PART ONE :

AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR AUTHORITY AND ADMINISTRATION

1.0

GENERAL 1.1 Aeronautical Search and Rescue is broadly defined as the search for aircraft in distress (or referred to as an aeronautical incident), and the provision of aid to persons who are, or feared to be, in need of assistance, regardless of the nationality or status of such persons or the circumstances in which such persons are found, whether it occurs over land or sea. 1.2 In Malaysia, aeronautical SAR is provided in accordance with Annex 12 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation (Chicago 1944) and International Aeronautical Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual 1998. As signatory to the Chicago Convention 1944, Malaysia is obligated to provide ASAR services on a 24 hour basis, within the Malaysian Aeronautical Search and Rescue Regions (SRR), (defined within the Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Regions FIR) as shown in Appendix 1. 1.3 With the implementation of National Security Council Directive No. 20 (known as Majlis Keselamatan Negara, MKN Arahan No. 20) by the Prime Ministers Department, effective 11 May 1997, ASAR Operational Procedures have been amended to harmonise with inter-agency actions during an aeronautical incident. 1.4 Maritime Search and Rescue (MSAR) is broadly defined as the search for vessel in distress (or referred to as an maritime incident), and the provision of aid to persons who are, or feared to be, in need of assistance, regardless of the nationality or status of

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such persons or the circumstances in which such persons are found at sea. 1.5 In Malaysia, MSAR services are provided in accordance with IMO Maritime SAR Convention 1979, IMO SOLAS Convention 1974 and UNCLOS 1982 and International Aeronautical Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual 1998. 2.0 PURPOSE 2.1 The purpose of the National Aeronautical and Maritime SAR organisation is to direct, co-ordinate and control Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions within Search and Rescue Regions (SRRs) in Malaysia, and to provide the organisational basis for cooperation between the different Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities and assisting Aeronautical and Maritime SAR agencies. This is implemented through the National Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Plan.

3.0

NATIONAL AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR PLAN 3.1 The National Aeronautical And Maritime SAR Plan, referred to as THE PLAN throughout this document, is a directive of the Malaysian Government to Malaysian agencies for the provision and coordination of aeronautical and maritime SAR services in order to meet all obligations and requirements, at both national and international levels. The objective of THE PLAN is to integrate into a cooperative organisation all available SAR resources, which shall be coordinated, in any incident, by a single SAR Authority. This is to ensure the effective and economical utilisation of all available SAR resources in all types of SAR missions.

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3.2

The provisions of THE PLAN are applicable to all agencies that are represented in the NATIONAL SAR COMMITTEE (NSC) and those identified and listed as primary and assisting aeronautical and maritime SAR agencies. Other agencies may also participate, but with prior knowledge and approval of the main responsible SAR agencies.

4.0

GENERAL PROVISIONS OF THE PLAN 4.1 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities shall encourage the development and maintenance of proficiency in SAR techniques and procedures by primary and assisting Aeronautical and Maritime SAR agencies and assist them, as appropriate. 4.2 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR boundaries established by or under the THE PLAN are not to be construed as barriers to effective Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions. THE PLAN shall not obstruct any prompt and effective action by any agency or individual to relieve distress, whenever and wherever found. 4.3 Notwithstanding the above, THE PLAN is not intended to contravene with any responsibilities and authority of any primary and assisting Aeronautical and Maritime SAR agency as defined by laws, regulations, orders, international agreements or responsibilities of other agencies, which regularly assist persons and property in distress resulting from activities of a local nature.

5.0

NATIONAL SAR COMMITTEE (NSC) 5.1 The overall responsibility for Aeronautical and Maritime SAR lies with the National Security Council (MKN). This responsibility is exercised by the Cabinet through the NSC, chaired by the

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Secretary of National Security Council. The NSC is the highest official policy making body for aeronautical and maritime SAR in Malaysia. 5.2 The NSC shall be responsible for advising the Cabinet, determining the necessary broad policy required to achieve an efficient aeronautical and maritime SAR organization, coordinating the efforts of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies, and the pooling of resources, in particular: a. b. regular review of aeronautical and maritime SAR arrangements; make arrangements for the preparation and processing of any required c. d. e. f. g. aeronautical and maritime SAR legislation and international aeronautical and maritime SAR agreements; agree upon the details of any international aeronautical and maritime SAR Agreements; general oversight and annual review of THE PLAN; formally ratify arrangements and procedures developed by working groups and sub-committees; provide policy decision on matters that cannot be satisfactorily resolved at sub-committees and working group level; establish as required, sub-committees and working groups to developed the necessary procedures, etc., to give effect to the Committees decisions; h. define aeronautical in and maritime with SAR broad equipment principles, and and requirements, i. j. accordance

government and international policies; approve procurement and disposition of aeronautical and maritime SAR equipment and assets; and any other matters pertaining to aeronautical and maritime SAR.

