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SAR ground–air visual signals, explained
If an aircraft goes down off the map, the survivors may only have stones, clothing or a fire to talk to the searchers. The ICAO ground–air visual signal code is short enough to learn in an evening. It sits in Annex 12 (Search and Rescue) and turns up in Air Law (010).
What survivors lay out
| Symbol | Meaning | Trick |
|---|---|---|
| V | Require assistance | The V points down at the people who need help. |
| X | Require medical assistance | Think of the red cross. |
| N | No or negative | N for no. |
| Y | Yes or affirmative | Y for yes. |
| ↑ | Proceeding in this direction | The arrow points the way. |
What rescue units lay out
| Symbol | Meaning | Trick |
|---|---|---|
| LLL | Operation completed | Three L: all done. |
| LL | We have found all personnel | A-LL found. |
| ++ | We have found only some personnel | Still counting: + +. |
| XX | We are not able to continue – returning to base | Double cross: we give up for now. |
| NN | Nothing found – will continue to search | Double no. |
| ⇄ | Divided into two groups, each proceeding in the direction indicated | Two arrows, two groups. |
| → → | Information received that the aircraft is in this direction | Arrows point to the aircraft. |
Minimum length of a symbol: 2.5 m (8 ft). Source: ICAO Annex 12 (ground–air visual signal code).
How to remember who lays out what
- Survivors ask, rescuers report. V, X, N, Y and the arrow are requests and answers from the ground. L-symbols, ++, XX and NN are status reports from the search.
- Count the letters. More of the same letter means more finality: LL is “all personnel found”, LLL is “operation completed”. There is no single-L symbol.
- Crosses are medical or give up. A single X from survivors means medical help; XX from rescuers means “not able to continue”.
Study aid, not the regulation. Check Annex 12 for the current wording and the aircraft signals that answer these codes.
Quick answers
What does V mean in the SAR ground-air code?
Require assistance.
What does the symbol X mean?
Require medical assistance.
How big must a ground-air symbol be?
At least 2.5 m (8 ft) long.
What does LLL mean?
Laid out by a rescue unit: operation completed.
Make it stick
Fly the SAR Ground–Air Symbols drill: every item is a streak you have to land.