Radar Alerting Manoeuvre for a lost or distressed aircraft

Radar Alerting Manoeuvre (SAR 4.4): use when lost or in distress with no radio contact.

1. Transponder IFF/SIF (identification, friend or foe / selective identification feature) to EMERGENCY.
2. Guard emergency frequencies.
3. Fly two triangular patterns, resume course.
4. Repeat sequence every 5 min.

Improve detection (SAR 4.4):

• Detection odds rise with altitude: low aircraft should climb.
• Limited visibility or night: landing and navigation lights on, to assist interceptor.

Limit: works only inside radar coverage.

After radar contact:

• Rescue aircraft may be dispatched to intercept.
• No radio contact possible: visual interception signals used.
• Triangular pattern positions the aircraft and narrows search area (SAR 4.4).

Trap: triangular pattern outside radar coverage is not a valid alerting manoeuvre (SAR 4.4).

Practice