RESPONSE TO FLARE SIGHTINGS Nov 2011 CANADIANCOASTGUARDAUXILIARY PACIFIC

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RESPONSE TO FLARE SIGHTINGS Nov 2011 CANADIANCOASTGUARDAUXILIARY- -PACIFIC

RESPONSE TO FLARE SIGHTINGS Nov 2011 CANADIANCOASTGUARDAUXILIARY- -PACIFIC

Flare Sightings CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Sightings CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Sightings • In the event of a flare getting reported to JRCC, there

Flare Sightings • In the event of a flare getting reported to JRCC, there a a number of questions which will need to be asked to narrow down the area to be searched. • In the event a rescue vessel sights a flare, it is useful for them to know what information they will be asked for and why. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Types CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Types CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Types - Parachute • Uses parachute to provide maximum illumination/ detection time •

Flare Types - Parachute • Uses parachute to provide maximum illumination/ detection time • Visible over a large area • Rapid rise, slow descent • Average height: 1000 -1200 feet • 14 -20 mile nominal range • 30 -40 second burn duration CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Types - Twin Star B • Rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired

Flare Types - Twin Star B • Rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals, shot from a pistol or pen gun • Rapid rise, rapid decent • Average height: 250 -400 feet • 15 -17 mile nominal range • 5. 5 second min. burn duration • Red or orange CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Types - Hand C • Steady burn • No apparent rise or fall

Flare Types - Hand C • Steady burn • No apparent rise or fall • 50 -120 second burn duration • 8 -16 mile nominal range • No altitude CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height • The angle of observation can be determined from: 1. Angle above

Flare Height • The angle of observation can be determined from: 1. Angle above the horizon 2. Angle below the horizon 3. Origin to apex CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height • Angle of observation. Often the reporting source will not be able

Flare Height • Angle of observation. Often the reporting source will not be able to accurately estimate the angle of elevation without some assistance. • The angle of elevation is the angle measured from the horizon to the top of the trajectory. • If the origin of the flare is observed, the reporting source may measure the angle from the origin to the top of the trajectory. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height • This method of determining the angle may be helpful when the

Flare Height • This method of determining the angle may be helpful when the horizon cannot be seen or used as a reference. • Unless the reporting source’s height of eye is greater than the height of the flare at the top of its trajectory, the flare will normally appear to rise above the horizon. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 1 • Angle above the horizon CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 1 • Angle above the horizon CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 1 • If the flare is observed above the horizon at the

Flare Height 1 • If the flare is observed above the horizon at the apex of its trajectory, then its distance from the reporting source will depend on the reporting source’s height of eye, the observed angle above the horizon and the height of the flare above the surface. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 2 • If the reporting source is high enough, and the flare

Flare Height 2 • If the reporting source is high enough, and the flare is low enough at the top of its trajectory, then it will not appear to rise above the horizon. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 2 CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 2 CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 2 • If this happens, then the flare must be between the

Flare Height 2 • If this happens, then the flare must be between the reporting source and the horizon. • Angles below the horizon will only occur when the reporting source is really high up, such as in an aircraft. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 2 • If this happens, then the flare must be between the

Flare Height 2 • If this happens, then the flare must be between the reporting source and the horizon. • Angles below the horizon will only occur when the reporting source is really high up, such as in an aircraft CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 3 • Angle from origin to apex CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY -

Flare Height 3 • Angle from origin to apex CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 3 • The reporting source may not have a visible horizon to

Flare Height 3 • The reporting source may not have a visible horizon to use as a reference for measuring angles, but may be able to estimate the angle between the origin and maximum height of the flare. • Because the origin can be seen, the flare must be closer than the distance of the horizon, if the horizon could be seen. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height 3 • You may not be able to see the distress object,

Flare Height 3 • You may not be able to see the distress object, but you were able to see where it • came from. • This angle is the angle from the Origin to the Apex (peak). CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • The closed fist method is best for estimating the height

