The Search and Rescue Services in the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR are organized in accordance with the International Standards and Recommended Practices of ICAO, and overall responsibility for coordinating the necessary facilities rests with the Undersecretary for Civil Aviation, Bahrain Civil Aviation Affairs, Kingdom of Bahrain:
Bahrain Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel:+973 17329969 / +973 17329959
Fax:+973 17329949
AFS:OBBISARX
Note 1: New AFTN address OBBINEMX is established for the purpose of Nuclear Emergency Message (NEM).
Note 2: There is a direct speech circuits between the RCC and all related ATC Units.
Note 3: Out of the normal working hours from 0400 to 1100 to call +973 17321081 and FAX +973 17321029
Applicable ICAO Documents:
Annex 12 Search and Rescue
Annex 13 Aircraft Accident Investigation
Doc 7030 Regional Supplementary Procedures
Differences:
NIL
The Search and Rescue Region encompasses the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR, excluding the Qatar land and territorial waters.
Facilities Available: Marine Craft
Ministry of Interior CGD
P.O. Box 13
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel:+973 17700000
Fax:+973 17700728
Telex:7707 CGD BN
| Craft Available | Activation Time | Availability |
| 2 RB (20 M) | Immediate | H 24 |
| 4 RB (20 M) | Immediate | H 24 |
| 4 Open oat (31 FT) | Immediate | H 24 |
Facilities Available: Light Helicopters
Ministry of Interior
Police Flying Wing
P.O. Box 13
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel:+973 17240000 / +973 17254736
Fax:+973 17253439 BDF Helicopter Wing
| Aircraft Available | Activation Time | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 2 HEL - L | 30 Mins. BTN 0500 & 1215 | SR - SS |
| 1 HR BTN 1215 & 0500 | ||
| 1 HR during weekend and public holidays |
POST:
BDF Helicopter Wing
P.O. Box 245
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel:+973 17894474
Fax:+973 17620926
Facilities Available:
| Aircraft Available | Activation Time | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| (10) Helicopters for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (3) Helicopters for Medical Evacuation (MEDVAC) missions with qualified medical crew | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (64) Boats for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (14) Ships for Surveillance and Reconnaissance missions | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (535) Qualified and trained Rescue Divers / Medical crews | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (20) Jet ski for Search and Rescue (SAR) missions (shallow water purposes) | H24/7 | SR - SS |
| (10) Military Officers for Humanitarian support missions | H24/7 | SR - SS |
Area Control Centre ACC is located at the Civil Aviation Affairs / Air Navigation Directorate to detect and locate the position of distress signals pemitted on 121.500 MHZ and 406.000 MHZ and received by the COSPAS / SARSAT satellite system. Distress signals received at the ACC will be notified to the appropriate Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) in order to initiate immediate search and rescue coordination.
To be developed
Assistance will be provided to aircraft in distress and to survivors of aircraft accidents. In addition to the facilities outlined in GEN 3.6.3 various elements of Police organizations, the Merchant Marine and the Armed Forces are available to the Search and Rescue Organization.
Requests for entry of aircraft, equipment and personnel from other States to engage in the search for aircraft in distress or to rescue survivors of aircraft accidents should be transmitted to:
Undersecretary for Civil Aviation
P.O. Box 586
Kingdom of Bahrain
Tel:+973 17321081 / +973 17320487
Fax:+973 17329949
AFS:OBBISARX
Unwarrant Operations
Civil Aviation Affairs, as the authority responsible for the coordination of rescue services for the Bahrain SRR, reserves the right to take steps to recover expenditure, incurrent either by aerodrome services or other participants involved in search and rescue operations, whenever circumstances show that the operation was unwarranted.
Owing to the nature terrain, aircraft are advised to maintain a good look - out at all times whilst operating within the BAHRAIN FIR / BAHRAIN UIR and are requested to inform the Bahrain FIC immediately they see anything which might be relate to an aircraft in distress.
Procedures for pilots - in - command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call are in accordance with Annex 12.
Communications
Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Bahrain Search and Rescue Region are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.3.
For communications during search and rescue operations, the codes and abbreviations published in ICAO Abbreviations and Codes (Doc 8400) are used.
The frequency 121.500 MHZ is guarded continuously during the hours of service at an area control centers and flight information centers. It is also monitored at BAHRAIN INTERNATIONAL Approach Control Office.
Search and rescue signals
The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in Annex 12, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.10.
Ground / air visual signal codes for use by survivors
| NO. | Message | Code symbol |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Require assistance | V |
| 2 | Require medical assistance | X |
| 3 | No or negative | N |
| 4 | Yes or affirmative | Y |
| 5 | Proceeding in this direction | -> |
|
Instructions for use:
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