Doc 9731: International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual
Vol 1: 100 pages; File Size 1.5 Mb

The primary purpose of the three volumes of the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR Manual) is to assist States in meeting their own search and rescue (SAR) needs, and the obligations they accepted under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These volumes provide guidelines for a common aviation and maritime approach to organizing and providing SAR services. States are encouraged to develop and improve their SAR services, co-operate with neighboring States and to consider their SAR services to be part of a global system.

Each volume of the IAMSAR Manual is written with specific SAR system duties in mind, and can be used as a standalone document, or, in conjunction with the other two Manuals, as a means to attain a full view of the SAR system. The Organization and Management volume (Volume I of Doc 9731) discusses the global SAR system concept, establishment and improvement of national and regional SAR systems, and cooperation with neighboring States to provide effective and economical SAR services.

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
Volume I: Organization and Management Manual
Chapter 1 presents an overview of the SAR concept, including what is involved in providing SAR services, and why such services are required and beneficial. The SAR system is examined from a global, regional and national perspective.
Chapter 2 introduces some of the key components of the SAR system. These include communications, rescue coordination centers and sub-centers, operational and support facilities and the on-scene coordinator.
Chapter 3 considers the use of training, qualification, and certification processes to develop professionally competent SAR personnel. A number of aspects of training and of exercises used for training, are examined in detail.
Chapter 4 describes the communications needs of the SAR organization for reception of distress alerts and for supporting effective co-ordination among the various components of the SAR system.
Chapter 5 provides an overall management perspective of the SAR system.
Chapter 6 discusses the necessary factors and recommends some techniques for creating an organizational environment that fosters improvement of services.

This Manual is published jointly by the International Civil Aviation Organization and the International Maritime Organization. It has been updated from the first and second editions by including the amendments that were adopted by the seventy-fourth session of the IMO Maritime Safety Committee in June 2001 (which entered into force on 1 July 2002), by the seventy-fifth session in May 2002 (which entered into force on 1 July 2003), by the seventy-seventh session in June 2003 (which apply as from 1 July 2004) and by the seventy-eighth session in May 2004 (which apply as from 1 July 2005) and by the eightieth session in May 2005 (which apply as from 1 June 2006) and by the eighty-first session in May 2006 (which apply as from 1 June 2007).