GEN 3.6.1 Responsible service

The search and rescue service in Curaçao, Aruba, St. Maarten and the BES Islands is provided by the Civil Aviation Administration, in collaboration with the SAR-Mission Coordinator for that specific SAR-region, which has the responsibility for making the necessary facilities available. The postal and telegraphic addresses of the Civil Aviation Administration are given in page GEN 1.1.

The SAR-Mission Coordinator for Curaçao Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire is:

CURAÇAO CURAÇAO, ARUBA & BONAIRE

Service unit name: Joint Rescue Co-oordination ordination Centre Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard (JRCC DCCG)

Postal address: JRCC DCCG

Naval Base Parera

Nightingaleweg z/n

Curaçao

Telephone number: 913 (Emergency only) or (+5999) 463-7700 or (+5999) 463-7620

Fax number: (+5999) 463-7950

Email address: RCC_Curacao@kustwacht.org or RCC.curacao@mindef.nl

The SAR-Mission Coordinator for St. Maarten, St. Eustatius and Saba is:

Service unit name: Martime Rescue Coordination Centre Fort de France

Postal address: Martinique

Telephone: +596 596 70 92 92 or +596 596 73 16 16

Fax number: +596 596 63 24 50

Email address: Antilles@mrccfr.eu

Applicable ICAO documents:

ICAO Annex 12 Search and Rescue

ICAO Annex 13 Aircraft Accident Investigation

ICAO Doc 7030 Regional Supplementary Procedures for Altering and Search and Rescue services applicable in the CAR Region

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

GEN 3.6.2 Area of responsibility

The geographic boundaries of the Curaçao SAR-Region for Aeronautical SAR responsibility are i.a.w. ICAO agreements.

The JRCC DCCG is SAR-Mission Coordinator (SMC) for Curacao Curacao, Aruba and Bonaire. It has leading and co-ordination responsibility for the promulgation of the SAR-plan in the area of responsibility: Curacao FIR/SAR region.

MRCC Fort de France, Martinique, SAR-Mission Coordinator (SMC) for St Maarten, Saba and St Eustatius. It has leading and co-ordination responsibility for the promulgation of the SAR-plan in the area of responsibility: French SSR

The designated SAR point of contact for the receipt of COSPAS-SARSAT, will be the Rescue and Coordination Center (RCC) within that area of responsibility.

GEN 3.6.3 Types of service

Details of related rescue units are below at “Search and Rescue Units”. In addition, various elements of the State Police organization, the merchant marine and the armed forces are also available for search and rescue missions, when required. The aeronautical, maritime and public telecommunication services are also available to the search and rescue organization.

All aircraft carry survival equipment, capable of being dropped, consisting of inflatable rubber dinghies equipped with medical supplies, emergency rations and survival radio equipment Aircraft and marine craft are equipped to communicate on the dedicated SAR emergency frequecies frequencies for VHF (156.800 MHz and 121.50 MHz), , UHF (243.000 MHz), MF (2182 KHz).

Ground rescue teams are equipped to communicate on 121.500 MHz, 500 KHz and 8 364 KHz. SAR aircraft and marine craft are equipped with direction-finding equipment and radar.

Coast Guard operations are executed by Coast Guard units from the 4 sub-stations: Hato, Curaçao (Hato and- Willemstad), Aruba and St. Maarten.

Search and Rescue units DCCG:

Sub-station Hato: Dash-8 (2) 1.5 HR PN / Endurance 8HR

AW 139(2) 1.0 HR PN / Endurance 2.5HR

Sub-station Willemstad: Cutter (Jaguar)

Super Rhib (3)

Inshore (1)

Sub-station Aruba: Cutter (Panter)

Super Rhib (3)

Inshore (1)

Citro Curaçao: Rescue Boat (Dick Braakman)

Super Rhib (Griend)

Motor Boat (Aurora)

Jetskis (2)

Search and Rescue units MRCC Fort the France at St. Maarten, Saba and

St. Eustatius:

DCCG Sub-station St. Maarten: Cutter (Poema)

Super Rhib (3)

Inshore (1)

Other SAR services who are available for international cooperation will be co-ordinated by the RCC Curacao or MRCC Fort de France.

GEN 3.6.4 SAR agreements

An agreement has been concluded between the SAR service of and the SAR service of neighboring States concerning the provision of assistance upon receipt by the former of a request from the latter for aid. This agreement provides for facilitation of the overflight and landing of search and rescue aircraft without prior permission after dispatch of a flight plan, for similar facilitation of the entry of surface vessels of the SAR service and their operation in border areas, for notification of entry to the authorities controlling entry, for defraying the costs of stop-overs, accommodation and transportation of crew members, and for direct communication between the two SAR services on all common search and rescue matters. Copies of this agreement are available, upon request, from the Civil Aviation Administration.

Request for entry of aircraft, equipment and personnel from other States to engage in search for aircraft in distress or to rescue survivors of aircraft accidents should be transmitted to the Rescue Coordination Centre (TNCCYCYX). Instructions as to the control which will be exercised on entry of such aircraft and/or personnel will be given by the RCC.

GEN 3.6.5 Conditions of availibilty

The SAR service and facilities in Curaçao, Aruba. St. Maarten and the BES Islands are available without charge to neighboring States upon request to the Civil Aviation Administration at all times when they are not engaged in search and rescue operations in their home territory. All facilities are specialized in SAR techniques and functions.

Composed of elements of the State police and local volunteers trained for SAR work and is activated as necessary.

GEN 3.6.6 Prodcedures 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 dedicated Search and Rescue Area are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, Volume II, 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 121.50 MHz is guarded continuously during the hours of service at all area control centres and flight information centres. It is also available at International approach control office. In addition, the aerodrome control towers serving international aerodromes and international alternate aerodromes will, on request, guard the frequency 121.50 MHz. All coast stations guard the international distress frequencies.

Rescue aircraft belonging to permanent Search and Rescue Units use both the call sign RESCUE and additional identification marks in order of presence 01,02, 03, 04,...etc.) during rescue operations. Fixed wing aircraft will use odd numbers (e.g. RESCUE 01, 03). Rotary wing aircraft will use even numbers (e.g. RESCUE 02,04).

Search and rescue signals

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

Ground/air visual signal codes for use by survivors

No.

Message

Code symbol

1

Require assistance

2

Require medical assistance

3

No or Negative

4

Yes or Affirmative

5

Proceeding 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 color contrast as possible between signals and background.
4.Make every effort to attract attention by other means such as radio, flares, smoke, and reflected light.