Flare Height Estimation • The closed fist method is best for estimating the height of a flare. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • Unless the reporting source’s height of eye is greater than

Flare Height Estimation • Unless the reporting source’s height of eye is greater than the height of the flare at the top of its trajectory, the flare will normally appear to rise above the horizon. • In this situation, when the bottom of the fist is aligned on the horizon relatively accurate estimates of small vertical angles can be made. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • Brief the reporting source on this reference system. “If you

Flare Height Estimation • Brief the reporting source on this reference system. “If you hold your fist at arm’s length, with your thumb on top and the bottom of your fist on the horizon, was the top of the trajectory above or below the top of your fist? ” • If the flare was sighted below the top of the fist, have the reporting source attempt to more accurately estimate the angle with the horizon. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • With hand-held flares, and even twin star flares if the

Flare Height Estimation • With hand-held flares, and even twin star flares if the reporting source is high enough, the flare may not rise above the visible horizon if it originates between the reporting source and the horizon. • The reporting source should be then be asked to align the top of the index finger with the horizon and estimate the apparent distance below the horizon using the fist method described above. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • Not more than ____° Not less than __° CANADIAN COAST

Flare Height Estimation • Not more than ____° Not less than __° CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • Estimates of 3 fingers or half a hand can be

Flare Height Estimation • Estimates of 3 fingers or half a hand can be extremely useful. • Obtain the final estimate in terms such as not less than 1/2 half and not more than one and a half hands. • Convert number of fingers of fractions of hands to degrees based upon the figure above. • Each finger equals 2 degrees. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • An estimate of “definitely less than a fist, but definitely

Flare Height Estimation • An estimate of “definitely less than a fist, but definitely more than a quarter of a fist, ” translated to degrees as definitely less than 8 degrees but more than 4 degrees, can tremendously limit the datum area as compared with, “I can only say less than a fist. ” CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Height Estimation • The objective is to “bracket” or estimate the bounds of

Flare Height Estimation • The objective is to “bracket” or estimate the bounds of the area containing the sighted flare without covering substantially too much or too little area. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • Establish exactly the position where the observer saw the flare from.

Flare Bearing • Establish exactly the position where the observer saw the flare from. • On land this will be a street address, a road. • On water a GPS position or an approximate lat / long position. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • Depending on the accuracy of the position of the observer, will

Flare Bearing • Depending on the accuracy of the position of the observer, will depend on the circle of error drawn around the position. • If they were driving along a road at the time, the radius of the circle will be larger. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • There are several means by which a bearing may be estimated:

Flare Bearing • There are several means by which a bearing may be estimated: (a) clock method, where the line of bearing is determined by referring to the direction as points on a clock, with twelve o’clock being perpendicular to the reporting source in relation to the shoreline or building where the reporting source is located. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing (b) gyro/magnetic compass, (c) reference object, (d) seaman’s eye, or (e) a

Flare Bearing (b) gyro/magnetic compass, (c) reference object, (d) seaman’s eye, or (e) a guess. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • If the reporting source has difficulty in confidently estimating direction, amplifying

Flare Bearing • If the reporting source has difficulty in confidently estimating direction, amplifying information, such as the following, should be obtained: (a) direction relative to the street direction, (b) direction relative to a line passing through reporting source’s position and another prominent landmark or reference point, CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing (c) identity of prominent landmarks on either side of the line of

Flare Bearing (c) identity of prominent landmarks on either side of the line of bearing from the reporting source to the flare, (d) direction relative to the trend of the shoreline in that area, or (e) direction relative to the line between the reporting source and the moon or a star or constellation the reporting source can confidently identify. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing How do we do that? • Obtain a true &/or relative facing.

