South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act, 2002RegulationsSouth African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SASAR) Regulations, 2016Part 3 : Search and Rescue Communications25. Communication frequencies |
| (1) | Communications must support distress alerting, co-ordination and locating functions by allowing those in distress to alert the SAR system, the SAR system to respond and conduct its mission and survivors to help SAR units respond and conduct a rescue. |
| (2) | The necessary communication equipment for SAR may include telephones, radio operating on international distress frequencies, long-range terrestrial and satellite system and other equipment depending, upon geography, the capabilities of mobile facilities within an area and other factors affecting the ability of persons to contact each other. |
| (3) | SAR communication equipment must be reliable i.e. in good working condition at all times and be accessible to all parties involved in a SAR operation. |
| (4) | Distress messages should always have precedence, that is, they must be processed before all other communications. |
| (5) | Communications must be able to take place reliably and quickly between units in distress and the SAR system, and between components of the SAR system, nationally and internationally. |
| (6) | SAR operations are likely to require communication between two or more of the following units and/or authorities: |
| (a) | Air Craft Services Units; |
| (b) | Search and Rescue aircraft; |
| (c) | Other vessels at sea; |
| (d) | Search and Rescue vessels; |
| (e) | Naval shore authorities; |
| (f) | Air Force Bases/Command Post; |
| (g) | Port authorities; |
| (h) | Coastal radio stations; |
| (i) | Rescue Co-ordination Centres; |
| (j) | Police Station, vessels and vehicles; |
| (k) | NSRI land stations, land mobile stations and vessels; and |
| (I) | Emergency Medical Services; |
| (m) | Navarea Co-ordinator;r |
| (n) | Hydrographer. |
| (7) | All who may be involved with SAR must be provided with communication procedures, frequencies and equipment sufficiently compatible to carry out their duties. |
| (8) | All communications related to SAR are to be conducted in accordance with the various requirements as stipulated by both International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), International Maritime Organization (IMO) and also in terms of the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS), Chicago and SAR conventions and also as per the ITU regulation on radio frequency usage as amended from time to time or as directed by Government. |
| (9) | In the event where SAR is taking place in controlled or advisory airspace, the published aeronautical frequency must be or monitored for ATC purposes. |
| (10) | When a SAR operation is declared, a frequency must be allocated for aircraft/aircraft communication. |