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5.3 a.

The composition of the NSC is as follows: CHAIRMAN Secretary of National Security Council

b.

MEMBERS i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. xi. xii. xiii. xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. Secretary General Ministry of Finance or Representative; Secretary General Ministry of Defence or Representative; Secretary General Ministry of Home Affairs or Representative; Secretary General Ministry of Health or Representative; Secretary Secretary General General Ministry of Foreign of Affairs or or Representative; Ministry Transport Representative; Inspector General of Police or Representative; Chief of Army or Representative; Chief of Navy or Representative; Chief of Air Force or Representative; Director General Civil Aviation Department or Representative; Director General Marine Department or Representative; Director General Fire And Rescue Department or Representative; Director General Malaysian Meteorological Services or Representative; Director General Fisheries Department or Representative; Director General Royal Customs or Representative; Director General Malaysia Maritime Enforcement Agency or Representative.

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c.

SECRETARIAT The Secretariat of NSC is established at National Security Council.

5.4

The NSC, consistent with applicable laws and policies, coordinates the implementation of THE PLAN. It reviews SAR matters affecting more than one agency, including recommendations presented by primary and assisting aeronautical and maritime SAR agencies for revision or amendment of THE PLAN, and shall make appropriate recommendations. It encourages all aeronautical and maritime SAR agencies to develop equipment and procedures which will enhance the National Aeronautical and Maritime SAR capability, and will promote the coordinated development of all national aeronautical and maritime SAR resources. (See Appendix B Org Chart).

6.0

AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE 6.1 a. Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authority Structure i. The structure of the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Organization in Malaysia is depicted in Figure 1.1 below. Each SAR Authority ensures that every aeronautical and maritime SAR mission is efficiently coordinated through the effective use of all available SAR resources. It is the responsibility of the SAR authority to set up an efficient

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operational organisation within the assigned SAR incident type.

Incident Type

AERONAUTICAL

MARITIME

SAR Authority

DCA

MMEA

Head of SAR Service

DGCA

DG MMEA

SAR Organisation

ARCC

MRCC

ARSC SAR RESOURCES

MRSC

Figure 1.1 ii. The THE PLAN establishes two (2) SAR Authorities (Aeronautical and Maritime) in Malaysia, according to the type of SAR Incident. The Head of the Agency is the SAR authority for the provision of SAR services for the type of SAR incident, and also the Chairman of the Working Group. The two SAR authorities (Aeronautical and Maritime) in Malaysia are as follows:

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SAR AUTHORITY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION MALAYSIA (DCA) Chairman of Aeronautical Working Group MALAYSIA MARITIME ENFORCEMENT AGENCY (MMEA) Chairman of Maritime Working Group

SAR SERVICE Aeronautical SAR

SAR INCIDENT Aeronautical Incident

Maritime SAR

Maritime Incident

6.2

Primary Responsibility DCA and MMEA, as the aeronautical and maritime SAR authority respectively, have the primary responsibility of ensuring that an aeronautical or maritime SAR mission can be promptly initiated and executed; with efficient use of available SAR resources, until rescue has been in effect or until the chance of success is no longer a reasonable possibility. This is achieved by developing a SAR plan.

6.3 a.

Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Mission Organisation Structure In each SAR incident type, there is a SAR Authority who is responsible for the actual mission co-ordination and organisation. This organisation begins at the Operation Centre

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of the SAR Authority and the organisation at the place or area of incident. The organisational structure of each incident depends on the scale, duration and complexity of the incident and generally follows the structure given in Figure 1.2 below.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre

ARCC / MRCC

Mission Chief

SAR MISSION CO-ORDINATOR (SMC)

Field Mission Chief

ON-SCENE CO-ORDINATOR (OSC)

SAR Resources

SAR UNITS (SRUs)

SRU

SRU

SRU

Figure 1.2 6.4 a. Rescue Co-ordination Centre Organisation The Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) A RCC is an operational facility established by a SAR Authority for the purpose of promoting efficient organisation of SAR services and for co-ordinating the conduct of SAR missions within a SRR. The RCC shall be capable of responding to any

