SAR Aircraft Datalink

Data exchange between a SAR aircraft and the on-scene coordinator or rescue coordination center, letting the Aircraft Coordinator (ACO) share search patterns, datum drift, sighting reports, and tasking without voice congestion. Mechanisms range from AIS-SART and AIS reception, to maritime VHF data, to military Link 16 and satellite links on dedicated SAR aircraft. The ACO and On-Scene Coordinator roles and their information flow are defined in the IAMSAR Manual Volume II. Shared position and search-progress data cut duplicated effort across mixed air and surface SAR units.