Search and Rescue in Australia - Information for Recreational Pilots

[Guest Brett Campany]

Hey guys, I thought I’d post some details of the organisation I work for, I suppose more for peace of mind when you go on cross country flights and the unlikely event of an emergency may happen.

 

AeroRescue is contracted by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) as a first response Search and Rescue (SAR) unit for land, sea and air SAR situations.

 

Our website is located here.

 

AeroRescue - supporting the Australian Maritime Safety Authority

 

We’re based in 5 locations around Australia, Perth, Cairns, Brisbane, Darwin and Essendon.

 

Our aircraft, a Dornier 328 with 5 crew on board. The Dornier is fitted out with a Star Safire III Forward Looking Infra Red camera and Digital TV, search radar and emergency beacon homing equipment. We also carry a variety of stores that we can drop you at any time and at any location. These stores contain everything from food, water, shelter, communications and emergency supplies like tools, flares and ground signals.

 

 

 

More details on our aircraft can be found in this PDF file.

 

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Publications/Fact_sheets/Dornier(12-06).pdf

 

To make it easier for us to find you, we recommend that you carry either an Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) or Personal Locator Beacon (PLB).

 

These beacons can be purchased from boating shops, aviation shops or direct through a company like GME.

 

EPIRBS and PLB’s currently work on 121.5MHz and 406MHz frequencies.

 

**As of the 1st of February 2009, the 121.5MHz EPIRBS will no longer be detected by satellite so when purchasing an EPIRB or PLB, please ensure it is a 406MHz beacon**

 

When you purchase your 406MHz EPIRB / PLB you then register the beacon with the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and from there all of your details, contact numbers, aircraft type and description is recorded. The more information you give, the better it will be for us to find you.

 

The signal transmitted by your 406MHz beacon is received by satellite and then processed by AMSA and given to the emergency services.

 

When we're given the call we can get an aircraft out to you well within 6 to 12 hours depending on where you are, anywhere in or around Australia.

 

From that aircraft we will drop supplies and maintain top cover until either a helicopter or ground rescue team can get to you.

 

What to look for in an EPIRB or PLB

 

# 406MHz

 

# Completely waterproof.

 

# Fitted with long life batteries capable of retaining up to 90% of their original Amp Hour capacity after 10 years.

 

# Safety seal which serves to indicate that the beacon has never been turned on and the batteries have not been used.

 

# Test facility to allow the beacons functionality to be tested without fear of accidentally transmitting a distress signal. The test actually measures the transmitters power output, not just the battery condition.

 

*Courtesy http://www.gme.net.au/

 

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Publications/Fact_sheets/Beacons_FaQ.pdf

 

http://www.gme.net.au/products/emergency-beacons/epirbs/MT400

 

It doesn't matter where you are in this great country, if you're in trouble and you carry an EPIRB or PLB, we can get to you.

 

So if you're planning that big trip, take piece of mind with you and carry and EPIRB, they range from $300 onwards and could save your life in any situation.

 

For more details log onto the AMSA website

 

http://www.amsa.gov.au

 

There’s also a detailed PDF document on Aviation Search and Rescue located here.

 

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Publications/documents/AviationSearchandRescue.pdf

 

When it comes to being rescued, preservation of life is the number one priority! We will come for you and we will find you as long as you have the right gear.

 

When do you turn your beacon on? Well I believe as soon as you can in an emergency! If your aircraft isn’t fitted with an Emergency Locating Transmitter (ELT) that is activated on impact, then you’re going to have to get that EPIRB / PLB turned on as soon as possible so it’s always good to have it within reach. Practise having it in an easy location and turning it on or show your passenger where it is and how to use it in case you’re too busy to turn it on youself.

 

Once the beacon is activated, the Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) in Canberra will be notified of its location, notify us and we’ll come out looking for you. Even if it was accidently activated we’ll still be deployed until notified that it was an accidental activation.

 

No, you won’t be charged for it! Just between you and me, the Federal Government has a huge pot of cash for SAR’s so even in the situation where you’ve activated your beacon and then no longer need help, you won’t be charged if we come out for you.

 

The new 406MHz beacons are great. You register them with the RCC and they’ll have all of your details so if your beacon goes off, they’ll try and call you first to see if you’re ok. If it’s accidental you turn it off and everything’s sweet.

 

It’s when we can’t get hold of you that gets us into action.

 

These beacons are the best form of locating you when it all goes wrong, I hope this information has helped and I hope this has answered some of your questions. I’ll be more than happy to answer any other questions that you guys have about EPIRBS or SAR situations and best I can.

 

Cheers

 

Brett

 

 

[PaulN]

Thanks for the info Brett :thumb_up:. And thanks for reinforcing my "peace of mind" that I get each time I hang that EPIRB around my neck before take-off.

 

On at least two occasions I have experienced the high degree of efficiency that comes out of CENSAR when my sartime has only just lapsed before getting a call off to cancel ... they are right on the ball. Good to know, and a good service to make use of. I highly recommend for anyone heading off cross country to submit your flight plan and sartime with Air Services through NAIPS or by phone. It's easy, free and it works.

 

BTW, does anyone out there have a good recommendation as to where to buy my new 406MHz PLB at a good price?

 

Paul

 

 

[farri]

Search and rescue.

 

Hi Brett,

 

You`ve done an excellent job of notifying everyone.:thumb_up:

 

Cheers,

 

Frank.

 

 

[HEON]

Morning Brett,

 

You seem just the one to give me some advice.

 

Had to use my near new 406 mid year. Was on for about half hour until I was told I could turn it off (had given sat phone number in distress call...got a phone call to confirm condition , loc etc).

 

Have had conflicting information regarding if anything needs to be done to 406 or not.

 

Is there anything published? Currently carrying it secured so it cannot be accidently turned on.

 

 

[Guest Brett Campany]

What conflicting info were you given Heon?

 

There's some good info on the AMSA website.

 

Check this out here.

 

Search and Rescue

 

The only considerable difference with 406 is that you register your beacon and give AMSA every possible details so if your beacon goes off it will notify the RCC of who you are, any conditions, vessel type etc.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Great stuff Brett, and what a good looking aircraft those Dorniers are. Saw one on the ramp at Hammo once, and they look just as good on the ground. What a fine looking wing. For the person prev asking where to pick up a good deal on 406 plbs, I went the marine shop route and got a good deal. Get the brochures first, read and work out what you want and pick up or order. Main thing is to just get one, it's only money .

 

 

[Guest Brett Campany]

Watch out if you buy a 406 EPIRB / PLB on Ebay or any other overseas website. There is many issues with those beacons not working within Australia. Please visit the AMSA website for more details!

 

Cheers Maj, if you're ever over this way, give me a yell and I'll see if I can get you a tour!

 

 

[HEON]

Just the normal conflicting "advice" one comes to expect:

 

1.MUST be rebuilt even if you only look at it (given mostly by retail outlets who can see a buck!),

 

2.SHE BE RIGHT as only a little bit of battery used (given by most "informed" passers by).

 

Note absence of any information from persons who might know. Will check your site and hopefully find correct answer.

 

 

[Guest Brett Campany]

The only time and EPIRB / PLB needs rebuilding is if it is faulty or has been damaged in one way or another. A rebuild is never required after you've activated your beacon as it's only a transmitting device like a 2-way radio.

 

As for the battery, I believe a test should be done once a month, just to make sure everything's working correctly. Follow the battery test instructions on your beacon.

 

But if someone's told you that a beacon needs rebuilding after it's been activated then they really don't know what they're talking about. Probably a good idea to go else where for other advice.

 

What kind of beacon do you have Heon?

 

 

[HEON]

Very few know what they are talking about in a lot of retail areas. Have GME MT400. Purchased for boat but registered also for aircraft and 4x4 as now taking both into isolated Australia.

 

 

[Guest Maj Millard]

Thanks for the offer, I have a friend in Perth I wouldn't mind seeing. Now lets see , fuel @ 1.09 by about 20 hrs flying............16 lts per hour...........