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request for information or assistance on a 24-hours a day basis. THE PLAN establishes three RCCs in Malaysias SRRs; namely ARCC Kuala Lumpur, ARCC Kota Kinabalu, and MRCC Putrajaya. 6.5 RCC/RSC Personnel The staff of RCC shall perform both administrative and operational duties. The RCC shall be staffed with trained and experienced personnel to provide a continuous watch. In cases where the RSC does not maintain a continuous watch, provision shall be made to enable stand-by RSC staff to be mobilised rapidly. 6.6 a. RCCs / RSCs in Malaysia Aeronautical DCA has established two (2) Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centres (ARCCs) and four (4) Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Sub Centres (ARSCs) within the Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu Aeronautical SRRs. b. Maritime MMEA has established one (1) Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centres (MRCCs) and five (5) Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Sub Centres (MRSCs) within the Maritime SRRs of Malaysia.

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SRR MALAYSIA Aeronautical KUALA LUMPUR

LOCATION

NAME OF OPERATION CENTRE ARCC KUALA LUMPUR ARSC Butterworth ARSC Kuantan ARCC KOTA KINABALU ARSC Kuching ARSC Labuan MRCC PUTRAJAYA

SUBANG ATCC RMAF Base Butterworth RMAF Base Kuantan

KOTA KINABALU KOTA KINABALU ATCC Kuching ATCC RMAF Base Labuan Maritime PENINSULAR MALAYSIA Northern Southern East Coast SABAH AND SARAWAK Sarawak Sabah MMEA Office Kuching MMEA Office Kota Kinabalu MRSC Kuching MRSC Kota Kinabalu PUTRAJAYA, MMEA, HQ Peninsula Malaysia MMEA Office Langkawi MMEA Office Johor Bahru MMEA Office Kuantan MRSC Langkawi MRSC Johor Bahru MRSC Kuantan

6.7 a.

Search And Rescue Regions (SRRs) Of Malaysia The SRRs of Malaysia are defined as follows: i. Aeronautical SAR Region (ASRRs)- Appendix A

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The areas co-inside with the boundaries of the Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu Flight Information Regions; airspace as delegated by ICAO under Malaysias jurisdiction, as promulgated in ICAOs Navigation Plan. ii. Maritime SAR Regions (MSRRs)- Appendix C The waters of Malaysia including the areas declared as the Continental Shelf Boundary and also the waters under the Flight Information Regions [as in para 1.4.5 (i) above] delegated to Malaysia. This information is published in IMO SAR Plan. 7.0 ORGANISATION OF AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR AGENCIES 7.1 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities shall undertake to organise SAR resources for providing Aeronautical and Maritime SAR services in order to carry out Malaysias Aeronautical and Maritime SAR obligations Civil Aviation under the Conventions (ICAO) of and the the International Organisation Regional Air

International Maritime Organisation (IMO). 7.2 Primary and assisting agencies having primary SAR responsibilities shall provide SAR the fullest practicable consistent co-operation with the to the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities in Aeronautical and Maritime missions, statutory responsibilities and assigned functions of such agencies. This enables the co-ordination and optimum utilisation of their resources and facilities in a particular Aeronautical and Maritime SAR mission by the relevant Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities, as may be necessary and practicable.

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8.0

CONDUCT OF AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR MISSIONS 8.1 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities shall develop plans and procedures for the effective utilisation of all available SAR resources and facilities in Malaysia. 8.2 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities may be assisted by, or may request assistance from other agencies having SAR capabilities. 8.3 Rescue Co-ordinating Centres (RCCs) shall conform with

international standards and procedures for Aeronautical and Maritime SAR, in particular those required by the Conventions of ICAO and IMO. 8.4 The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities shall co-ordinate and direct the resources committed to any Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions. RCCs of the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities and Operation Centres of other primary and assisting agencies shall maintain liaison and support each other in Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions, as may be necessary and practicable. 8.5 Liaison and co-operation in Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions shall be co-ordinated with Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities of neighbouring nations, as provided for in Bi-lateral and Multi-lateral Aeronautical and Maritime SAR agreements. 9.0 SAR OPERATIONAL EXPENSES AND LIABILITY

9.1

Each SAR agency concerned shall be responsible for the expenses incurred by its own SRUs deployed during an Aeronautical and

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Maritime SAR mission including those from other states that are

engaged in the operations unless special arrangement had been made.

