Analysis of Distress Air Cases in Relation to Crash Position and Intended Track: 1968-73,

Abstract : In distress air cases in which an aircraft crashes or force lands without revealing its position, search methods are prescribed by Canadian Forces Search and Rescue Orders and Procedures (CFP 209). This paper examines the relationship between crash position and various parameters of the intended flight (Origin, or Last Known Position, Track and Destination). A method for determining the search area is devised and compared with the existing method embodied in CFP 209. The proposed method produces search areas which are smaller than the present areas for a corresponding probability of coverage. The overall reduction in areas is anticipated to be about 35% over a wide spectrum of cases and a period of time. On the assumption that search time is related to area, a reduction in search time of this order of magnitude is expected.