GEN 3.6 SEARCH AND RESCUE

1 Responsible service(s)

1.1
The search and rescue service in Viet Nam is provided by Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam (CAAV), in collaboration with the appropriate Authorities of Viet Nam, which have the responsibility for making the necessary facilities available. The postal address of Civil Aviation Authority of Viet Nam are given in page GEN 1.1-1.
The address of Civil Aviation Search and Rescue of Viet Nam is as follows:
Steering Committee of Flood and Storm Control, Search and Rescue of Civil Aviation of Viet Nam
Air Navigation Department – CAAV
119 Nguyen Son Street, Long Bien District
Ha Noi, Viet Nam
Tel:(84-24) 38 720 199
(84-24) 38 271 513 ext: 8252
Fax:(84-24) 38 732 762
AFS:NIL
Email:and@caa.gov.vn
Web:http://caa.gov.vn
1.2
The services is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in the following ICAO Documents:
  • Annex 12 – Search and Rescue
  • Annex 13 – Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
  • Doc 7030 – Regional Supplementary Procedures for Alerting and Search and Rescue Services Applicable in the sea region
  • Doc 9731 – International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual.
1.3 Aviation Search and rescue coordination centre (Including Northern, Southernand Aviation Search and rescue Coordination Centers)subcenters
1.3.1 NorthernAviationSearch Aviation Search and rescue Coordination Center – Permanent agency of Aviation Search and rescueRescue Coordination Center
No. Viet Nam Air Traffic Management Corporation (VATM)
5/200 Nguyen Son Street, Bo De Ward, Long Bien District,
Ha Noi City, Viet Nam.
Tel:(84 -24) 38 3872727 7797797
(84 -24) 38 3827271 1513513 ext: 8344
Fax:(84 -24) 38 3872729 9404404
AFS:VVVVYCYX/VVHNYCYX
Email:sar@vatm.vn
1.3.2 Name and location of Aviationsearch and rescue coordination centers
1.3.2.1 AviationSearch and rescue coordination center - Northern Region Air Traffic Services Company
Noi Bai International Airport
Ha Noi City, Viet Nam
Tel:(84-24) 38 865 541
(84-24) 38 860 961 ext: 3014
Fax:(84-24) 38 865 541
AFS:VVHNYCYX
1.3.2.2 AviationSearch and rescue coordination center - Middle Region Air Traffic Services Company
Da Nang International Airport
Hoa Thuan Tay Ward, Hai Chau District
Da Nang City, Viet Nam
Tel:(84-236) 3 811 666
(84-236) 3 813 814 ext: 232
Fax:(84-236) 3 811 666
AFS:VVDNYCYX
1.3.2.3 AviationSearch and rescue coordination center - Southern AviationRegion SearchAir andTraffic rescueServices Coordination CenterCompany
No. Tan Son Nhat International Airport
22 Tran Quoc Hoan, Ward 4, Tan Binh District
Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
Tel:(84 -28) 38 3844446 6495495
(84 -28) 38 3844440 0550539 ext: 6332
Fax:(84 -28) 38 3844446 6495495
AFS:VVHMYCYX
Email:mn.tkcn@vatm.vn
1.3.3 Other relating rescue units
Name
Location
Facilities
Da Nang Airport
160232N - 1081222E
Helicopters (HEL-H) (SRG)
Rescue VesselsRescueVessels and boats (MRG)
Gia Lam Airport
210225N - 1055310E
Helicopters (HEL-H); (SRG) AN - 26 (MRG)
Hoa Lac Airport
210200N - 1052930E
Helicopters (HEL-H) (SRG)
Hai Phong PortAirport
205200N - 1064010E
Rescue Vessels and boats (MRG)
Tan Son Nhat Airport
104911N - 1063921E
Helicopters (HEL-H) (SRG); AN - 26 (MRG)
Vung Tau Airport
102210N - 1070552E
Helicopters (MRG)
Rescue Vessels and boats

2 Area of Responsibility

Steering Committee of Flood and Storm Control, Search and Rescue of Civil Aviation of Viet Nam is responsible for Search and Rescue co-ordination with other SAR units and with RCCs of adjacent States in respect of all aircraft in distress in SAR responsibility area ofViet Nam irrespective of its nationality.
Search and Rescue responsibility area of Viet Nam includesNamincludes Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh SSRs.

3 Types of Service

3.1 
Details of the aviation search and rescue coordination centre and the aviation search and rescue sub-centres are given in the item GEN 3.6-1.3 titled “Aviation Searchsearch and rescue coordination centre (Including Northern, Southernand Aviation Searchsearch and rescue Coordination centers)”. subcentres”. In addition, various elements of the State police, Marine force, Air force and local force are also available for search and rescue missions, when required. The aeronautical, maritime and public telecommunication services are available to the search and rescue organization.
public telecommunication services are available to the search and rescue organization.
3.2 
All SAR aircraft carry survival equipment, capable of being dropped, consisting of inflatable rubber distinghies equipped with medical supplies emergency rations and survival radio equipment with radio communication on frequencies: 121.5MHz; 2 182KHz.

