GEN 3.6  SEARCH AND RESCUE

3.6.1   RESPONSIBLE SERIVICE(S) RESPONSIBLE SERVICE(S)

3.6.1.1 The Aeronautical Search and Rescue (A-SAR) service in Malaysia is provided by the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), in collaboration with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF), Royal Malaysian Navy (RMN), Royal Malaysian Police (RMP), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA), Fire and Rescue Department Malaysia (FRDM), Marine Department and other SAR Agencies and Authorities.
3.6.1.2 All correspondence concerning A-SAR service shall be addressed to:
Post:

Director of Air Navigation Services Operation Division
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM)
Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KLATCC)
Jalan CTA 3, Kuala Lumpur International Airport
64000 KLIA, Sepang,
Selangor Malaysia Director of Air Navigation Services Operation Division
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM)
Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre (KLATCC)
Level 1 & 2, West Wing Terminal North
Jalan CTA 3, Kuala Lumpur International Airport
64000 KLIA, Sepang,
Selangor Malaysia
(Attention: Search and Rescue Unit)

Tel:  +603 8529 1225+603 8529 1302

Fax:  +603 8529 1310

Email: sar.hq@caam.gov.my

3.6.1.3 The A-SAR service is provided in accordance with the provisions of Civil Aviation Directives (CAD) 12 – Search and Rescue which are in compliance with the following ICAO documents and local procedures:

ICAO Annex 12 - Search and Rescue ICAO Doc 7030 - Regional Supplementary Procedures for Alerting & SAR services applicable in the SEA Region ICAO Doc 9731 - International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual Volume 1, 2 and 3 National Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (NAMSAR) Manual, Malaysia.

3.6.1.4 When A-SAR operations involving aircraft are needed, the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC)/ Aeronautical Rescue Sub Centre (ARSC) will be activated within the Kuala Lumpur or Kota Kinabalu Search and Rescue Regions (SRRs), the boundaries of which coincide with the Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu FIRs.
3.6.1.5 SAR Agency engaged in the A-SAR operations shall be responsible for the expenses incurred by its own Search and Rescue Units (SRUs) deployed during the SAR mission.

3.6.2  Area Of Responsibilty

3.6.2.1 CAAM is responsible for the overall planning and coordination of A-SAR operations involving aircraft within the Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu FIRs with the exception of accident/incident that happens in/or involving:

  1. Urban/Populated and built areas which requires emergency and disaster responses where ARAHAN NADMA No.1National Security Council Directive No. 20 prevails;

  2. Within 5 NM/8 KM5NM radius of an airport/aerodrome where the Local Airport Emergency Plan (AEP) prevails;

  3. Military aircraft whereby the respective military authority procedures prevails; and

  4. Border areas of Malaysia/Indonesia whereby the procedures stipulated in the Border SAR Manual of Malaysia/Indonesia prevails.

3.6.3  TYPE OF SERIVECES

3.6.3.1 Details of the ARCC/ARSC and related rescue units are given in Table 1 - Malaysia ARCCs & ARSCs and Table 2 – Search & Rescue Units. The aeronautical, maritime and public telecommunications services are also available to the SAR organisations.

TABLE 1 : MALAYSIA ARCCs & ARSCs

AERONAUTICAL RESCUE SUB CENTRES (ARSC)

KUALA LUMPUR FIR

 

KOTA KINABALU FIR

Name

KUALA LUMPUR ARCC

 Name

KOTA KINABALU ARCC

Postal
Address

Kuala Lumpur ARCC,
Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Jalan CTA 3, Kuala Lumpur International Airport,
64000 KLIA, Sepang,
Selangor, Malaysia Kuala Lumpur ARCC,
Kuala Lumpur Air Traffic Control Centre,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Level 1 & 2, West Wing Terminal North,
Jalan CTA 3, Kuala Lumpur International Airport,
64000 KLIA, Sepang,
Selangor, Malaysia

Postal
Address

Kota Kinabalu ARCC,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
ATCC Building,
Jalan Kepayan,
88618 Kota Kinabalu,
Sabah, Malaysia

Telephone

+603 8787 8601 / 8602 (ARCC)

+603 8529 1200 / 1242 (ATCC)

Telephone

+608 8224 403 (ARCC)

+608 8224 404 (ATCC)

Fax

+(60) 3 8787 8600 (ARCC)

+(60) 3 8529 1240 (ATCC)

Fax

+(60) 8 8219 280 (ARCC)

+(60) 8 8219 170 (ATCC)

Email

klarcc@caam.gov.my

Email

kkarcc@caam.gov.my

AFS

WMKKYCYX (ARCC)

WMFCZRZX (ATCC)

AFS

WBKKYCYX (ARCC)

WBKKZRZX (ATCC)

Area of
responsibility

Kuala Lumpur SRR

 

Area of
responsibility

Kota Kinabalu SRR

Remark

  1. 24H manned

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCCs, ARSCs and related ATS Units available.

