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

823 Air/Ground Coordination
An SMC, IC or OSC should not hesitate using air and ground SRUs on
the same search. For air searches, ground units may be needed to check
possible targets, secure distress beacons and rescue persons in
distress. Air SRUs may be able to provide airlift to ground units,
locate the objective sooner, signal survivors or indicate to them that
they have been located, and lead ground units to the scene. The aircrew
may be able to ascertain whether a distress situation exists, allowing
ground response to be modified as appropriate. Airborne communications
support is also possible.
A. When either element is supporting the other, effective
communications are needed. Common radio frequencies should be
established when possible; standard air-to-ground and ground-to-air
signals are not adequate.
1. Since aircraft have at least one radio, it is easiest for the
aircrew and ground units to use an aeronautical frequency.
2. Since portable aircraft radios are normally not available to
ground SRUs, communications can be provided by equipping an
aircraft with a radio operating on ground frequencies. This
is particularly useful when working with military aircraft
which normally have only UHF communications. Generally,
ground frequencies provide more complete communications since
there are usually more ground units than aircraft involved.
3. A portable radio used by one of the aircrew can suffice. If a
particular aircraft is used for air support often, an external
antenna should be mounted on the aircraft with a connection
inside for the portable radio. The best method is to
permanently mount in the aircraft a multichannel radio
covering normal ground SRU frequencies.
4. Regardless of the radio system used, all units should have
knowledge of, and access to, the list of standard air-toground
and ground-to-air signals.
B. Air and ground SRUs should use the same maps.
1. Aircraft sectionals and military Joint Operations Graphics
(JOG, scale: 1:250,000) are not detailed enough for ground
search, but are necessary for land SRUs working with air SRUs.
U.S. Geological Survey and Defense Mapping Agency topographic
maps are difficult for aircrews to use but are needed when low
level and contour searches are flown.
2. Medium scale maps, such as U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land
Management, USGS intermediate scale (1:100,000), and local
road maps are most versatile for air/ground coordination.
3. If each SRU has similar maps and charts, search efficiency and
coordination will be maximized.