4 SAR Agreements

4.1 
An agreement has been concluded between the SAR service of Viet Nam and the SAR service of some neighbouring States, namely Cambodia, Laos and Singapore, concerning the provision of assistance upon receipt by the former of a request from the latter for aid. This agreement provides for facilitation of the entry, overflight and landing of search and rescue aircraft, surface, vessels, in case of foreign aircraft in distress within the areas of responsibility of Viet Nam.
4.2 
Application for the entry of aircraft, equipment and personnel from other States to engage in rescue of aircraft in distress or to rescue survivors of aircraft accidents should be submitted to the Authority as indicated in GEN 1.2.

5 Conditions of Availability

The SAR services and facilities of Steering Committee of Flood and Storm Control, Search and Rescue of Civil Aviation of Viet Nam are available to neighbouring states upon request at all times.

6 Procedures and signals used

6.1 Procedures and signals used by aircraft
SAR operation are initiated and carried out under the following conditions:
  • ATC unit receives a distress call from aircraft.
  • An aircraft fails to arrive at the point of destination within ten minutes of the estimated time of arrival and there is no communicate with the aircraft.
  • An aircraft receives clearance for landing but fails to land at the assigned time, and these is no communicate with the aircraft.
  • It is clear from message of the aircraft in distress or other sources that the aircraft conditions are not adequate to guarantee a safe completion of the flight.
  • If communication with aircraft on route failed and it is impossible to re-establish during thirty minutes.
6.2
After an ATC unit receives a distress call, all ground stations in the SAR area concerned start watching on the following emergency frequencies VHF 121.5MHz and HF 2 182KHz.
  • Having performed a forced landing, aircraft crews use the above frequencies to transmit emergency messages to establish communication with ground stations and the search aircraft or helicopters proceeding into the scene of the accident.
  • In case of failure to establish contact with ground stations on the above frequencies, the aircraft in distress shall utilize communication and command station of ACC units and airports (APP, TWR etc…) to transmit messages.
6.3 An aircraft crew observing other aircraft in distress shall
6.3.1 
Make sure of the distressed aircraft position at the moment.
6.3.2 
Immediately report to the ATC unit in control and keep intruction with that ATC unit to forword the following information as possible:
  • The type of the aircraft in distress, its identification mark and condition.
  • The position of the distressed aircraft.
  • Time of observation (UTC).
  • Number and physical condition of survivors at the place of the accident.
  • Try to intercept messages from the aircraft in distress by using the frequency for communication with the ATC unit or the emergency frequency 121.5MHz and establish communication with the aircraft if necessary and practical.
6.3.3 
If the crew observing the aircraft accident fails to establish communication with the ATC unit, they shall transmit the message about the distressed aircraft to some other aircraft to be relayed to the ATC unit and make sure that the message was transmitted.
6.4 Communication
6.4.1 
Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Viet Nam Search and Rescue area are handled in accordance with Annex 10, Vol II, chapter 5, Paragraph 5.3 ICAO.
6.4.2 
For communications during search and rescue operations, the code and abbreviations published in ICAO abbreviations and codes (Doc 8400) are used.
6.4.3 
Information concerning positions, callsigns, frequencies and hours of operation of Viet Nam ground aeronautical stations is published in sections AD 2 and ENR 2.
6.4.4 
The frequency 121.5MHz is guarded continuously during the hours of service at all area control centres . It is also available at the approach control office.
6.4.5 
In addition the aerodrome control towers (TWRs) at the international aerodromes and international alternate aerodrome will on request guard the frequency 121.5MHz.
6.4.6 
During the phase of emergency the public and Viet Nam Air Navigation network communication networks will be utilized by SAR service with highest priority.
6.4.7 
Airlines representative or foreign Embassy in Viet Nam having aircraft accident will be notified by competent authorities of Viet Nam.
6.5 Search and Rescue signals
The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in Annex 12, Chapter 5, paragraph 5.10 – ICAO.
6.6 Ground/Air visual signal codes for use by survivors
No.
Message
Code symbol
Instructions for use
1
Require assistance

Make signals not less than 8 FT (2.5 M)
2
Require medical assistance

Take care to lay out signals exactly as shown.
3
No or Negative

Provide as much colour contrast as possible between signals and background.
4
Yes or Affirmative

Make every effort to attract attention by other means such as radio, flares, smoke, reflected light.
5
Proceeding this direction

Search and rescue responsibility area
PDF
Search and Rescue responsibility areas
PDF