Mission Aircrew CourseMission Aircrew Course

Visual Search Patterns and Visual Search Patterns and ProceduresProcedures(APR 2010)(APR 2010)

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)

Aircrew TasksAircrew Tasks

O-2109 ASSIST IN PLANNING AND PERFORMING A ROUTE SEARCH (O)

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)

Aircrew TasksAircrew Tasks

Plan and describe how to fly the following search patterns:• Route (track crawl)• Parallel track (sweep)• Creeping line• Point-based (expanding square and sector)

Discuss how to plan and fly a Contour search pattern

ObjectivesObjectives

“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

The “Stupid The “Stupid Check”Check”

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

ExampleExampless

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 training we will use one 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)

Latitude, Longitude and Latitude, Longitude and Distance (and the GPS)Distance (and the GPS)

Route search Route search patternpattern

Track of missing aircraft

1/2 S

1/2 S

Track of search aircraft

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

Route search Route search exampleexample

Route Route search search

worksheet worksheet exampleexample

Flying the Flying the Route Route SearchSearch

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

QUESTIONS?

Route search exampleRoute search example

Parallel Track search Parallel Track search patternpattern

(Grid Search)(Grid Search)

1/2 S

S

S

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

Grid search Grid search exampleexample

Grid Grid search search

worksheeworksheet examplet example

Grid Grid search search GX55GX55

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

Flying the Flying the GridGrid

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

QUESTIONS?

Grid search Grid search exampleexample

Creeping Line search Creeping Line search patternpattern

s s s s s

Direction of Search

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

Creeping Line search Creeping Line search exampleexample

Creeping Creeping Line Line

search search worksheeworksheet examplet example

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

Creeping Line search Creeping Line search exampleexample

(CDI method)(CDI method)

Creeping Creeping Line Line

search search worksheeworksheet examplet example

(CDI)(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

Flying the Flying the Creeping Creeping

Line Line searchsearch(CDI)(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.

QUESTIONS?

Creeping Line search Creeping Line search exampleexample

Expanding Square Expanding Square search pattern search pattern (second (second

pass rotated 45°)pass rotated 45°)

1S

2S

3S

4S

5S

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

Expanding Square search Expanding Square search exampleexample

Expanding Expanding Square Square search search

worksheet worksheet exampleexample

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

Sector search Sector search patternpattern

Sector search is easier to flythan expanding square

The pattern provides concentratedcoverage near the center of the area

This pattern is used when an electronic search has led thecrew to a general area to find

the exact location visually

The pattern and headingsare planned in advance

S max

S mean

Contour search Contour search patternpattern

This is a difficult and dangerous pattern to fly.

Requires special training such as the Mountain Flying course.

QUESTIONS?