Emergency Services
Emergency Services is one of the three missions identified in
the Civil Air Patrol Charter. Emergency Services at the Annapolis
Composite Squadron involves operational mission training,
qualification, and actual mission activities. CAP provides services to
conduct search and rescue (SAR), disaster relief (DR), and other public
assistance missions. Many missions are in support of persons in
distress and our highest priority is to ensure they are conducted
competently, expeditiously, and in a professional manner. In Maryland,
CAP averages between 45 and 55 missions each year, searching for
aircraft and boaters in distress.
The determination to employ CAP resources is a serious one, and is made carefully, with all personnel fully aware of the associated risks. Operational Risk Management (ORM) is a process we use to detect, assess and control risk, and at the same time, enhance mission performance. Simply put, it's a methodical, six-step process to manage inherent risk. CAP has formally endorsed the use of ORM for all activities.
Air Operations
Air search operations are broken into two phases, the preliminary search and the concentrated search. A preliminary search is accomplished during the early part of a mission when it is desirable to cover rapidly all of the territory in which the objective might be located. Aircraft are dispatched as quickly and safely as possible. Initial route searches should cover the likely route of flight, with emphasis on high mountain peaks, frozen lakes, and areas of severe weather at the time the objective was lost. Properly trained and equipped aircrews can accomplish a preliminary search at night.
If the objective is not located during the preliminary search, it is then necessary to conduct a concentrated search of the most probable areas. Determination of the concentrated search area requires careful analysis of all available information, including the flight plan, weather, terrain, pilot habits, etc.
Ground Operations
Ground teams may be used in virtually all phases of a mission. Ground operations are governed by state and local laws as well as by CAP regulations and policies. Missions are frequently initiated during periods of adverse weather or other inopportune moments when air operations may be precluded or limited, for example, immediately following a storm or in the middle of the night. Ground teams can often be dispatched to gather information, search suspected high probability areas, search for missing persons, locate ELT transmissions, verify airborne sightings, etc.
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