South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act, 2002RegulationsSouth African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue (SASAR) Regulations, 2016Part 4 : Special Provisions and Requirements28. Search and rescue signals |
| (1) | Upon observing any of the visual signals given in ICAO documents, aircraft must take action as follows: |
| (a) | When a ground signal has been displayed, a searching aircraft must indicate whether the signal has been understood by any of the following means: |
| (i) | two-way radio communication on equipment that is to hand; |
| (ii) | communications equipment dropped from an aircraft; or |
| (b) | in the event when the means alluded to in (1)(a) above are impracticable, a searching aircraft must indicate whether the signal has been understood by any of: |
| (i) | during the hours of daylight, by rocking the aircraft's wings; |
| (ii) | during the hours of darkness, by flashing the aircraft's lights on and off; or |
| (iii) | if not so equipped, by switching its navigation lights on and off. |
| (c) | A lack of the above signals must indicate that the ground signal is not understood. |
| (2) | When it is necessary for an aircraft to direct a SAR facility to the place where an aircraft or vessel in distress, the aircraft must do so by transmitting precise instructions by any means at its disposal. If no radio communication can be established, the aircraft must in the safe manner: |
| (a) | circle the distress aircraft or vessel at least once; |
| (b) | cross the projected course of the distress aircraft or vessel close ahead at low attitude, and |
| (i) | rock the wings; or |
| (ii) | open and close the throttle; or |
| (iii) | change the propeller pitch; and |
| (c) | head in the direction in which the SAR facility is to be directed. |
| (d) | a repetition of this procedure must have the same meaning. |