1 Responsible service(s)

The search and rescue services in the State of Qatar have been delegated by the Qatar Civil Aviation Authority in total to the Qatar Armed Forces which have the responsibility for making the necessary facilities available. The postal and telegraphic addresses of the Civil Aviation Administration are given on page GEN 1.1.

When SAR operations are required, a RCC will be established by Bahrain. In support of this facility, Qatar will establish a Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre (JRCC), the responsible contact of which is:

The service is provided in accordance with the provisions contained in;

• Annex 12 - Search and Rescue
• Annex 13 - Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
• Doc 9731- IAMSAR Manual
• Doc 7030 - Regional Supplementary Procedures

2 Area of responsibility

The Qatar search and rescue services are primarily responsible for SAR operations within the area bounded by the Qatar land peninsula and associated territorial waters. This may be combined with/extended according to circumstances and as may be required in collaboration with the Bahrain RCC and/or other adjacent states.

3 Types of service

Details of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) and related supporting rescue units are given in the Table 3.6.3 - Search and Rescue Units. All elements of the State of Qatar’s Police, Maritime and Armed Forces are available for search and rescue missions, when required. The aeronautical, maritime and public telecommunication services may also be offered to the search and rescue operations.

All search aircraft are land planes and carry survival equipment, capable of being dropped, consisting of inflatable rubber dinghies (boats) equipped with general purpose first aid supplies, emergency rations and survival radio equipment. Aircraft are equipped to communicate on 121.5 MHz, 123.1 MHz, 243.0 MHz and are also equipped with VHF/UHF direction finder. Marine craft are equipped to communicate on 123.1 MHz, 282.8 MHz and are equipped with radar.

4 SAR agreements

An agreement has been concluded between the SAR service of State of Qatar and the SAR service of neighboring States 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 overflight and landing of search and rescue aircraft without prior permission after dispatch of a flight plan, for similar facilitation of the entry of surface vessels of the SAR service and their operation in border areas, for notification of entry to the authorities controlling entry, for defraying the costs of stop-overs, accommodation and transportation of crew members, and for direct communication between the two SAR services on all common search and rescue matters.

Requests for the 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 the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC). Instructions as to the control which will be exercised on entry of such aircraft and/or personnel will be given by the Rescue Coordination Centre in accordance with a standing plan for the conduct of search and rescue within its area.

5 Conditions of availability

The SAR service and facilities in State of Qatar are available without charge to neighbouring States upon request to the Civil Aviation Authority at all times when they are not engaged in search and rescue operations in their home territory. All facilities are specialized in SAR techniques and functions.

6 Procedures and signals used

Procedures for pilots-in-command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call and/or message are outlined in QCAR 12 and ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5.

Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Search and Rescue Area are handled in accordance with QCAR 10 (vol. II) and ICAO Annex 10, Volume II, 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 121.5 MHz is guarded continuously during the hours of service at all ATC Control Towers within the State of Qatar and Doha Approach Control Centre. All coast stations guard the international distress frequencies.

Rescue aircraft assigned to Search and Rescue Units will use both the call sign “RESCUE” and additional identification marks (ALFA, BRAVO, CHARLIE, etc.) as assigned by the RCC during rescue operations.

The search and rescue signals to be used are those prescribed in QCAR 12 and ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5, para 5.10.

Table 3.6.6 Ground/air visual signal codes

No.	Message	Code Symbol
1	Require assistance
2	Require medical assistance
3	No or Negative
4	Yes or Affirmative
5	Proceeding in this direction
Instructions for use: Make signals not less than 8 ft (2.5 m). Take care to lay out signals exactly as shown. Provide as much colour contrast as possible between signals and background. Make every effort to attract attention by other means such as radio, flares, smoke reflected light.