GEN 3.6  Search and rescue

1.   RESPONSIBLE SERVICES

ACC Zagreb, ACC Belgrade and Air Traffic Control Units in Bosnia and Herzegovina shall initiate the Search and Rescue procedure, by alerting the Rescue Coordination Centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCC B&H).

Search and Rescue actions shall include all aircraft pursuant to air traffic control, other aircraft that have submitted flight plan or aircraft that are in a way known to be authorities for the provision of services in air navigation, and aircraft that are threatened or are subjected to an act of unlawful interference.

Search and Rescue in Sarajevo FIR are coordinated and conducted by the RCC B&H.

Authority – Address for coordination:
PostMinistry of Communications and
Transport
Directorate of Civil Aviation of B&H
V kozarske brigade 18
78000 Banja Luka
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Ministry of Communications and
Transport
Directorate of Civil Aviation of B&H – Regional Office Sarajevo
Aleja Bosne Srebrene 64
71000 Sarajevo
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Phone:+387 51 921 222+387 33 881 314
Fax:+387 51 921 520+387 33 881 306
Fax:NIL+387 51 921 520
AFS:NILLQBHYAYX (SAR LQBHYCYX)
E-mailbhdca@bhdca.gov.babhdca@bhdca.gov.ba
URL:http://www.bhdca.gov.bahttp://www.bhdca.gov.ba
Operational Hours: Monday – Friday 09.00 – 17.00

Address of Rescue Coordination Centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina:
Post:BH Air Navigation Services Agency (BHANSA)
Rescue Coordination Centre of Bosnia and Herzegovina (RCC B&H)
Airport Banja Luka - Mahovljani
Mahovljani bb
78250 LaktašiBosnia and Herzegovina
Phone:+387 1262
Phone:+387 51 337 563
Phone:+387 51 337 564
Phone:+387 51 337 565
Phone:+387 61 260 831
Fax:+387 51 337 566
AFS:LQBKYCYX
E-mailrccbih@bhansa.gov.ba
URL:http://www.bhansa.gov.ba
Operational Hours: H24

The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in ICAO Annex 12 – Search and Rescue.

2.   AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY

The Search and Rescue service is responsible for SAR operations within the Sarajevo FIR. RCC B&H has been designated as SAR Point of Contact (SPOC) for the receipt of COSPASSARSAT data.

3.   TYPES OF SERVICE

In conducting Search and Rescue operations the following institutions are involved: Armed Forces in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Police, Civil Protection, Medical organizations, State Border Service, Mine Action Centre, Flying Clubs as well as corporate legal persons and individual persons.

Ground/air visual signal codes for use by survivors
NoMessageCode symbol
1Require assistance
2Require medical assistance
3No or Negative
4Yes or Affirmative
5Proceeding in this direction
Instructions for use:

1. Make signals not less than 8 FT (2.5 M).
2. Take care to lay out signals exactly as shown.
3. Provide as much colour contrast as possible between signals and background.
4. Make every effort to attract attention by other means such as radio, flares, smoke, reflected light.

4.   SAR AGREEMENTS

NIL

5.   CONDITIONS OF AVAILABILITY

NIL

6.   PROCEDURES AND SIGNALS USED

Procedures and signals used by aircraft

Procedures for pilots-in-command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call and/or message are outlined in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5.
Communications

Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Sarajevo Search and Rescue Area are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.

For communications during search and rescue operations, the codes and abbreviations published in ICAO Abbreviations and codes (Doc. 8400) are used.

The frequency 121.5 MHZ is guarded continuously in RCC B&H, ACC Zagreb and ACC Belgrade. In addition, the aerodrome control towers serving international aerodromes will, on request, guard the frequency 121.5 MHZ.

Rescue helicopters belonging to permanent search and rescue units use booth the call sign RESCUE and additional identification marks (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE etc.) during Rescue operations.
Search and Rescue signals

The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.10.

Ground/air visual signal codes for use by SAR service
NoMessageCode symbol
1Operation completed
2All persons found
3Some persons found only
4Not able to continue. Returning to base
5Divided in two groups. Each proceeding in
direction indicated

6Information received, aircraft is in this direction
7Nothing found. Will continue to search