Search and Rescue System in Poland

Abstract

Abstract On 25th of January 2018 Civil and Military Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC) commenced operations in Polish Air Navigation Services Agency (PANSA). PANSA increased significantly its contribution in the domain of coordination of search and rescue activities in ASAR service in the Polish area of responsibility. Up to this date all tasks of ARCC Centre were conducted mainly by Armed Forces of Republic of Poland, which performed coordination function in ASAR (Aeronautical Search and Rescue) service. The bodies responsible were Aeronautical Search And Rescue Centre located in Air Operations Centre – Air Component Headquarter in Warsaw and sub-centre in Gdynia, part of Naval Operations Centre of Naval Component Headquarter. According to international commitments resulting mainly from Convention on International Civil Aviation signed on 7th of December 1944 in Chicago and ratified by Poland together with Annex 12 “Search And Rescue”, Poland committed to establish aeronautical search and rescue service called ASAR within Polish region and to assure its operation. ASAR service is the only service in Poland for rescue purposes and is designated to search and rescue of aircraft in distress, provision of help for aircraft crews and passengers and other victims of aeronautical accidents (regardless to nationality of these aircraft and persons). ASAR service tasks include search of designated area to find location of aircraft and victims of aeronautical accidents, determination of their status and commencement of rescue actions at the location using dedicated forces and measures as well as forces and measures of another systems, mainly from State Medical Rescue, National Firefighting and Rescue System and Maritime Search and Rescue Service. ASAR service consists of: a)commanding element – Civil-Military Aeronautical Rescue and Coordination Centre, b)executive elements – Aeronautical Search and Rescue Teams (LZPR), and c)supporting elements – alerting points (air traffic services units operating in the framework of alerting service).