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 youll 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 training we will use one
  minute one mile, even though well 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 were 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 were 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 were 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 were 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
Expanding Square search pattern (second pass
rotated 45)
4S
4S
S
3S
5S
2S
3S
5S
26
Expanding Square search example

• Assume were 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?