SAR Fundamentals/Air observer/Question bank

#	Question	Answer
1	When searching for a lost person from the air, what clues should you look for?	tracks signals smoke/fire colour contrasts movement odd angles of light debris shiny objects anything that appears out of the ordinary
2	What is the most important element of scanning, in an air search?	The ability to concentrate and maintain interest in the task.
3	How are sightings from an aircraft reported to the pilot and other team members?	State bearing & approximate range. Bearings are in terms of the hours of a clock.
4	Name some signals to keep an eye out for on the helicopter when looking at the ground?	smoke (fire) flames (fire) coloured smoke single torch tree flares sunlight reflection messages printed on snow, field or sand parachutes broken tree tops
5	How long is the maximum visual efficiency of an air observer?	2-3 hours.
6	What type of spotting will the helicopter pilot be doing in an air observation mission.	The pilot does not spot, only flies the helicopter.
7	What is the primary responsibility of an Air Observer?	To identify clues from the air and report their location