LS10.15 ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS

Section: LS10 SAR Operations

Date: 20th September 2016

Page: 2 of 2

3. What was the weather in the area where the missing craft is presumed to be and if the time of emergency is known, what were the actual weather conditions at the craft’s estimated position?

4. Were there any marked changes in wind or sea currents that might have resulted in navigation errors?

5. Were there any areas of low ceiling, poor visibility, precipitation, thunderstorms, frontal activity, turbulence, icing, that may have caused the craft to attempt circumnavigation, or that could have exceeded either the crafts or operator’s capability?

6. Were there any areas of marked pressure changes that may have caused aircraft altimeter errors?

Weather Reports by Survivors

Occasionally missions will occur during which radio contact can be established with survivors who do not know their exact position. If survivors can report sufficient weather information, the IC and meteorological personnel may be able to develop an approximation of the survivor’s position by fitting the survivor’s weather into the current synoptic picture.

The following weather information should be requested immediately, and on a scheduled basis thereafter, if possible:

1. Percentage of cloud cover;

2. Estimated height of clouds;

3. Type of description of cloud;

4. Estimated surface wind velocity;

5. Winds aloft direction, if discernible by cloud movement;

6. Prevailing weather phenomena such as snow, rain, fog, sea state, etc;

7. The times of sudden changes in wind or weather such as rapid clearing, quick deterioration, sudden changes in wind direction, noticeable change in temperature, blowing dust or any other condition that might indicate frontal passage;

8. Outside air temperature; and

9. Observed times of sunset and/or sunrise.