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.
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.
The SAR Region coincides with the Brussels FIR/UIR. Operations are performed by military organization under the direction of the Belgian Air Component.
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.
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.
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.
Belgian Air Component
Control and Reporting Centre
Search and Rescue Co-ordination Centre
RCC Brussels
Rue de la Grande Lecke 5
1320 Beauvechain
BELGIUM
AFS: EBMIYCYX
TEL: +32 (0) 2 443 86 60
TEL: +32 (0) 2 443 47 69
Email: CRC-11SQN-RCC@mil.be
Search and Rescue Sub-Centre Koksijde
Koksijde Air Base
R. Van Dammestraat, 100
8670 Koksijde
BELGIUM
AFS: EBFNYCYX
TEL: +32 (0) 58 31 17 14 (direct line)
TEL: +32 (0) 58 53 25 11 (direct line)
TEL: +32 (0) 2 442 35 69
TEL: 9-2630-2504 (MIL network)
TEL: 9-2630-2511 (MIL network)
TEL: 9-6321-23569 (MIL network)
Administration de la navigation aérienne
ATC Department - Rescue Sub-Centre
BP 273
L-2012 Luxembourg
LUXEMBOURG
AFS: ELLXYCYX
TEL: +352 47 98 24 00 4
FAX: +352 47 98 24 09 0
Name | Location | Means | Remarks |
---|---|---|---|
BEAUVECHAIN (EBBE) | 504528N0044601E | HEL SRG | Depending on availability |
BLANKENBERGE | 511851N0030635E | RV / RB | Depending on availability |
BRUSSELS / Melsbroek (EBMB) | 505405N0042904E | ACFT | NIL |
KOKSIJDE (EBFN) | 510525N0023910E | HEL | 0700-1900 (0600-1800): 20 MIN prior notice 1900-0700 (1800-0600): 45 MIN prior notice |
NIEUWPOORT | 510919N0024310E | RV / RB | Depending on availability |
OOSTENDE | 511414N0025518E | RV / RB, tugboats | Depending on availability |
ZEEBRUGGE | 512027N0031230E | RV / RB | Depending on availability |
INFO not AVBL.
INFO not AVBL.
Procedures for pilots-in-command observing an accident or intercepting a distress call and/or message are outlined SAR in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5.
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:
The following frequencies are designated for the reception of distress messages:
FREQ | EM | Normal use | Guarded by or remarks |
---|---|---|---|
The designated air-ground area or route frequency (see ENR 2.1, § 3) | A3 | ATC RTF (HF - VHF - UHF) | ATC units |
121.500 MHZ | A3 | International VHF: emergency VHF channel (aeronautical stations) |
|
243.000 MHZ | A3 | International UHF: emergency RTF channel (aeronautical stations) |
|
2182 KHZ | A3 | International distress RTF frequency for coastal and sea areas | Coastal station Oostende
|