Rescue Signals

Care must be taken if you are going to 'practice' any sort of rescue signal that there is no possibility of them being mistaken for a 'real' signal.

Under no circumstances should the emergency services have to respond to a 'non-emergency'. This could ultimately cost lives.


Quick Links  
Ground - to - Air   Mountain Rescue
Body Signals  
   
Downloads
Darren Dowling
Tracking Signs Tracking Signs - Basic   Country Code Country Code - Booklet
Tracking Signs Tracking Signs - Explained      
Connected
 

Ground to Air
.
Message
Signal
Require Assistance   V
Require Medical Assistance   X
No or Negative   N
Yes or Affirmative   Y
Proceeding in this direction  

Back to Top

Sending & Receiving Signals
.

Rescue

Body Signals

These are commonly used body signals that will be understood by airmen. Make sure that all signals are made clearly, exaggerate the movements and use a cloth to make the yes and no signals clear.

Response
A pilot receiving messages from the ground will acknowledge receipt of these messages by:

Message received and understood
In daylight: flying the plane and tipping the wings in a rocking motion from side to side

At night: flashing green lights
Message received but NOT understood

In daylight: flying the plane in a right-handed circle
At night: flashing red lights

Back to Top

Mountain Rescue
.

These are internationally recognized by all mountain rescue services.

Message   Flare Signal   Sound Signal   Light Signal
S O S   Red   3 short blasts, 3 long, 3 short
Repeat after 1 minute interval
 
3 short flashes, 3 long, 3 short
Repeat after 1 minute interval
HELP NEEDED   Red   6 blasts in quick succession
Repeat after 1 minute interval
  6 flashes in quick succession
Repeat after 1 minute interval
Message Understood   White   3 blasts in quick succession
Repeat after 1 minute interval
  3 flashes in quick succession
Repeat after 1 minute interval
Return to Base   Green   Prolonged succession of blasts   Prolonged succession of flashes

Back to Top