CAAP holds Search and Rescue workshop to strengthen emergency response

The Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP) has conducted an intensive two-day Search and Rescue (SAR) workshop, bringing together key stakeholders from aviation, maritime, and military sectors to enhance national emergency preparedness capabilities.

The workshop, held from November 27 to 28 at the Civil Aviation Training Center in Parañaque City, focused on critical emergency response techniques and the strategic deployment of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). With 1,120 registered ELTs in the Philippines, the training accentuated the importance of advanced technological tools in accident detection and rescue operations.

Participants from major airlines including Cebu Pacific, Philippine Airlines, and AirAsia, alongside representatives from the Philippine Air Force, Philippine Coast Guard, and CAAP, collaborated to refine search and rescue protocols. The multi-agency approach highlights the critical need for coordinated emergency response strategies.

PARCC Chief Bong Menese stressed the workshop’s significance, stating that it represents an ongoing commitment to enhancing search and rescue capabilities.

“This workshop is just the beginning of our efforts,” Menese noted. “We are eager to conduct more Search and Rescue exercises to further deepen our knowledge and skills.”

Meanwhile, CAAP Director General Captain Manuel Antonio L. Tamayo reinforced the broader implications of such training, explaining that search and rescue skills are fundamental not just to aviation safety, but to broader public safety objectives.

“Learning about Search and Rescue is essential for saving lives, improving safety, and ensuring preparedness during emergencies. This is not only crucial for the aviation sector but equally significant for public safety as a whole,” he said.

The workshop delved into the technical aspects of Emergency Locator Transmitters, sophisticated devices that emit signals on specific emergency frequencies. These transmitters, monitored by the international COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system, enable rapid detection of accidents across land, sea, and air environments.