Observer Scanner Training Electronic Searches Section 3 by 1st Lt. Alan Fenter

Level II Technician Rating Section 1: Objective: Discuss electronic equipment, including the reasons for its survivability, and the way to insure proper search coverage.

Level II Technician Rating The Success of ELT’s depend on Life of the battery Survivability Whether or not the unit was armed or not

Level II Technician Rating ELT System

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What does ELT stand for? Emergency Locator Transmitter

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding On what three factors does the success of electronic searches depend? 1.Life of ELT batteries 2.Survivability of ELT 3.Whether the unit was turned on or not.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What means can be used to insure adequate, thorough coverage during a search? Use both an electronic search & a general concentrated search

Level II Technician Rating Section 2: Objective: Given statements concerning the track line pattern, select true ones from false.

Level II Technician Rating Electronic Search Patterns Most effective is the Track Line Search Flown from 5000 to 10,000 AGL Successive sweeps should be ½ previous track spacing A C B ½ SM Track of Missing Aircraft

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The track line pattern is most effective during electronic searches. True

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding Most track line patterns are flown above 10,000 feet. False, 5000 to 10,000 ft. AGL is the normal altitude for most Track Line Patterns

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The maximum altitude for receiving an ELT signal is the best for making an electronic search. False

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding On second and third sweeps during a track line search, the track spacing should be one- third of the preceding sweep. False

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The search procedures should be continued until the survivors are found or the batteries are presumed dead. True

Level II Technician Rating Section 3: Homing Searches Objective: Define homing and discuss the meaning of the actions of the left-right needle in a directional finding unit during a homing search.

Level II Technician Rating ELT Homing Game

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What does “homing” mean? Tracking a signal from a distance point to its source.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What does a centered left-right needle of a directional finding unit mean in the homing search method? You are heading directly to or away from the signal source.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding How can you tell if you are flying directly toward or away from a signal picked up on the DF unit? Make a 90 degree turn and observe the direction of the needle in relationship to the planes orientation.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding How does the left-right needle indicate to you that you have just crossed over the target? You will notice a full scale swing form side to side.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding If you have been steadily on the signal in a homing search and the needle suddenly drifts to one side and returns to the center, what does this indicate? Interfering signal

Level II Technician Rating Section 4: Signal Null Method Objective: Discuss the basis for the null search method, the equipment needed, the procedure itself, and the special considerations in this type of search.

Level II Technician Rating 2 Assumptions 1. Metal wing will block the incoming ELT signal during steep turns 2.Two or more receptions will provide vectors locating the ELT

Level II Technician Rating Null Procedures Altitude 6000 to 9000’ AGL NULL Path of Aircraft NULL Target NULL Vector Reduce Altitude

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The signal null method is based on what two assumptions? 1.Metal wing will block ELT Signal during a steep turn. 2.Two or more receptions will provide vectors locating the ELT.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What special equipment is needed for this method? A special antenna properly located.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What does it mean to say “the signal will null”? The signal will break or momentarily stop.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding How many degrees are added to or subtracted from a null signal reading for it to be accurate in locating downed aircraft? 90 degrees

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding When the approximate location has been determined and the search craft has descended to obtain visual contact, how is the crew able to pinpoint the location within a small area? More “nulls” and visually

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What are four special considerations in making a signal null search? 1.Crew competent in 360 degree turns. 2.Knowledge of search aircraft position when null occurs. 3.When signal is lost-go to last location null occurs. 4.Approach wreck area with caution.

Level II Technician Rating Section 5:Aural Searches Objective: Define “aural” and discuss the assumption on which aural searches are based, standard volume during a search, and the problem in pinpointing downed aircraft using this method.

Level II Technician Rating Aural Search method Area of equal beacon strength is circular – barely audible in A/C receiver at search altitude SH SF Chord 1 SHSF Chord 2 Chord 3 Decending Commence Low Alt Pattern

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The aural search is based on what assumption? Area of equal beacon strength is circular

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding What does “aural” mean? Audio

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding Of what value is maintaining standard volume during an aural search? Ensures the signal “heard” and “fade” positions will remain constant.

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding Why are the calculations on pinpointing the location of ELT units only approximate in aural searches? In actuality, areas of equal signal strength are seldom circular.

Level II Technician Rating Section 6: Metered Search Objective: Complete statements concerning the metered search method of locating downed aircraft.

Level II Technician Rating Metered Searches First Signal / Fades ELT 2.0

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The meter, in a metered search, measures ____ _____ _______. ELT Signal Strength

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding To be effective, the metered search must locate two positions where the signals are of _____ _____ _______. Equal Signal Strength

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding The metered search is carried out by the pilot making turns primarily of ____ degrees until enough information is gathered to plot the location of the downed aircraft. 180

Level II Technician Rating Section 7: General Conclusions Objective: Complete statements concerning various general conclusions about electronic search methods.

Level II Technician Rating

Check for Understanding Electronic searches are most efficient when _________, ___________, and ________ are ideal. Equipment environment terrain

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding One big problem for search teams for a long time has been ________________. Signal Reflections

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding During mountainous searches, the pattern should be flown _________ to the valley ridges first, then _____________ to them. Parallel Perpendicular

Level II Technician Rating Check for Understanding In looking at a problem in an electronic search, consider equipment reliability, direction finding procedures, and _______ as possible trouble sources. terrain