Flare Bearing How do we do that? • Obtain a true &/or relative facing. • Bearing relative to any visible aid to navigation. • If nothing else, use the shoreline as a reference point. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • In this example the observer is at home at a known

Flare Bearing • In this example the observer is at home at a known address, his house is parallel to the coast, and the line of bearing was at his 1 o’clock looking out the window, and just to the left of a flashing (3) white light. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing Fl(3) CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing Fl(3) CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing Helpful Information to Obtain • Aircraft/vessels seen in vicinity. If the reporting

Flare Bearing Helpful Information to Obtain • Aircraft/vessels seen in vicinity. If the reporting source can see the vessel being illuminated by the flare then the flare is inside the horizon. • If an aircraft was seen, it may be possible to correlate this report with reports, if any, from the aircraft. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • It may also be possible to correlate the report with aircraft

Flare Bearing • It may also be possible to correlate the report with aircraft positions (from radar or radar playback) at the time of the sighting. • Obstructions. Information about obstructions can be of value in several ways. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing (a) Gauging distance. For example, a flare seen to rise/descend in front

Flare Bearing (a) Gauging distance. For example, a flare seen to rise/descend in front of an island clearly indicates the maximum distance to the flare is the distance to the island. If seen behind an obstruction it clearly indicates the minimum distance is the obstruction distance. • (b) Determining direction. Flares seen over or between identifiable obstructions give the reporting source a reference for determining direction. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing (c) Estimating angle of elevation. For example, a flare seen over the

Flare Bearing (c) Estimating angle of elevation. For example, a flare seen over the top of a nearby stand of 60 ft trees by a reporting source standing on the ground (assuming level terrain) means the flare could not have been fired from a distance very far beyond the tree line. • On scene weather and visibility. This can be useful in limiting the area to be searched. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Flare Bearing • Ascertain how visibility was determined, such as from objects that are

Flare Bearing • Ascertain how visibility was determined, such as from objects that are just visible at a known range. Keep in mind that horizontal visibility factors, such as ground fog, may not limit the visibility for a meteor or parachute flare as much as for a hand-held flare. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Object • When a flare is observed at night, the initial search object

Search Object • When a flare is observed at night, the initial search object should be the distress signaling device unless other information indicates a specific object, such as the reporting source observing the point of origin (vessel, PIW, etc. ). CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination Max. Range Min. Range CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination Max. Range Min. Range CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination • This is what the flare plot looks like, and is

Search Area Determination • This is what the flare plot looks like, and is known as a flare cone. • The circle with the x in it is the reporting source’s position, with an error circle around it that reflects the confidence in their known position. • The more uncertain they are, the bigger the error circle. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination • The center line is the line of bearing, and the

Search Area Determination • The center line is the line of bearing, and the lines to the left and right, the angle with the error circle, represent our confidence with the angle’s certainty. • The more uncertain we are with the bearing, the wider the angle. • We’re going to cap it off with the maximum range, then put in the minimum range (bracketed from the “fist method”). CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination • The area in between the max and min ranges form

Search Area Determination • The area in between the max and min ranges form our search area. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination Search Area CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination Search Area CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination • Type A flare may be seen at least 10 nautical

Search Area Determination • Type A flare may be seen at least 10 nautical miles (14 - 20 nautical miles nominal) • Type B flares may be seen at 8 nautical miles (15 - 17 nautical miles nominal) • Type C flares may seen at 8 nautical miles (8 - 16 nautical miles nominal) but is entirely dependent upon the height of the observer. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Search Area Determination • If the visibility is only 4 nautical miles from the

Search Area Determination • If the visibility is only 4 nautical miles from the observer, then the search would not be out to 10 nautical miles. • However remember that a flare can rise above a fog bank with near zero visibility, and may be seen by someone above the fog bank for miles. CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Review CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Review CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC

Review • • • What do we use to obtain sighting data? Rapid rise,

Review • • • What do we use to obtain sighting data? Rapid rise, slow descent? Rapid rise, rapid descent? Steady? What method do we use to determine a line of bearing for a flare? • Method used to obtain angle of observation? CANADIAN COAST GUARD AUXILIARY - PACIFIC