Mission Aircrew Course Chapter 11: Visual Search Patterns and Procedures (May 2006)

1. Mission Aircrew CourseChapter 11: Visual Search Patterns and Procedures(May 2006)

2. Aircrew Tasks • O-2022 DEMONSTRATE SCANNING PATTERNS AND LOCATE TARGETS (S) • O-2102 DEMONSTRATE PLANNING AND FLYING A ROUTE SEARCH (P) • O-2103 DEMONSTRATE PLANNING AND FLYING A PARALLEL TRACK SEARCH (P) • O-2104 DEMONSTRATE PLANNING AND FLYING A CREEPING LINE SEARCH (P) • O-2105 DEMONSTRATE PLANNING AND FLYING A POINT BASED SEARCH (P) • O-2109 ASSIST IN PLANNING AND PERFORMING A ROUTE SEARCH (O) • O-2110 ASSIST IN PLANNING AND PERFORMING A PARALLEL TRACK SEARCH (O) • O-2112 ASSIST IN PLANNING AND PERFORMING A POINT-BASED SEARCH (O) • O-2111/O-2115 ASSIST IN PLANNING AND PERFORMING A CREEPING LINE SEARCH (O) • P-2027 DESCRIBE CAP SEARCH PATTERNS (S)

3. Objectives • Plan and describe how to fly the following search patterns: • Route (track crawl) {O; 11.2} • Parallel track (sweep) {O; 11.3} • Creeping line {O; 11.4} • Point-based (expanding square and sector) {O; 11.5 & 11.6} • Discuss how to plan and fly a Contour search pattern {O; 11.7}

4. The “Stupid Check” • “Hey! Wait a minute. This is stupid.” • Do my headings, waypoints, lat/long coordinates, and distances look sensible • Perform: • After planning • When you start your pattern • Periodically thereafter

5. Examples • The following examples and worksheets are covered to aid in pre-planning a search pattern • Designed for non-moving map GPS, but include all the information you need to set up the GX55 • Advantages of pre-planning: • Sets the details of the sortie in your mind • Makes entering data (correctly) into your GPS easier • Allows pilot and observer to concentrate on their primary task by minimizing navaid setup time and reducing confusion

6. Latitude, Longitude and Distance (and the GPS) • One minute latitude = 1.0018 nm • Fly one minute north or south, cover one nautical mile (a 1-nm leg width) • One minute longitude = anywhere from 0.6572 to 0.9152 nm in the continental U.S. • Means you’ll have to fly anywhere from 1.1 – 1.4 minutes of longitude (east or west) to cover one nautical mile • Not hard to do, but for trainingwe will useone minute = one mile, even though we’ll be flying less than 1-nm leg widths • To get the relationship in your area, go to http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~cvm/latlongdist.php • 1 minute of Longitude = cos(Latitude in Degrees)

7. Route search pattern Track of missing aircraft Track of search aircraft 1/2 S 1/2 S

8. Route search example • Assume we’re searching for an aircraft along Highway 46, between Columbus and Greensburg: • Draw the route on the worksheet • Include significant turns in the highway and other identifiers such as towns, airports and major intersections • Search two miles either side of the highway

9. Route search worksheet example

10. Flying the Route Search • GPS Data • Set up User Waypoints • Enter Route • Use CDI to indicate “S” • Starting Waypoint: BMG • Spacing: 1 nm • Number of Passes: 3 • Start Side: Left

11. Route search example QUESTIONS?

12. Parallel Track search pattern(Grid Search)

13. Grid search example • Assume we’re searching STL #104-D for a missing aircraft: • Quarter-grid, 7.5' x 7.5‘ • Enter the northeast corner • One nm track spacing • North/South legs • No aircraft assigned to adjacent grids

14. Grid search worksheet example

15. Grid search GX55 • GX55 Data • Type Grid & Sectional: US , STL • Pattern: Parallel Line • Grid: 104D2 • Spacing: 1 nm • Direction of Travel: N/S

16. Flying the Grid • GPS Data • Think ILS Approach. • Keep the Lat/Lon Centered. • Watch for Turn. • Intercept and Track. • Direction of Travel: N/S • Entry Point: NE Corner • Spacing: 1 nm

17. Grid search example QUESTIONS?

18. Creeping Line search pattern Direction of Search s s s s s

19. Creeping Line search example • Assume we’re searching for an aircraft along Highway 31: • Draw the route on the worksheet • Start at the intersection of Hwy 31/9 (southeast of Columbus) • Stop at the intersection of Hwy 31/50 (east of Seymour) • Search three miles either side of Hwy 31 • 1-nm track spacing

20. Creeping Line search worksheet example

21. Creeping Line search example(CDI method) • Assume we’re searching for an aircraft along the extended runway centerline of BMG runway 06: • Draw the route on the worksheet • Search 10 nm beyond the end of runway 06 (southwest) • Search three miles either side of the extended centerline • 1-nm track spacing

22. Creeping Line search worksheet example (CDI) • GX55 Data • Type Grid & Sectional: US , STL • Pattern: Creeping Line • Starting Waypoint: BMG • Spacing: 1 nm • Direction of Travel: 060º • Leg Length: 3 nm • Start Side: Right

23. Flying the Creeping Line search (CDI) • GPS Data • Determine Far Waypoint. • Fly to First Crossing Point. • Hit DIRECT TO (draws line). • Circle Back to Entry point. • Use CDI for XTrack. • Use Distance TO for Crossings.

24. Creeping Line search example QUESTIONS?

25. 2S Expanding Square search pattern (second pass rotated 45°) 4S 5S 3S S 2S 4S 3S 5S

26. Expanding Square search example • Assume we’re searching for a missing ultra-light: • Draw the route on the worksheet • Center is a 483 AGL tower approximately 8 nm west of Seymour • Use cardinal headings, starting to the north

27. Expanding Square search worksheet example • GX55 Data • Type Grid & Sectional: US , STL • Pattern: Expanding Square • Starting Waypoint: N 38º 59´ W 86º 10´ • Spacing: 1 nm • Direction of Travel: 000º

28. Sector search pattern S max The pattern and headings are planned in advance S mean Sector search is easier to fly than expanding square This pattern is used when an electronic search has led the crew to a general area to find the exact location visually The pattern provides concentrated coverage near the center of the area

29. Contour search pattern This is a difficult and dangerous pattern to fly. Requires special training such as the Mountain Flying course.

30. QUESTIONS?