9.2 Any aircraft / vessel engaged in an Aeronautical and Maritime SAR mission shall be exempted from government levied aviation and maritime charges. 9.3 Notwithstanding the above, the Government of Malaysia shall not be held liable for any direct, indirect or consequential damage or loss incurred to any aircraft / vessel or any injury / death to any personnel engaged in an Aeronautical and Maritime SAR mission. 10.0 PRIMARY AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR AGENCIES 10.1 National Security Council National Security Council is the body responsible for establishing, developing and maintaining Aeronautical and Maritime SAR organisation in Malaysia. The Cabinet, through the Secretary National Security Council, directs the NSC on policy, international agreements, conventions and operational matters. The National Security Council is responsible to the Cabinet on all matters pertaining to Aeronautical and Maritime SAR. 10.2 Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA) DCA is the SAR Authority for aeronautical incidents, and shall be responsible for the provision of Aeronautical SAR service within Malaysias Aeronautical Search And Rescue Regions (SRRs). As such, DCA shall co-ordinate, liaise, train, equip, staff, maintain, develop procedures and operations, and conduct exercises for A-

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SAR. DCA shall also assist the Maritime SAR Authority, when requested. 10.3 Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) MMEA is the SAR Authority for maritime incidents, and shall be responsible for the provision of Maritime SAR service within Malaysias Maritime SRRs. As such, MMEA shall co- ordinate, liaise, train, equip, staff, maintain, develop procedures and operations and conduct exercises for maritime SAR. MMEA shall also assist the aeronautical SAR authority, when requested. 11.0 PARTICIPATING AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR AGENCIES 11.1 Several agencies that have extensive range of SAR resources have been identified. Such agencies are capable of providing assistance and support to aeronautical and maritime SAR Authorities. Hence, they are responsible for providing vessels, aircrafts, other relevant assets and personnel, for the purpose of assisting and supporting Aeronautical follows: a. Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) RMP provides SAR assistance to maritime and aeronautical incidents. RMPs responsibilities are in the following: i. provision of aerial, marine and land resources to facilitate all SAR efforts; and Maritime SAR missions, and providing communication and logistic facilities, where required. They are as

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ii.

provision of communication and logistic facilities where required;

iii.

as on-scene-coordinators for aeronautical accident over land; and

iv. b.

other assistance when required.

Royal Malaysia Air Force (RMAF) RMAF is responsible for providing SAR assistance and support to Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities. The tasks of RMAF within this context are as follows: i. provision of RMAF aircraft resources and personnel for the purpose of assisting and supporting all SAR missions; ii. assistance in the provision and maintenance of survival equipment for rescue functions; iii. representation at appropriate RCC / RSC to provide liaison with RMAF Operations Centre (Pusat Operasi Tentera Udara - POTU), Air Operations Centre East Malaysia (Pusat Operasi Udara Malaysia Timur - POUMT) and other military authorities; iv. establishes, equips and trains personnel to meet the requirements of the above tasks. and v. other assistance when required.

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c.

Royal Malaysia Navy (RMN) RMN provides assistance and support to Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities for all Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions. RMNs tasks are as follows: i. provision of RMN vessels, aircraft and other relevant

resources, and personnel for the purpose of assisting and supporting aeronautical and maritime SAR missions; ii. establishes, equips and trains personnel to meet the requirements of the above tasks; iii. representation at appropriate RCC / RSC to provide liaison with FOC; and iv. d. any other assistance as required.

Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (FRD) FRD provides support to the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities through her various units. The forms of assistance include: i. provision of RMN vessels, aircraft and other relevant

resources, and personnel for the purpose of assisting and supporting Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions; ii. establishes, equips and trains personnel to meet the requirements of the above tasks; and iii. any other assistance as required.

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e.

Marine Department Malaysia (MARDEP) MARDEP provides assistance and support for SAR that includes: i. ii. iii. iv. v. provision of vessels and personnel; Representation at appropriate MRCC / MRSC to provide liaison duties; Assisting in the provision of any significant information particular to distress vessel. representation at appropriate RCC / RSC to provide liaison with MARDEP; and any other assistance as required.

12.0 ASISTING AERONAUTICAL AND MARITIME SAR AGENCIES 12.1 Government Agencies Many Government agencies are capable of providing SAR resources and assisting an Aeronautical and Maritime SAR mission. Among those identified: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. Majlis Keselamatan Negara (National Security Council, Prime Ministers Department)- SMART team; Wisma Putra (Ministry of Foreign Affairs); Malaysian Army; Information Department; Royal Customs Department; Immigration Department; Public Works Department; Meteorological Services Department; Medical And Health Department;

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x. xi. xii. xiii. xiv. xv. xvi. xvii. 12.2

Fisheries Department; Aborigines Affairs Department; Forestry Department; Wildlife and Parks Department; Port Authorities; District and Land Offices; Volunteer Reserve Corp or RELA; and JPA 3 or other Government Agencies, as required.

