IAMSAR Abbreviations and Acronyms

Posted by author on May 26th, 2010

A ——————– search area
A/C —————– aircraft
ACO —————– aircraft co-ordinator
AM —————— amplitude modulation
ATC —————– air traffic control
ATS —————– air traffic services
CES —————— coast earth station
C/S —————— call sign
CS ——————– creeping line search
CSC —————— creeping line search, co-ordinated
CSP —————— common search point
CW ——————- continuous wave
DF ——————– direction finding
DMB —————– datum marker bouy
DR ——————– dead reckoning
DSC —————— digital selective calling
ELT —————— emergency locator transmitter
EPIRB ————— emergency position-indicating radio beacon
ETA —————— estimated time of arrival
ETD —————— estimated time of departure
F/V ——————- fishing vessel
FM ——————– frequency modulation
f_w ———————- weather correction factor
GES ——————- ground earth station
GHz ——————- gigahertz
GMDSS ————– global maritime distress and safety system
GPS ——————- global positioning system
GS ——————— gross speed
gt ———————- gross tonnage
HF ——————– high frequency
ICAO —————– International Civil Aviation Organization
IFR ——————- instrument fight rules
IMC —————— instrument meteorological conditions
IMSO —————– International Mobile Satellite Organization
Inmarsat ———– satellite communication service provider for the GMDSS
INTERCO ———– International Code of Signal
JRCC —————— joint (aeronautical and maritime) rescue co-ordination centre
kHz ——————– kilohertz
kt ———————– knot (nautical mile per hour)
LCB ——————– line of constant bearing
LES ——————– land earth station
LKP ——————– last known position
LUT ——————- local user terminal
LW ——————— leeway
m ———————– metre
M/V ——————– merchant vessel
MCC ——————- mission control centre
MEDEVAC ———– medical evacuation
MEDICO ————– medical advice, usually by radio
MF ———————- medium frequency
MHz ——————– megahertz
MRO ——————– mass rescue operation
MSI ——————— maritime safety information
NBDP —————— narrow-band direct printing
NM ———————- nautical mile
OSC ——————— on-scene co-ordinator
PIW ——————— person in water
PLB ——————— personal locator beacon
POB ——————— persons on board
PS ———————– parallel sweep search
R ———————— search radius
R/T ——————— radio telephony
RANP ——————- regional air navigation plan
RCC ——————— rescue co-ordination centre
RSC ——————— rescue sub-centre
RTG ——————– radio telegraphy
RTT ——————– radio teletype
S ————————- track spacing
S/V ———————- sailing vessel
SAR ——————— search and rescue
SART ——————- search and rescue radar transponder
SC ———————– search and rescue co-ordinator
SES ———————- ship earth station
SITREP —————- situation report
SMC ——————— search and rescue mission co-ordinator
SOLAS —————— Safety of Life at Sea
SRR ———————- search and rescue region
SRS ———————- search and rescue sub-region
SRU ———————- search and rescue unit
SS ———————— expanding square search
SSB ———————- single-sideband
SU ———————— search unit
T ————————– search time available
T ————————– true course
TAS ———————- true air speed
TS ———————— track line search
TSN ———————- track line search, non-return
UHF ———————- ultra high frequency
UTC ———————- co-ordinated universal time
V ————————– SAR facility ground speed
VFR ———————- visual fight rules
VHF ———————- very high frequency
VMC ——————— visual meteorological conditions
VS ————————- sector search
WT ———————— radio telegraph