AIP for IRELAND(section GEN-3.6)valid from 14 MAY 2026

GEN 3.6 Search and Rescue

1. Responsible Service

1.1. The authority responsible for provision of Search and Rescue services provided for civil aviation is:

Post:

Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
44 Kildare Street,
Dublin 2,

Tel:+ 353 1 6707444

Fax:+ 353 1 6707411

Telex:91806 TMTT EI

AFS:EIDWYAYX

Email:[email protected]

URL:http://www.dttas.ie

Rescue Coordination Centres are administered by:

Post:

AirNav Ireland,
The Times Building,
11-12 D’Olier Street,
Dublin 2,
Ireland.

Tel:+ 353 1 6718655

Fax:+ 353 1 6792934

AFS:EIDWYOYX

Email:[email protected]

1.2. Applicable ICAO Documents

ICAO Standards, Recommendations Practices and Procedures contained in the following documents are applied. No differences have been registered with the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).
Annex 12 - Search and Rescue
Annex 13 - Aircraft Accident Investigation
DOC 7030 - Regional Supplementary Procedures for Alerting and Search and Rescue services applicable in the EUR Region.
DOC 9731 - International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual

2. Area of Responsibility

Shannon FIR/UIR
RCC Shannon is the primary point of contact within the Shannon FIR/UIR for receipt of reports of aircraft uncertainty, alert, distress or accident.

3. Types of Service

RESCUE CO-ORDINATION CENTRE (RCC)

Post:

Rescue Co-ordination Centre,
AirNav Ireland,
Air Traffic Control Centre,
Ballycasey Cross,
Shannon,
Co. Clare.

Tel:+ 353 61 770700

AFS:EINNYCYX

Hours of Service H24

NAME & LOCATION OF RESCUE SUB- CENTRE Dublin

Post:

Rescue Co-ordination Sub-centre, Dublin,
AirNav Ireland,
Air Traffic Control Centre,
Huntstown,
Cloghran,
Co. Dublin.

Tel:+353 1 8445497

AFS:EIDWYCYX

Hours of Service H24

Shannon RCC may, in the case of flights through or in the Dublin Control Area delegate part or all of its responsibilities to the Rescue Co-ordination Sub Centre located at Dublin Area Control Centre.
Air search may be affected by aircraft of the Irish Air Corps or by civil aircraft, subject to availability of such aircraft. Information regarding aircraft available for SAR missions may be obtained from:

Post:

Officer Commanding,
Air Corps Group 1 & 2,
Casement Aerodrome,
Baldonnel,
Co. Dublin.

Tel:+3531 4592493

Various elements of the Irish Naval Service, Royal National Lifeboat Institution, Garda Siochana and Irish Red Cross Society are available for Search and Rescue missions, when required. Maritime Search and Rescue is co-ordinated by:

Post:

The Irish Coast Guard,
Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport,
Leeson Lane,
Dublin 2.

Tel:+353 1 6620922

Tel:+353 1 6620923

Fax:+353 1 6220795

Email:[email protected]

The Irish Coast Guard is the designated SAR point of contact for receipt of Cospas-Sarsat distress data.

Further information regarding SAR units and facilities is available from Shannon RCC (GEN 3.6 3).

4. SAR Agreements

4.1 Shannon Rescue Co-ordination Centre

is responsible for initiating and coordinating SAR operations within the Shannon FIR/UIR but, dependant on circumstances, Shannon RCC may:

request SAR assistance from the United Kingdom SAR organisations, retaining the co-ordination responsibility of such operations or, alternatively,
request the appropriate United Kingdom SAR organisation to provide assistance and to assume responsibility for the co-ordination of such operations.

4.2 SAR Operations in Areas Marginal to the Boundary of the Shanwick OCA and Shannon FIR/UIR.

The initiation, co-ordination and control of SAR operations in respect of aircraft whose “Distress” position could be in either the Shanwick OCA or the Shannon FIR/UIR is the responsibility of the United Kingdom SAR organisation. Shanwick OAC will maintain full liaison with Shannon ACC and the appropriate United Kingdom RCC so that full co-ordination of Air Traffic Control and SAR operations is effected.
However, should Shannon Area Control Centre be the first to receive a Distress message direct from the aircraft concerned or through the agency of other aircraft, Shannon RCC will take appropriate action.

5. Conditions of Availability

Adequate numbers of SAR units are available H24. Detailed information regarding day to day availability of SAR units is available from Shannon RCC (GEN 3.6 3).

6. Procedures and Signals Used

6.1. Procedures to be used at the scene of an accident by a pilot in command are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5

6.2. Transmission and reception of distress messages within the Shannon FIR/UIR are handled in accordance with Vol. II of Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

6.3. For communications during search and rescue operations the codes and abbreviations published in Abbreviations and Codes (ICAO DOC 8400) are used.

6.4. Search and Rescue symbols to be used are those prescribed in ICAO Annex 12, Chapter 5, para 5.10.

GROUND-AIR VISUAL SIGNAL CODE FOR USE BY SURVIVORS
NO	MESSAGE CODE	SYMBOL
1	REQUIRE ASSISTANCE	V
2	REQUIRE MEDICAL ASSISTANCE	X
3	NO OR NEGATIVE	N
4	YES OR AFFIRMATIVE	Y
5	PROCEEDING IN THIS DIRECTION	¦
INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE Form symbols by any available means. Some of the methods usually available to survivors are using strips of fabric, parachute material, pieces of wood, stores or such like material: marking the surface by tramping or staining with oil, etc: Make symbols not less than 2.5 metres (8 feet). Make symbols as conspicuous as possible Make every effort to attract attention by other means, such as radio, flare, smoke or reflected light.