2024 SAR Controllers Workshop

The US SARSAT Program (USCG, USAF, NOAA, and NASA) conducted the Search and Rescue (SAR) Controllers Workshop at the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction (NCWCP) in College Park, Maryland USA, from March 19 – 21, 2024. Participants included SAR professionals from the US Air Force and US Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centers, along with SAR Points of Contact (SPOCs) from nations supported by the US Mission Control Center (USMCC), including Canada, Curacao, Ecuador, Honduras, and the Central American Corporation for Air Navigation Services (COCESNA). This annual workshop is a key platform for the SARSAT US Mission Control Center to update SAR data users about the latest developments within the SARSAT System, including distress beacon management, database systems (RGDB, IHDB), and other pertinent issues, with a focus on insights from actual SAR operations.

Feedback gathered during the workshop will help the US SARSAT Program evaluate and implement potential policy adjustments or system improvements. Moreover, insights from the event will inform the planning and enhancement of future workshops.

Following are copies of the 2024 SAR Workshop presentations: