SAR reduced readiness
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SAR reduced readiness
Guys and girls,
A SAR question, what is the criteria laid down in relation to 45 min readiness after 21:00 and where has this figure of 45 come from.
A SAR question, what is the criteria laid down in relation to 45 min readiness after 21:00 and where has this figure of 45 come from.
Weren't they just the Stated Operational Objectives?
Concurrency, Surge, Reach and Availability (98% on State of Readiness, 15 minutes take of during daytime, 45 Minutes at Night)
Not sure if it was a definite requirement or if the Mil already have this as a requirement.
Concurrency, Surge, Reach and Availability (98% on State of Readiness, 15 minutes take of during daytime, 45 Minutes at Night)
Not sure if it was a definite requirement or if the Mil already have this as a requirement.
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Hi PP. The reduced night time readiness originated with the introduction of the SK those many years ago. Indeed I was in the crewroom at Lossiemouth when it was being discuseed and implimented. Remember that the previous Whirlwind (and Wessex) generation could not operate in all weathers and only with some difficulty at night and there was no nominal night high readiness. Quite simply it is a requirement generated to permit the SAR standby crew to maintain a nominal 24hr standby shift with a suitable period of sleeping watch to minimise fatigue. This extended night readiness also allows the crew to awaken properly, and better assess the actual conditions and flight plan before launch - always neccessary in the greater risk conditions at night. Originally each RAF SAR flight would go down to 45 at sunset whatever that time was but this was fixed at 2100 in the 1990s when the total number of UK SAR flights were reduced and it was felt that a more consistent UK night time coverage and readiness approach was required. This does not exclude the RCC rerquiring an individual Flight maintaining higher readiness should the "local" forecast activity require it - although this has seldom been implimented.
Cheers
Cheers
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Prior to it going from sunset to 2100z the likes of the premier SAR base (thats right-Lossie) could have gone to 45mins just after lunch in the middle of winter!
Wiretensioner
PS Tallsar did you happen to be Lossie Flight Commander in about '93 time?
Wiretensioner
PS Tallsar did you happen to be Lossie Flight Commander in about '93 time?
Except that it is 2200 for mil flights not 2100
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Standby Readiness
Tallsar,
'This extended night readiness also allows the crew to awaken properly, and better assess the actual conditions and flight plan before launch - always neccessary in the greater risk conditions at night.'
With reference to your comment do you know if any research was undertaken into the 'Circadian Rhythm' aspect of SAR standby at night by the military before arriving at this common sense approach?
When Civil SAR commenced for HMCG was this Mil precedent just adopted as it made common sense?
Regards
SS
'This extended night readiness also allows the crew to awaken properly, and better assess the actual conditions and flight plan before launch - always neccessary in the greater risk conditions at night.'
With reference to your comment do you know if any research was undertaken into the 'Circadian Rhythm' aspect of SAR standby at night by the military before arriving at this common sense approach?
When Civil SAR commenced for HMCG was this Mil precedent just adopted as it made common sense?
Regards
SS
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Thanks Crab......it never ceases to amaze when the obvious never stands out --always have been useless at proof reading!
SS......To be honest haven't heard of any such objective research underpinning the adoption...it was just a pragmatic approach at the time as far as I can remember. Someone from the CG will have to answer for them, but I do recall that Sumburgh always adopted the RAF approach to first standby from the start. (That unit for many years was the only CG unit between the late 1970s and the early 1990s).
More interesting perhaps is that the guesswork involved may indeed have little good foundation.....particularly since the introduction on NVGs in the early 1990s. Crew fatigue will indeed be affected by many issues...hence the RAF at least, always relies on good captaincy in the end to judge the state of the crew on these matters and decide accordingly.
Cheers
SS......To be honest haven't heard of any such objective research underpinning the adoption...it was just a pragmatic approach at the time as far as I can remember. Someone from the CG will have to answer for them, but I do recall that Sumburgh always adopted the RAF approach to first standby from the start. (That unit for many years was the only CG unit between the late 1970s and the early 1990s).
More interesting perhaps is that the guesswork involved may indeed have little good foundation.....particularly since the introduction on NVGs in the early 1990s. Crew fatigue will indeed be affected by many issues...hence the RAF at least, always relies on good captaincy in the end to judge the state of the crew on these matters and decide accordingly.
Cheers
Last edited by Tallsar; 9th Jun 2010 at 18:14.
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Yes, its an on-unit sleeping duty. Accommodation varies. Leconfield is pretty good. Lossie is quiet and dark. Valley is very strange after it was refitted to comply with every disabled requirement. Chiv and Boulmer are both getting old. Can't speak for Wattisham or the RN bases.
Sven
Sven
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All RAF SAR Flts are normally on-unit sleeping watches unless something prevents it such as redecorating etc! Last time I was there Culdrose and Prestwick were similar albeit perhaps at the nearby messes. The CG are a little more relaxed, where at some locations off base sleeping is permitted assuming it is close enough to permit flight prep and launch within the 45 min. Portland of course does not hold a night time standby.
Cheers
Cheers
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With the CG you must be able to get to the flight within 15 minutes to enable the 45 minute rule to be met. If you can't satisfy that rule there are bedrooms on the flight to stay in. Also handy when the bad weather kicks in during the winter months. saves going home. Must admit going home at 45 minutes took some getting used to after the military way.
Wiretensioner
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Sounds good
That sounds like a very safe system, as it would reduce the risk of jumping out of bed and starting to plan the flight before you have properly woken up. At least the only risk during the first 15mins is that of the drive in. Sounds like the way SAR should be done. It also sounds good for the work life balance.
