Search and Rescue (SAR) Service
The Search and Rescue (SAR) Service domain tests Annex 12, the IAMSAR Manual (Doc 9613) and the alerting service obligations of Annex 11 - who is notified, when, and in which phase.
Organisation
States provide a SAR service through a SAR coordinator, one or more rescue coordination centres (RCCs) and, where required, rescue sub-centres. Kenya's SAR arrangements sit with the civil aviation authority and coordinate with neighbouring states and maritime authorities. The RCC directs the SAR mission and tasks search and rescue units; the alerting service is what ATS provides to aircraft in distress or in need of assistance.
Phases of emergency
Uncertainty (INCERFA): no position report within 30 minutes of the expected time, or no arrival within 30 minutes of the estimated time. Alert (ALERFA): after uncertainty, when further communication attempts fail and inquiries are negative, or a landing is not completed within 5 minutes of the expected time. Distress (DETRESFA): after alert, when attempts continue to fail or the aircraft is known or believed to be in distress, or fuel is considered exhausted.
Worked example
Flight 5Y-XYZ filed ETA Malindi 1015 with a report over the VOR expected at 0945; by 1045 there is no report and no radio contact. Reasoning: no report 30 minutes past the expected time gives uncertainty at about 1015; failed communication attempts and negative inquiries raise it to alert, and the RCC is notified without delay. The RCC then uses the flight plan, radar and ADS-B track data to decide whether to launch a search.
Traps that cost marks
Treating INCERFA as evidence of an accident; delaying RCC notification until a search is certain; relying on 121.5 MHz for satellite alerting (Cospas-Sarsat stopped processing it in 2009 - 406 MHz is the distress frequency); confusing the alerting service with the SAR service itself.