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

aircraft drops a new flare just before the old burns out. The
helicopter pilot should be able to see the flare or flaredropping
aircraft when the flare is dropped.
Figure 5-37.
2. Flare Multiunit (FM) is similar to the Parallel Track
Multiunit Non-Return pattern. The vessels form abeam with
spacing between ships depending on size of target and local
conditions. The search legs are oriented into the wind. The
aircraft flies a racetrack pattern over the formation, and
between vessels, dropping a set of flares upwind so that they
are over the formation during the middle of the burning
period. The aircraft drops a new set as the previous set
burns out. See Figure 5-38.
Figure 5-38.