SAR Fundamentals/Air observer
From PCSAR
Contents |
Material covered
- SAR Fundamentals Manual: Ch.28 "Air Operations Observer"
- Basic SAR Skills Manual: F-7 "Air Observer Guide"
Time alloted
0.75 hr
- 2005-02 12:45-13:20: 0.7h
- 2006-09-30 13:12-14:15: 1.0h
- 2011-03 13:24-13:42: 0.3h
Lesson plan
- air spotter's course
Aids
Question bank
Q: When searching for a lost person from the air, what clues should you look for?
A:
- tracks
- signals
- smoke/fire
- colour contrasts
- movement
- odd angles of light
- debris
- shiny objects
- anything that appears out of the ordinary
Q: What is the most important element of scanning, in an air search?
A: The ability to concentrate and maintain interest in the task.
Q:
How are sightings reported from an aircraft?
A: State bearing & approximate range. Bearings are in terms of the hours of a clock.
Q: In air search, what is the most important part of scanning?
A: Maintaining interest.
Q: Name some signals to keep an eye out for on the helicopter when looking at the ground?
A:
- smoke (fire)
- flames (fire)
- coloured smoke
- single torch tree
- flares
- sunlight reflection
- messages printed on snow, field or sand
- parachutes
- broken tree tops
Q: How long is the maximum visual efficiency of an air observer?
A: 2-3 hours.
Q: What do you need to know in a helicopter emergency?
A: the location of
- the Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)
- the fire extinguisher
- the survival kit
- the first aid kit
