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

special qualifications desirable in the field of either
boating safety or SAR. Members train in seamanship,
navigation, communication, SAR, patrol procedures, weather,
and administration. CGAUX provides several thousand privately
owned SRUs throughout the United States for SAR operations.
In some locations CGAUX SRUs are the only available SAR
facilities. CGAUX personnel may also supplement Coast Guard
personnel at various SAR stations during heavy SAR operations.
Single-engine CGAUX aircraft are limited to operations within
gliding distance of the shoreline for coastal search. The
CGAUX communications net often supplements the established
coastal radio net.
7. Automated Mutual-Assistance Vessel Rescue System (AMVER), a
computerized system for maintaining the DR position of
participating merchant vessels worldwide. Merchant vessels of
all nations making coastal and oceanic voyages are encouraged
to send movement reports and periodic position reports to the
AMVER center in New York via assigned coastal or international
radio stations. Only two nations, the United States and
Norway, require their merchant vessels to participate; other
merchant vessels participate voluntarily. The AMVER center
can deliver a surface picture (SURPIC) of vessels in the area
of a SAR incident, including predicted positions and SAR
capabilities. This service is available to any SAR agency
worldwide for SAR incidents. SURPICs can usually be obtained
for periods 24 hours into the future and up to 90 days into
the past. SMCs handling oceanic SAR can request a SURPIC
anytime it might be considered useful.
B. Air Force missions are coordinated by the Air Force Rescue
Coordination Center (AFRCC), at Scott AFB, IL. AFRCC is also the
liaison between other SAR coordinators and the FAA National Track
Analysis Program (NTAP). Other Air Force resources may be controlled by
other commands. Primary resources are described below.
1. Air Rescue Service (ARS) aircraft of the Military Airlift
Command (MAC) include various short and long range
helicopters, some of which can air refuel from tanker
aircraft, providing a versatile SAR asset. ARS units are
globally deployed and are equipped for personnel or equipment
recovery, and pararescue missions.
2. Jet interceptors can proceed at high speed to intercept a
distressed aircraft, fix the location, provide navigation and
communications aid, and escort. If the intercept cannot be
made before the distressed unit is forced to land, the jet may
be in position to locate the landing or crash site. FAA ATC
facilities are equipped to provide intercept advisories to all
SAR aircraft.
3. Air Force MAC aircraft also perform aeromedical evacuation of
military personnel, their dependents, and authorized civilian