VOLUME I Multinational Maritime Tactical Instructions and Procedures

MTP 1(D), Vol. I
Table 6-15. Night Rescue Stations (Helicopter Ship Operations)
Station
Number
1H
2H
3H
4H
Bearing Relative to Flight Operations Course
(degrees)
180
270
000
090
Distance From Helicopter Ship
(yards)
1,000
1,000
1,500
1,000
should signal his position in the water if it is at all possible to do so. The nearest destroyer in the screen is
to proceed to rescue the crew without further orders.
b. Bailing Out or Ejecting. The following procedures are designed to facilitate the rescue of
personnel who must abandon aircraft by bailing out or ejecting:
(1) Location. Pilots who must bail out or eject should try to do so in such a location that the aircraft
will crash well clear of any ship, and that they themselves will land in a location most favourable for rescue
operations, preferably near one of the leading destroyers of the screen. Modern aircrew emergency
equipment contain an emergency transmitter beacon, sending a signal on 243.0 MHz. A DF position
should be established to help locate the aircrew.
(2) Escort Aircraft. One or more other aircraft or part of the CAP should standby the aircraft in
distress while the crew bails out or ejects and visually locate the parachute’s water entry.
(3) Establishing Watch Over Personnel in the Water. The escort aircraft should establish a
watch over survivors in the water; the watch should be relieved on station and a continuous watch
should be maintained, insofar as practicable, until the survivors are rescued.
(4) Marking Location of Survivors. Dye markers, smoke floats, and smoke lights should be
used to mark the position of survivors in the water, as conditions indicate.
6605 DIVERSION OF SHIP TO LOCATE SURVIVORS
a. When radio communications cannot be established with a surface ship which an aircraft wishes
to divert, the aircraft should first establish self-identification and then indicate the location of survivors by:
(1) Circling the ship at least once at low altitude.
(2) Flying across the bow of the ship at low altitude and, at the same time, rocking the aircraft.
(3) Sending a message by visual signalling or dropping a message if possible.
(4) Heading in the direction of the incident.
(5) Dropping smoke floats in the direction of the incident if possible.
6-83 CHANGE 2