1.1   Responsible Authority

SAR within the Brussels FIR is organized in accordance with ICAO SARPS and the overall responsibility for making available the necessary facilities rests with the Belgian Department of Defence.

1.2   Rescue Co-ordination Centre (RCC) and Related Rescue Units

Details of the RCC and related Rescue Units are given in § 2.

In addition, various elements of the State Police Organization, the Merchant Marine, the Armed Forces and private organizations can be made available for SAR missions, when required. The aeronautical maritime and public telecommunication services are available to the SAR organization.

1.3   Applicable ICAO Documents

• ICAO Annex 12. Search and Rescue
• ICAO Annex 13. Aircraft Accident and Incident Investigation
• ICAO Doc 7030. Regional Supplementary Procedures
• ICAO Doc 9731. International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual

2.1   General

The SAR Region coincides with the Brussels FIR/UIR. Operations are performed by military organization under the direction of the Belgian Air Component.

2.2   Rescue Co-ordination Centre

The RCC Brussels for SAR operations is a section of the CRC located at Beauvechain and operates under the responsibility of Comopsair Brussels.

RCC Brussels, to which all phases of emergency are to be notified, provides the aeronautical SAR services and may call upon the Koksijde and Luxembourg Sub-Centres (RSC) for assistance.

MRCC Oostende provides the maritime SAR services.

The RCC Brussels is in direct liaison with all stations guarding the emergency frequencies and communicates with adjacent RCC, i.e. Fareham (the United Kingdom), Den Helder (the Netherlands), Münster (Germany) and Lyon (France), when necessary.

2.3   Co-ordination with the Neighbouring SAR Organisations

In compliance with ICAO Recommended Practices, RCC Brussels may be called upon to put its available SAR means at the disposal of the neighbouring RCC and to co-operate with SAR operations.

SAR service may be called upon for SAR operations within the national SAR region, and outside that region, on request by a neighbouring RCC.

If a SAR operation necessitates different RCC to co-operate in close conjunction, they will, by mutual arrangements, agree on a directing RCC and one or more associated RCC.

2.4   Rescue Sub-Centre (Belgium)

The RSC Koksijde assures a permanent listening watch on emergency - and search and rescue frequencies during SAR operations.

It initiates SAR operations according to the decision matrix as stated in the Guidelines for Homeland Operations when first advised or when immediate action is required.

It executes SAR operations requested by the RCC Brussels.

It co-ordinates SAR operations within its area of responsibility.

It keeps RCC Brussels informed about SAR operations.

2.5   Contact

6.1   Procedures and Signals Used by Aircraft

6.2   Communication

Transmission and reception of distress messages within the SAR Region are handled in accordance with ICAO Annex 10. Volume II, § 5.3. High priority indicators are specified for such messages:

• “DD” for INCERFA
• “SS” for ALERFA and DETRESFA.

The following frequencies are designated for the reception of distress messages: