Planning for Search and Recovery Operations A Small

Planning for Search and Recovery Operations A Small Investigation Agency’s Perspective Bryan Siow Yao Accident Investigator Air Accident Investigation Bureau Singapore AAIB SINGAPORE

Outline Introduction Singapore’s experience in sea accident investigation AAIB Task Force AAIB’s Search Deployment Plan Coordination Resources Search Exercise Recent ICAO Annex amendment proposal AAIB SINGAPORE

Destinations of Singapore Carriers AAIB SINGAPORE

Take-off or landing routes around Changi Airport AAIB SINGAPORE

Changi Airport Emergency Services AAIB SINGAPORE

Air France Flight 447 Are we able to direct and manage a search and recovery operation for an aircraft that has crashed into a deep ocean far away from Singapore? Do we have enough investigators to be deployed in the high seas for a search and recovery operation? Are our investigators able to survive working in high seas for an extended period? Will we be able to muster the necessary manpower and equipment resources to conduct a search and recovery operation? AAIB SINGAPORE

Earlier sea accident investigation experience AAIB SINGAPORE

Convair CV-240 on 17 Sep 75 Aircraft ditched into the Johor Straits or Kallang River Extensive corrosion over the whole aircraft wreckage Lessons learnt: ØImportance of recovering the aircraft wreckage as quickly as possible, in order to minimise corrosion on aircraft parts and reduce evidence loss AAIB SINGAPORE

Silk. Air MI 185 on 19 Dec 97 Indonesia NTSC leaded the investigation Strong tidal currents and murky waters made the search challanging Wreckages were small and they settled and got burried in the mud at the bottom of the river Visibility underwater was so poor that divers searching for bodies or aircraft parts practically had to do so by touch (1/3) Musi River – crash site AAIB SINGAPORE

Silk. Air MI 185 on 19 Dec 97 (2/3) Singapore deployed the following resources: Ø 2 naval vessels Ø 1 Fokker 50 Ø 1 Hercules C 130 Ø 2 Super Puma helicopters Ø Over 90 divers from Singapore Navy took part AAIB SINGAPORE

Silk. Air MI 185 on 19 Dec 97 (3/3) Lesson Learnt: ØImportance of inter-agency coordination and cooperation ØImportance of having adequate sources of fund to support such operation AAIB SINGAPORE

AAIB search capability enhancement AAIB contacted or visited the following investigation agencies: ØCanada ØFrance ØTaiwan ØThe United Kingdom ØThe United States AAIB meet salvage companies to understand their investigation capabilities AAIB SINGAPORE

Adam Air B 737 on 1 Jan 07 AAIB investigators were invited by NTSC to help search for the Adam Air B 737 that had gone missing over Makassar Strait A total of 6 missions were conducted at multiple locations (1/3) Baruna Jaya IV Discussion on search location AAIB SINGAPORE

Adam Air B 737 on 1 Jan 07 (2/3) Listening for the pinger signal (37. 5 KHz) was challenging: Ø Exercise was daunting and time consuming due to sea conditions, noise environment, etc. Ø Sea sickness - make it hard for the investigators to concentrate on the task Ø Difficult to control the rubber dingy when currents are strong – affect the accuracy of the location and bearing of the signals which might be recorded AAIB SINGAPORE

Adam Air B 737 on 1 Jan 07 (3/3) Lessons Learnt: Ø The need to have appropriate communciation equipment for use in remote areas Ø Honing of ULB detection skills AAIB SINGAPORE

AAIB Task Force on Planning for Underwater Search and Recovery of Recorders Set up in July 2009 AAIB SINGAPORE

Mission of the Task Force Develop and enhance AAIB’s search operational capabilities Review the way the AAIB would tackle search endeavour in these aspects: ØCoordination ØResources Available ØTraining AAIB SINGAPORE

Identified Approaches To draw up a deployment plan that can readily be modified to suit the circumstances To strengthen coordination with relevant domestic agencies and organisations to enhance cooperation in the use of their resources and personnel in times of need To acquire all the necessary sea charts To acquire the necessary search equipment (e. g. ULB detector, GPS, compass, triangulation software) and train investigators in their use To enhance the proficiency of Airport Emergency Service’s divers in the use of ULB detectors To take part in realistic search exercises AAIB SINGAPORE

Sea Search Deployment Plan Search and Recovery Team (SRT) Investigation Support Team (IST) AAIB SINGAPORE

Search and Recovery Team (SRT) Sea search team responsible for: Plan and conduct search pattern, review search results and revise search area with either ROV or divers Surveillance, mapping and appraisal of underwater wreckage site Recovery of wreckage from water with support from commercial salvage companies Evaluate search operations and to recommend to IIC when the search effort should be stopped AAIB SINGAPORE

SRT Manpower/Logistics Structure SRT be lead by AAIB investigators and consists of the following: MPA hydrographic expert to provide maritime expertise MINDEF adviser to coordinate with IST Divers (from Military/AES/Salvage operators) to assist in the search of the pinger signals from the sea surface Airline technical personnel Sea search adviser from foreign investigation agency to provide technical advise on search operations Engineers from aircraft and engine manufacturer to assist in wreckage identification RSN vessel with deployable zodiac RSAF aircraft for extended search of debris AAIB SINGAPORE

Investigation Support Team (IST) Operations command centre to provide: Logistics support to SRT Coordination with other agencies (including the agencies of the SAR State) Coordination on victim identification and examinations NOK and media handling Wreckage storage, identification and reconstruction Conduct of initial investigation and fact finding Regular briefing on updates AAIB SINGAPORE

IST Manpower/Logistics Structure Apart from AAIB staff, IST will also comprise the following: Pathologists from HSA to assist in victim identification MFA staff to assist in getting diplomatic clearance, handling of NOK, etc. MINDEF personnel to coordinate with SRT Search and rescue specialist Airline staff Accredited Representatives from foreign investigation agencies and their advisers Engineers from aircraft and engine manufacturer AAIB SINGAPORE

Coordination AAIB SINGAPORE

Coordination with relevant domestic agencies and organisations Singapore CAA / SAR Coordinator Maritime Port Authority Military/ Police Salvage companies Tentage Companies AAIB SINGAPORE

Mobilisation Exercises To validate the coordination plans that have been devised Two to three exercises are held every year, one of which would correspond to a sea crash scenario 300 -400 participants from various agencies AAIB SINGAPORE

Resources AAIB SINGAPORE

Identified Sea Regions North Atlantic Ocean North Pacific Ocean East China Sea Arabian Bay of South China Sea Ocean Bengal Singapore Indian Ocean Tasman Ocean AAIB SINGAPORE

Flight Information Regions (FIR) Charts AAIB SINGAPORE

Hydrographic Charts AAIB SINGAPORE

Database AAIB set up a data system that can provide at least some preliminary information ØSearch and Rescue Authorities ØState’s Investigation Agency ØSingapore Overseas Mission ØSalvage Companies’ Assets Distribution AAIB SINGAPORE

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Acquisition of search equipment Basic equipment needed for search operation, as part of its effort to enhance its investigation capability AAIB SINGAPORE

Training AAIB investigators in the use of ULB detectors AAIB SINGAPORE

Training of divers in the use of ULB detectors AAIB SINGAPORE

Sea Search Exercise AAIB SINGAPORE

Importance of Search Exercise Need to gain practical experience in the mobilisation and organisation of a search operation To appreciate the tasks involved in search operation Enable AAIB’s investigators to learn more about search and recovery of wreckage To tap others’ expertise and experience AAIB SINGAPORE

ECAC Workshop on Underwater Search of Flight Recorders Dubrovnik, Croatia, Jun 09 AAIB SINGAPORE

ECAC Workshop on Underwater Search of Flight Recorders Dubrovnik, Croatia, Jun 09 AAIB SINGAPORE

CAAC exercise, Guangzhou, China. Oct 09 AAIB SINGAPORE

ASC Underwater Recovery of Flight Recorders Exercise Taiwan, May 10 AAIB SINGAPORE

ECAC Workshop on Underwater Search of Flight Recorders Larnaka, Cyprus, Oct 10 AAIB SINGAPORE

Cost Involved Search and Rescue costs (approx) : 80 million € AF 447 Investigation Cost Underwater search budget (approx) : 23 million € (BEA / Airbus / Air France) AAIB SINGAPORE

Lesson Learnt from Exercises (1/2) To work out an initial plan beforehand, and have a checklist to aid in planning a search. Although not all accidents are similar, the checklist will serve as a base line for the development of a better plan that would suit the situation. To plan for contingency funding and be prepared for a lengthy sea operation. To train investigators in ULB detection in different water conditions and environment (open sea, lake, swamp, salinity, etc) as these can compound the difficulties for the pinger signal detection. AAIB SINGAPORE

Lesson Learnt from Exercises (2/2) To tie the hydrophone part of the ULB detector to a structure on the boat with a string. This will prevent losing the hydrophone in the event that the staff holding the hydrophone is broken by the strong sea current. To be prepared for motion sickness and not to drink or eat too much before going out to sea Latest technology can assist in the search operation, these technology was require additional funding and may be costly for any lengthy sea operations. AAIB SINGAPORE

AF 447 – BEA’s Recommendations Larnaka, Cyprus, Oct 10 Ø Extend to 90 days the transmission time for ULB installed on flight recorders on aircraft performing public transport flights over maritime areas Ø Make it mandatory for aircraft to be equipped with an additional ULB capable of transmitting on a frequency (between 8. 5 k. Hz and 9. 5 k. Hz) and for duration adapted to the localisation of wreckage Ø Study the possibility of making it mandatory for aircraft to regularly transmit basic flight parameters like position, altitude, speed, heading, etc. AAIB SINGAPORE

Proposed amendment to Annex 6 ICAO is proposing the following: At the earliest practical date but not later than 1 Jan 18, Ø ULBs operating at 37. 5 k. Hz shall operate for a minimum of 90 days. Ø All aeroplanes of maximum take-off mass over 27, 000 kg shall have a ULB operating at 8. 8 k. Hz and the ULB shall operate for a minimum of 30 days. On or after 1 Jan 18, all aeroplanes of maximum take-off mass over 27, 000 kg shall have an alternate power source to engage and provide 10 minutes (± 1 min) of operation whenever aeroplane power to recorder ceases (CVR to be located as close as possible to alternate power source). AAIB SINGAPORE

Conclusion AAIB SINGAPORE

Moving forward Intra-agency coordination and cooperation framework within Singapore Continue to learn from other air accident investigation agencies that have vast experience in underwater search and recovery of aircraft wreckage and flight recorders experience. More regional cooperation and interaction in search planning and operation Possible joint organisation of search exercises for flight recorders AAIB SINGAPORE

AAIB Search for Flight Recorder Workshop Objectives: ØTo share technical experience in underwater recovery operation for flight recorders ØTo strengthen regional cooperation Scheduled to be held on 21 – 22 July 2011, Singapore 2–day workshop (including search exercise) AAIB 51 SINGAPORE

ICAO Asia and Pacific Regional Accident Investigation Workshop Objectives: ØTo share technical investigation expertise ØTo strengthen regional cooperation Scheduled to be held on 26 – 30 September 2011, Singapore 4 -day investigation workshop (includes basic and advanced flight recorders training) AAIB 52 SINGAPORE

Thank You AAIB SINGAPORE