 Remark

  1. 24H manned

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCCs, ARSCs and related ATS Units available.

AERONAUTICAL RESCUE SUB CENTRES (ARSC)

KUALA LUMPUR FIR
Name TERENGGANU ARSC (TGG ARSC)  Name KUANTAN ARSC
Postal
Address		 Terengganu ARSC,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Sultan Mahmud Airport,
Jalan Lapangan Terbang,
21300 Kuala Terengganu,
Terengganu, Malaysia 		Postal
Address

Kuantan ARSC,
Skuadran 320,
Pangkalan Udara (PU) Kuantan,
25990 Kuantan,
Pahang Malaysia

Telephone

+609 662 1276

+609 662 1278 +609 622 1278

Telephone

+609 540 2515 (CRC 1)

+609 538 1298 (PU KUANTAN)

Fax

+609 662 1305

Fax

+609 538 1544 (CRC 1)

+609 538 1693 (PU KUANTAN)

Email

tggarsc@caam.gov.my

 

N/A

AFS WMKNZTZX (TOWER)AFS

WMKDYXYD (CRC 1)

WMKDYXYX (PU KUANTAN)

Remark

  1. Available via activation by KL ARCC

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCC and related ATS Units available.

 Remark

  1. Available on activation by RMAF

  2. Known also as Military RSC West

  3. CRC 1 = Control Reporting Centre 1

KOTA KINABALU FIR

Name

 KUCHING ARSC (KCH ARSC)  

Name

MIRI ARSC

Postal
Address

KUCHING ARSC,
CIVIL AVIATION AUTHORITY OF MALAYSIA,
KUCHING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT,
P.O. BOX 1359,
93728 KUCHING,
SARAWAK MALAYSIA Kuching ARSC,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Kuching International Airport,
93728 Kuching,
Sarawak Malaysia

Postal
Address

Miri ARSC
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Lapangan Terbang Miri,
98000 Miri,
Sarawak, Malaysia

Telephone

+608 245 3928 (ARSC)

+608 245 5572 (ATCC)

Telephone

+608 561 3624

+608 561 1350

Fax

+608 257 1526 (ARSC)

+608 257 1524 (ATCC)

Fax

+608 561 5994

Email

 kcharsc@caam.gov.my

Email

 myyarsc@caam.gov.my

AFS

WBGGZTZX (TOWER)

AFS

 WBGRZTZR (TOWER)(APPROACH)

Remark

  1. 24H manned

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCCs, ARSCs and related ATS Units available.

Remark

  1. Available via activation by KCH ARSC

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCCs, ARSCs and related ATS Units available.

 

Name

 TAWAU ARSC  

Name

KOTA SAMARAHAN ARSC

Postal
Address

Tawau ARSC,
Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia,
Tawau Airport,
91011 Tawau,
Sabah, Malaysia

Postal
Address

Kota Samarahan ARSC
Kompleks CRC 2, Kota Samarahan,
d/a Pangkalan Udara Kuching,
93667 Kuching,
Sarawak Malaysia

Telephone

+608 992 1020

Telephone

+608 267 7131 (CRC 2)

+608 261 2079 (PU KUCHING)

Fax

 +608 995 0129

Fax

+608 267 7114 (CRC 2)

+608 261 2513 (PU KUCHING)

Email

 twuarsc@caam.gov.my

Email

N/A

AFS

 WBKWZTZX  

AFS

WBGGYXYX (CRC 2)

WBGGYWYX (PU KUCHING)

Remark

  1. Available via activation by KCH ARSC

  2. Direct speech circuits between ARCCs, ARSCs and related ATS Units available.

 

Remark

  1. Available on activation by RMAF

  2. Known also as Military RSC East

  3. CRC 2 = Control Reporting Centre 2

TABLE 2 : SEARCH & RESCUE UNITS

LOCATIONFACILITIESREMARKS
AIRCRAFTMARINECRAFTOTHER UNITS
KUALA LUMPUR FIR
ButterworthHEL-HRB, RVPara Rescue Team

  1. All facilities at varying state of readiness and availability.

  2. Facilities will be deployed accordingly.

  3. N/A – Not Applicable

TerengganuN/ARB, RVN/A
LangkawiN/ARB, RVN/A
KuantanHEL-HRB, RVN/A
SubangSRG, MRG, VLR, ELR, HEL-H, HEL-M RB, RVPara Rescue Team
Johor BahruN/ARB, RVN/A
KOTA KINABALU FIR
Kota KinabaluELR, HEL-HRV, RBN/A

  1. All facilities at varying state of readiness and availability.

  2. Facilities will be deployed accordingly.

  3. N/A – Not Applicable

TawauN/ARV, RBJungle Rescue Team
LabuanELR, HEL-HRV, RBPara Rescue Team
MiriN/ARV, RBN/A
KuchingMRGRV, RBPara Rescue Team Jungle Rescue Team
3.6.3.2 CAAM maintains air droppable survival equipment for maritime situations at the RMAF Air Base Butterworth, Kuantan, Kuching, Labuan and Subang. The survival equipment includes inflatable life rafts, emergency rations, medical supplies, signalling equipment and PERSONAL LOCATOR BEACON (PLB)Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The survival equipment is sufficient for the rescue of survivors of wide body aircraft and any maritime incident/accident.
3.6.3.3 Prompt and accurate information regarding all aircraft movement is essential in order to ensure the expeditious and efficient function of the SAR agencies. Pilots and aircraft operators are therefore requested to ensure that the appropriate agencies are immediately made aware of any circumstances that may require SAR operations to be initiated.
3.6.3.4 Details of 406 MHz Emergency Distress Beacon online Registration and Testing are as follows:

  1. Online Beacon Registration

    Malaysian registered aircraft (except exempted aircraft) are required to be fitted with or to carry ELT(s) in accordance with the requirements of CAD 6 Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

    All Malaysian registered aircraft (except aircraft with dispensation) are required to be fitted with or carry Emergency Locator Transmitter(s) in accordance with the requirements of Annex 10, Volume III, Chapter 5, 5.1 General

    Registering your 406MHz emergency distress beacons with CAAM is crucial for ensuring prompt and effective Search and Rescue (SAR) responses in the event of an emergency. Registration provides vital information to SAR authorities, enabling the Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre / Aeronautical Rescue Sub Centre (ARCC/ARSC) to contact your emergency contacts and gather important information to initiate a response as soon as possible. Failure to register can cause delays in the response.

    The emergency beacon must be registered with CAAM through the Search and Rescue (SAR) Unit, Air Navigation Services Operations Division.

    CAAM’S 406MHZ BEACON REGISTRATION PORTAL

    The CAAM 406MHz Beacon Registration portal (see figures below for a snippet of the website) can be accessed via:

    1. https://beaconreg.caam.gov.my

    2. CAAM Official Website, under E-Services & Forms, Search and Rescue.


    Figure 1: Snippet of CAAM’s 406MHz Beacon Registration portal


    Figure 2: Snippet of CAAM’s 406MHz Beacon Registration portal

    Tutorials are available to assist users with the registration process and to provide general information about the portal. Below are the links:

    1. Sign Up Tutorial: https://shorturl.at/lxDM0

    2. Tutorial as CAMO: https://shorturl.at/bhx08

    3. Tutorial as Individual: https://shorturl.at/doLT0

    VALIDITY

    The online registration portal will be officially operational from 1st August 2024 and will continue until further notice (UFN).

    In accordance with requirements of Annex 10, Volume III, Chapter 5, all emergency beacons must be registered with CAAM through SAR Unit, Air Navigation Services Operation Division. (refer www.caam.gov.my/e-services-forms/search-rescue for further details).

    Database of the Malaysian aviation beacons is available for ARCC/ARSC use. Registration allows ARCC/ARSC to respond expeditiously and effectively to distress activations of an ELT, and take timely action to address inadvertent activations (such as false alarms).

  2. Testing Aviation Beacons

    Operational tests must be limited to 5 seconds, and the preferred procedure is that they be conducted within the first 5 minutes of the hour. ARCC/ARSC must be notified in advance prior to the test and, where the beacon is operated on 406 MHz, its HexID must be provided.

