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

g. Scanners. During radar searches scanners should be
used to fill in the blind zone underneath aircraft and around
larger ships and to identify radar contacts. The SLAR
operator should advise visual scanners of the size of the
blind zone so that search efforts can concentrate in this
area. The radar operator should provide contact range/bearing
information to scanners so immediate identification of targets
can be attempted.
h. Operator skill. Radar operator skill and
attentiveness are major factors in effective search. Fatigue
and other aircrew responsibilities will degrade radar operator
performance.
B. Reports
1. SITREPs should be submitted when the OSC arrives on scene and
when time-critical information needs to be passed to the SMC,
but no less often than every 4 hours. If only one SRU is
involved, it functions as the OSC. Normally the SMC requires
information on SRU arrival times, expected and actual
departure times, and similar data in order to schedule SRU
reliefs properly. The OSC obtains search results from each
departing SRU and reports to the SMC. See Vol. II, Chapter 5,
for further information.
2. "Operations Normal" Reports
a. The SMC schedules on scene arrival or rendezvous
times for SRUs. If requirements change during SRU transit,
these must bc coordinated with parent agencies, the SRUs, and
the OSC. The SMC specifies CHOP (change operational control)
requirements in the search action plan message. When arriving
search aircraft CHOP to the OSC, the OSC provides flightfollowing
service and assumes communications guard for each
SRU.
b. For SRU safety, the OSC should establish periodic
reporting procedures for marine craft, aircraft, and land
search parties. The OSC should require an "operations normal"
report at least every 30 minutes for multi-engine, fixed-wing
aircraft and every 15 minutes for single-engine aircraft and
helicopters. The OSC will assign each SRU an "operations
normal" reporting time. If an SRU is unable to make the
report directly to the OSC over an on scene channel, it should
relay the report through another SRU.
c. Position reports are not required from SRUs in their
assigned search areas. However, it is good practice for the
OSC to periodically obtain and chart SRU positions to ensure
that they are in the correct areas.