1. Air to Ground Coordination & Signaling
Developed as part of the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project

2. Ground Team being Mobilized by an Aircrew
-The aircraft flies from the 6 o’clock to the 12 o’clock position of the vehicle, revving the engine as it is directly over the ground team vehicle.
-- The team needs to be in a position that it can be seen from overhead.
-- The aircrew should fly over the roads as much as possible, but this can be difficult to do and also keep the ground team in view.
-Teams should be advised to be sure that they are following the correct aircraft.
-- It should be worked out ahead of time as to what aircraft the ground team will work with. Additionally, this is not normally conducted without any radio communications anymore. Most of CAP’s radio systems are reliable enough that teams will not have to work air/ground coordination without any radio communications. This is used more now to allow a team to be lead into an area quickly, rather than simply to lead a team without radio communications capabilities.
--Remember that the aircrew must fly at established FAA minimum altitudes, so the ground team may not be able to make out the numbers of the aircraft easily unless prepared. Knowing the aircraft type, color scheme, and tail number ahead of time can be especially helpful. Having a pair of binoculars handy is a wise idea as well.

3. Ground Team being halted by an Aircrew
- The aircraft flies directly towards the ground team’s vehicle from the 12 o’clock to the 6 o’clock position.
-- Don’t confuse the aircrew circling back around for stopping the vehicle. Remember that the aircraft is normally flying at well over twice the speed of the ground team vehicle and will not to circle back to keep the ground team in view.
--Again, be sure that the team is taking direction from the correct aircraft.

4. Aircrew indicating a turn
The aircraft should fly directly over the turn that a ground team is expected to make. This can be especially difficult if being lead through a complicated intersection or several intersections occur close to each other. If not sure which turn to make, don’t be afraid to call, stop, and wait for further direction.

5. Aircrew leading a Team to the Objective
- After stopping the ground team the aircrew will then begin to fly a race track pattern around the ground team and the target. The aircrew will fly towards the target, circle the target once, and then return to the ground team. This will be continued until the team reach the target.
- Team members need to remember to bring their equipment, and wear their orange vests.
-- If the aircrew can’t see the team then they won’t be able to lead them into the target.
-- Teams may not have the time to return to their vehicle for additional equipment later. Don’t assume there are no survivors.

6. Aircrew Received Message & Understood
-The aircraft will indicate that ground signals have been seen and understood by rocking the wings from side to side.
- At night some aircraft will indicate the same by making green flashes with the signal lamp. This may not be reliable though, and normally aircraft signals are not used at night.

7. Aircrew Received Message & DID NOT Understand
- The aircraft will indicate that ground signals have been seen but not understood by making a complete right hand circle.
- At night, the aircraft could indicate the same by making red flashes with the signal lamp. Again, this may not be reliable and normally visual signals will not be accomplished at night by aircrews.

8. Aircrew Indicating Affirmative or Yes
The aircraft will indicate yes to a ground team by repeatedly pitching the airplane in “nodding” motion along the lateral axis. This can be especially difficult to see or can be easily confused, especially if the aircrew is flying in bumpy weather or terrain that is difficult to maneuver in.

9. Aircrew Indicating Negative or No
The aircraft will indicate no by yawing the aircraft around the vertical axis, like a person shaking his or her head. Again, this can be difficult to notice or indicate.

10. Actions of the Ground Team
The vehicle front is labeled as 12 o'clock and so on around like a typical clock so that there is uniformity
The navigator needs to be continuously aware and notice possible turns or hazards ahead of time and notify the driver so that hazards can be avoided
- Be sure that everyone understands the clock positions of the vehicle. It can be especially confusing if team members announce confusing directions.
- Remember that the driver drives. He or she must stay focused on the road and can not be expected to be looking for aircraft overhead.
- Recommend to the students that the navigator be an individual familiar with the area if at all possible so that the team is made aware of known hazards not necessarily indicated on the map(s). The navigator is also not expected to track the aircraft visually, but should try to keep the team aware of potential areas of interest, like known problem sites.

11. INDICATING DIRECTION
The aircraft and your vehicle both use the clock system to designate a direction. In radio traffic, make sure you specify if the direction is from the vehicle or the aircraft.

12. Actions of the Ground Team Continued
The vehicle should be quiet, and preferably have the windows open so that the team will notice things out of the ordinary such as smoke or cries for help
Never leave the vehicle to go off-road without your gear
- Remind the students that the vehicle will have noise, but to avoid unnecessary talking since it not covers up potential mission critical information, and also disturbs the driver.
- Remind the students again to not forget their equipment. They may not need to take everything, but the team leader and team members to have the equipment required to do the job.

13. Actions of the Ground Team Continued
Stay as calm as possible and don't break any laws in the process such as speeding or hanging out the window to see the aircraft or survivor
SAFETY always comes first!
- There is no dispensation for CAP ground teams to break any laws.
- The extra minute or two gained by speeding or breaking other traffic laws are easily out-weighed by a traffic accident.

14. Using a Signal Mirror to Attract Attention
Signal mirrors can attract an aircrew’s attention from many (20+) miles away
Signals should be aimed at the aircraft wings so that the aircrew is not blinded
-On a sunny day, a mirror is your best signaling device. If you don’t have a mirror, polish your canteen cup, your belt buckle, or a similar object that will reflect the sun’s rays.
Remind the students that a signal mirror is not a toy. An aircrew or drivers can be very easily blinded or distracted by a signal mirror, and that an accident can happen in a blink of an eye.
Haze, ground fog, and mirages may make it hard for a pilot to spot sig- nals from a flashing object. So, if possible, get to the highest point in your area when signaling. If you can’t determine the aircraft’s location, flash your signal in the direction of the aircraft noise.
Note: Pilots have reported seeing mirror flashes up to 160 kilometers away under ideal conditions.

15. Signal Mirror Continued
Sight your target between your V-shaped fingers and make sure the light is reflecting off of the tips of your fingers to ensure your signal reaches the target.

16. Signal Mirror Continued

17. Five Ground to Air Emergency Codes
- These are the basic ground to air emergency codes that aircrew members use to request assistance from aircraft flying over head.
Ground teams should know or have access to these so that they recognize them if they see them on the ground, and can use them if necessary.
During daylight you can use a VS-17 panel to signal. Place the orange side up as it is easier to see from the air than the violet side. Flashing the panel will make it easier for the aircrew to spot. You can use any bright orange or violet cloth as a substitute for the VS-17.
If you lack other means, you can use natural materials to form a symbol or message that can be seen from the air. Build mounds that cast shadows; you can use brush, foliage of any type, rocks, or snow blocks.

18. Ground to Air Search Team Signals
- The above signals are normally used by search teams to indicate search results to supporting aircrews.
- Be sure to mark signals clearly for aircraft to see so that they are not confused with other signals.

19. Ground to Air Search Team Signals Continued
Be sure to make sure that teams note their directions accurately so that aircraft can relay if necessary.

20. Ground to Air Hand Signals
When an aircraft is close enough for the pilot to see you clearly, use
body movements or positions to convey a message.

22. REMEMBER!
Just because you can see the aircraft doesn’t mean the aircraft can see you!
Try to make yourself distinctive to your surroundings. Orange triangles on the top of vehicles or large distinctive numbers on the roof helps.

23. Air to Ground Coordination & Signaling Tasks
Ground Team Member
O-0701: Recognize and React to Air/Ground Signals
O-0702: Use a Signal Mirror
O-0703: Employ Ground to Air Signals
Ground Team Leader
None
The instructor should demonstrate each task and then proceed to test students prepared to do the same.

24. QUESTIONS?
THINK SAFETY!