JP 3-50 National Search and Rescue Manual Vol I - US Navy

search at about the same time).
2. Second, the SMC assigns the CSP as the south west corner.
This helps maintain separation between the two aircraft in A-1
and A-2, and between the two aircraft in A-3 and A-4, by a
distance equal to the individual search area length (assuming
A-1 and A-2 start search at about the same time, A-3 and A-4
start search at about the same time, and SRUs operate at the
same speed).
3. Third, the SMC assigns search altitudes of 500 feet for A-1
and A-4, and 1,000 feet for A-2 and A-3. This provides
positive vertical separation between each aircraft and
adjacent aircraft.
4. Air-to-air TACAN channels are assigned to search areas for use
by the SRUs. TACAN channel pairing must be 63 channels apart
for air-to-air ranging operations. If SRU equipment allows
the use of TACAN Y instead of TACAN X channels, interference
with shore stations is reduced. The aircraft in A-1 and A-2
and in A-3 and A-4 would be concerned with approaching each
other, even with an altitude separation of 500 feet.
Therefore, the SMC could pair SRUs in A-1 and A-2 on TACAN
channels 20 and 83, and A-3 and A-4 aircraft on channels 30
and 93. If the paired aircraft approach a common boundary
simultaneously, they can monitor distance separation.
5. Unless there is a large difference in the commence search
times of the two diagonally opposite aircraft, the SMC assumes
that adequate lateral and vertical separation will be
maintained as long as each aircraft properly executes the
assigned search pattern. No SRU should approach another SRU
at a distance of less than one track space. The SRU flies the
legs nearest the search pattern perimeter at one-half of a
track spacing inside its search area boundary.
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