AIM
4/3/14
6−2−5
Emergency Services Available to Pilots
TBL 6
−2−2
Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers
Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers
Alameda, CA
510−437−3701
Miami, FL
305−415−6800
Boston, MA
617−223−8555
New Orleans, LA
504−589−6225
Cleveland, OH
216−902−6117
Portsmouth, VA
757−398−6390
Honolulu, HI
808−541−2500
Seattle, WA
206−220−7001
Juneau, AK
907−463−2000
San Juan, PR
787−289−2042
d. Air Force Rescue Coordination Centers.
(See TBL 6−2−3 and TBL 6−2−4.)
TBL 6
−2−3
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
48 Contiguous States
Air Force Rescue Coordination Center
Tyndall AFB, Florida
Phone
Commercial
850−283−5955
WATS
800−851−3051
DSN
523−5955
TBL 6
−2−4
Air Command Rescue Coordination Center
Alaska
Alaskan Air Command Rescue
Coordination Center
Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Phone
Commercial
907−428−7230
800−420−7230
(outside Anchorage)
DSN
317−551−7230
e. Joint Rescue Coordination Center.
TBL 6
−2−5
Joint Rescue Coordination Center
Hawaii
Honolulu Joint Rescue Coordination Center
HQ 14th CG District
Honolulu
Phone
Commercial
808−541−2500
DSN
448−0301
f. Emergency and Overdue Aircraft.
1.
ARTCCs and FSSs will alert the SAR system
when information is received from any source that an
aircraft is in difficulty, overdue, or missing.
(a)
Radar facilities providing radar flight
following or advisories consider the loss of radar and
radios, without service termination notice, to be a
possible emergency. Pilots receiving VFR services
from radar facilities should be aware that SAR may
be initiated under these circumstances.
(b)
A filed flight plan is the most timely and
effective indicator that an aircraft is overdue. Flight
plan information is invaluable to SAR forces for
search planning and executing search efforts.
2.
Prior to departure on every flight, local or
otherwise, someone at the departure point should be
advised of your destination and route of flight if other
than direct. Search efforts are often wasted and rescue
is often delayed because of pilots who thoughtlessly
takeoff without telling anyone where they are going.
File a flight plan for your safety.
3.
According to the National Search and Rescue
Plan, “The life expectancy of an injured survivor
decreases as much as 80 percent during the first
24 hours, while the chances of survival of uninjured
survivors rapidly diminishes after the first 3 days.”
4.
An Air Force Review of 325 SAR missions
conducted during a 23−month period revealed that
“Time works against people who experience a
distress
but are not on a flight plan, since 36 hours
normally pass before family concern initiates an
(alert).”
g. VFR Search and Rescue Protection.
1.
To receive this valuable protection, file a VFR
or DVFR Flight Plan
with an FAA FSS. For
maximum protection, file only to the point of first
intended landing, and refile for each leg to final
destination. When a lengthy flight plan is filed, with
several stops en route and an ETE to final destination,
a mishap could occur on any leg, and unless other
information is received, it is probable that no one
would start looking for you until 30 minutes after
your ETA at your final destination.
2.
If you land at a location other than the
intended destination, report the landing to the nearest
FAA FSS and advise them of your original
destination.