Appendix E Distress and Emergency Signals

Appendix E - Distress and Emergency Signals

Overview
Many signals have been devised over the years to signal a condition of distress or
other emergency status. Those listed in this Appendix are those which are most
common, have been accepted by international agreement or national custom, or which
may be significant for occasional use by SAR units.
Because of the large number of possible signals of various types that may be used to
indicate an emergency condition or may be used for emergency communication, this
list is not all-inclusive.
International Distress Signals
a. A gun or other explosive signal fired at intervals of about a minute.
b. A continuous sounding of any fog-signalling apparatus.
c. Rockets or shells, throwing red stars fired one at a time at short intervals.
d. A signal sent by radiotelephony consisting of the spoken word Mayday.
e. The International Code Signal of distress indicated by the code group NC.
(See the International Code of Signals for other code groups with emergency
significance.)
f. A signal consisting of a square flag having above or below it a ball or anything
resembling a ball.
g. Flames on a vessel (as from a burning tar barrel, etc.).
h. A rocket parachute flare or a hand flare showing a red light.
i. A smoke signal giving off a volume of orange-coloured smoke.
j. An orange coloured sheet with a black square and circle or a black V or
other appropriate symbol.
k. Slowly and repeatedly raising and lowering arms outstretched to each side.
l. The radiotelephone alarm signal consisting of two tones transmitted
alternatively over periods of from 30 seconds to 1 minute.
m. Signals transmitted by Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons, EPIRBs
or Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs).
n. Approved signals transmitted by radio communication systems.
o. A dye marker.
Search and Rescue Signals - Australian Area
Signals with Surface Craft
When it is necessary for an aircraft to direct a surface craft to the place where an
aircraft or surface craft is in distress, the aircraft shall do so by transmitting precise
instructions by any means at its disposal. If such precise instructions cannot be
transmitted or when necessary for any other reason, the instructions shall be given by
using the procedure prescribed herein.
The following procedures performed in sequence by an aircraft shall mean that the
aircraft is directing a surface craft towards an aircraft or a surface craft in distress:
a. Circling the surface craft at least once;
b. Crossing the projected course of the surface craft, close ahead at a low
altitude, opening and closing the throttle or changing the propeller pitch; and
c. Heading in the direction in which the surface craft is to be directed;
The following procedure performed by an aircraft shall mean that the assistance of the
surface craft to which the signal is directed is no longer required:
a. Crossing the wake of the surface craft close astern at a low altitude, opening
and closing the throttle or changing the propeller pitch.

E-1
Appendix E Distress and Emergency Signals

b. Repetition of such procedures shall have the same meaning.

Current maritime signalling procedures include:
a. For acknowledging receipt of signals:
i. the hoisting of the Code Pennant (vertical red and white stripes) close
up (meaning understood);
ii. the flashing of a succession of Ts by signal lamp in Morse code; and
iii. the changing of heading.
b. For indicating inability to comply:
i. the hoisting of the international flag N (a blue and white checked
square); and
ii. the flashing of a succession of Ns in Morse code.
Civil Air-Ground Code
Australian civil authorities use the following air-ground code:
Signal Meaning
Aircraft orbits ground party at low level changing I require your attention
engine noise
Aircraft flies overhead ground party at low level and Follow aircraft in same direction
sets off in a particular direction.
Aircraft rocks wings and orbits. Investigate object/position underneath aircraft orbit
Aircraft drops smoke on a particular location Investigate object/position adjacent to smoke
Aircraft drops message canister. Retrieve and read instructions contained in the
canister
Figure E.1 Air-Ground Visual Signal Code
International SAR Signals
The following visual signals are internationally recognised. They are authorised for
use in the Australian SRR.
Number Message Code Symbol
1 Require Assistance V
2 Require Medical Assistance X
3 Proceeding in this Direction
4 Yes or Affirmative Y
5 No or Negative N
Figure E.2 - Ground - Air Visual Signal Code for use by Survivors
Note: If in doubt use international symbol SOS
Number Message Code Symbol
1 Require Fodder FF
2 Require Evacuation III
3 Power Failure VI
Figure E.3 - Ground - Air Visual Signal Code for use in Civil Emergencies
Notes:
1. Aldis Lamp Signals
a. Red flashes indicate not understood
b. Green flashes indicate message understood
2. Air-Ground Signals
The following signals by aircraft mean that the signals have been understood:
a. During hours of daylight - rocking the aircrafts wings
b. During hours of darkness - by flashing the aircrafts landing or navigation lights
ON and OFF twice.
Lack of the above signals indicates that the message has not been understood.
3. Fig 2.3.1 and Fig 2.3.2 conform to ICAO and NATO standards.

E-2