Commercial / Private / Volunteer Agencies Support for Aeronautical and Maritime SAR may be provided by any agency, be it voluntary group, commercial, private or individual, that offers its resources to the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authorities during an Aeronautical and Maritime SAR mission. The Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authority may accept or reject the offer, depending on circumstances and situation. In any case, any acceptance would strictly be on the conditions that may be imposed by the Aeronautical and Maritime SAR Authority concerned. Examples of such agencies are: i. ii. iii. iv. v. vi. vii. viii. ix. x. Telekom Malaysia Malaysia Berhad; Tenaga Nasional Berhad; Malaysia Airports Holding Berhad; Air Operators; Flying Clubs, Flying Schools and Private Aircraft Owners; Merchant Vessels and Commercial Ships; Fishing Co-operatives, Fishing Vessels, Private Yachts and Launches; Salvage Companies; Oil Companies; Port Operators and

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xi.

Other Commercial / Private / Volunteer Agencies, as required.

13.0 PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS 13.1 The public should be informed during Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions of public interests, within the limits of confidentiality, of aeronautical and maritime SAR system actions. The potential benefits of early release of information include: a. additional information from the public, leading to more effective use of SAR resources; b. c. fewer time-consuming requests from the news media; and reduction in inaccurate public speculation about the aeronautical and maritime SAR mission. 13.2 The aeronautical and maritime SAR Authority shall make

arrangements to issue timely press release whenever any incident has occurred and / or an aeronautical and maritime SAR mission is in progress. This may be co-ordinated with the Information Department, when necessary. 14.0 INTERNATIONAL ORGANISATIONS International Organizations have been formed to standardize Aeronautical and Maritime SAR missions that require international co-operation. While signatory nations of a treaty, convention or agreement do not pledge to always conform, they do seriously consider standards outlined in such documents. 14.1 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO)

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ICAO is a worldwide United Nation agency formed for the primary purpose of administering the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which was designed to promote the safe, orderly and efficient growth of international civil aviation, including both commercial and general aviation. The detailed requirements for A-SAR can be found in the Annexes to the Convention; Annex 12-SAR, which contains those standards and recommended practices adopted under the Convention especially for Aeronautical service. ICAO documents pertinent to A-SAR service include: a. Annex 3, METEOROLOGY Meteorological service for international navigation Chapter 10: Information for ATS, SAR and AIS b. Annex 11, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SERVICES Chapter 5: Alerting Service c. d. Annex 12, SEARCH AND RESCUE Doc4444 - RAC / 501 RULES OF THE AIR AND ATS

Part VII: FIS and Alerting Service e. 14.2 Doc7030 / 4 REGIONAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROCEDURES

International Maritime Organisation (IMO) IMO is a United Nation agency which promotes shipping safety and safety of life at sea. IMO coordinates and issues international procedures for SAR at sea. It administers, among others, the International Convention for maritime SAR. SOLAS,

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among other things, requires merchant vessels to be equipped with radios fitted with automatic alarm device and carry emergency and survival equipment. SOLAS also establishes requirements for merchant vessels to respond to a distress signal from any craft or person 14.3 International Aeronautical And Maritime SAR (IAMSAR) Manual The IAMSAR Manual was jointly published by ICAO and IMO in 1998 by the Joint Working Group On Harmonisation Of Aeronautical And Maritime SAR. This was because ICAO and IMO have the same global mandate of developing and maintaining standardized guidelines which will assist governments in promoting the establishment and maintenance of an adequate and effective Aeronautical and Maritime SAR service. The three volumes of the IAMSAR Manual, namely: a. b. c. Volume I Organisation And Management Volume II Mission Co-ordination Volume III Mobile Facilities;

are aimed States in meeting their own Aeronautical and Maritime SAR needs, and the obligations they accepted under the Convention on International Civil Aviation, the International Convention on M-SAR and the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). These volumes provide guidelines for a common aviation and maritime approach to organising and providing Aeronautical and Maritime SAR services. States are encouraged to develop and improve their Aeronautical and Maritime SAR services, co-operate with neighbouring States and to consider their Aeronautical and Maritime SAR services to be part of a global system.

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