    If an ELT/Aviation beacon has been inadvertently activated, this must also be reported to an ATS unit or the ARCC/ARSC immediately

3.6.3.5 Kuala Lumpur ARCC has been designated as SAR Point of Contact (SPOC) for the receipt of COSPAS-SARSAT alert messages.

3.6.4  A-SAR AGREEMENTS

3.6.4.1 A-SAR agreements have been concluded between the CAAM and the SAR authorities of Brunei, Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, exception with India and Myanmar. These agreements provide mutual assistance in the conduct of A-SAR operations within each other's SRRs and approval for entry of SAR aircraft, vessels and personnel of one state into the SRR of the other state, with prior permission, for the purpose of conducting SAR operations or rendering SAR assistance and for direct communications between the SAR authorities or agencies on all common SAR matters.
3.6.4.2 Request for entry of aircraft, equipment and personnel from other states to engage in search for aircraft in distress or to rescue survivors of aircraft accidents should be transmitted to the relevant ARCC/ARSC. Instructions as to the conditions and control which will be exercised for the entry of such aircraft and/or personnel will be given by the ARCC/ARSC in accordance with the standard operating procedures (SOP) for the conduct of A-SAR in the area.

3.6.5  Conditions Of Availability

3.6.5.1 The SAR service and facilities in Malaysia are available without charge to neighbouring states on an opportunity basis, and upon request to the relevant ARCC/ARSC or the relevant Air Traffic Control Centre (ATCC). The facilities indicated available at the locations, as stated in Table 2 – Search & Rescue Units, do not necessarily denote that the facilities are based at that location but merely indicate that the facilities can be made available if the need arises.
3.6.5.2 The A-SAR service can be requested directly to the Watch Manager of the respective ATCC.

3.6.6  PROCEDURES AND SIGNALS USED

3.6.6.1 Procedures And Signals Used By Aircraft

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

  2. Ditching reports, requested by aircraft about to ditch, are given in accordance with the provision in Procedures for Air Navigation Services, Meteorology (ICAO Doc 7605-MET/526)

3.6.6.2 Communications

  1. Transmission and reception of distress messages within Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu SRRs are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10, Volume II, Chapter 5, para 5.3 (refer Table 3 – Distress Frequency Guard)

  2. Information concerning positions, callsigns, frequencies and hours of operation of Malaysian aeronautical stations is published in section AD 2 and ENR 2;

  3. Rescue aircraft belonging to permanent SRUs will use the following call-signs:

    1. Fixed Wing - 'Rescue (plus number)'

    2. Rotary Wing - 'Rescue Heli (plus number)'

  4. Rescue vessel/boat will use the following call- sign:

    1. 'Rescue Vessel/Boat (plus number)' / 'Agency’s Vessel Name'

TABLE 3 : DISTRESS FREQUENCY GUARD

FREQUENCYHOURS OF WATCH WACH KEPT BY

121.500 MHz

24 Hours AD Operating HoursKuala Lumpur ATCC Kota Kinabalu ATCC All ATC Unts during published operational hours

243.000 MHz

AD Operating HoursButterworth ATC Kuantan ATC Labuan ATC

156.800 MHz (Channel 16)

156.525 MHz (Channel 70)

2182 KHz

156.8 MHz (Channel 16)

156.525 MHz (Channel 70)

2182 KHz

24 HoursMRCC Putrajaya
3.6.6.3 Search And Rescue Signals

  1. The SAR signals to be used are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5, para 5.8; and

  2. Ground/Air visual signal codes for use by survivors (refer Table 4 – Ground/Air Visual Codes).

TABLE 4 : GROUND/AIR VISUAL CODES
NO.MESSAGECODE SYMBOLINSTRUCTIONS FOR USE
1Require assistanceV

  1. Use strips of fabric, parachute material, pieces of wood, stones, or other available material.

  2. Make signals not less than 8 FT (2.5 M).

  3. Lay out symbols exactly as depicted to avoid confusion.

  4. Provide maximum colour contrast between signals and background.

  5. Endeavour to attract attention by other means such as radio, flares, smoke or reflected light.

2Require medical assistanceX
3No or NegativeN
4Yes or AffirmativeY
5Proceeding in this direction↑
Figure 104. KUALA LUMPUR, KOTA KINABALU AND ADJACENT SEARCH AND RESCUE REGIONS
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