands during what type of SAR operation
Hoist
This search pattern is used when the LKP is close and search area is small. It continually returns to the LKP.
Sector search
This would be used to hoist a survivor suspected of a spinal cord injury
Litter
When maneuvering the helicopter over the survivor, this countdown component matters most to the pilot
Rate of countdown
Environmental conditions, track spacing and altitudes are all considered this type of factor
When conducting an aural search, this should be considered when selecting a search altitude
Terrain
This search pattern is used along a flight path or road
Track crawl or parallel search
During hoist operations, visors, gloves, helmets and harnesses would be considered this
Required PPE
Typical standard circuit airspeed
50-70 KIAS
This is a function of altitude, airspeed and track spacing
Search intensity
In order to receive a faint ELT signal on your comm radio, you should do this
This search pattern would be used if a survivor was known to be somewhere on a particular terrain feature
Contour search
It is important to do this to avoid shocking the survivor prior to attaching them to the hoist
Static discharge
This is the most important task of the standard circuit
Keep survivor in sight
Initial searches are typically flown above this altitude
800-1000 ft AGL
When selecting a rescue technique, this one should always be considered first
Lowest risk