ID
8-508-1019
Name
Radio Direction Finding Team
Status
Published
Version
1.4
Updated
11/15/2022 9:01:12 AM
Original Release
11/14/2005
Last Major Release
 
Description
The Radio Direction Finding Team conducts electronic direction-finding operations in support of search and rescue (SAR) efforts
Resource Category
Search and Rescue
Primary Core Capability
Mass Search and Rescue Operations
Secondary Core Capability
Public and Private Services and Resources
Resource Kind
Team
Overall Function
The Radio Direction Finding Team locates distress beacons in land and wilderness environments • Land: Area located within, or immediately next to, urban boundaries no further than 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) from a road readily accessible by emergency personnel and which may include parks, wild areas, private, state, and municipal lands • Wilderness: Area beyond a trailhead or eyesight distance of a backcountry two-wheel drive (2WD) road (approximately 200 feet) OR anywhere the local infrastructure has been compromised enough to experience wilderness-type conditions such as remoteness from public infrastructure support services, poor to no medical services or potable water, or compromised public safety buildings or communications systems
Composition and Ordering Specifications
1. Discuss logistics for deploying this team, such as working conditions, length of deployment, security, lodging, transportation, and meals, prior to deployment 2. Requestor specifies certain needs and issues prior to deployment, including, but not limited to: a. Mission location and operational environments, such as the size and type of structure(s) b. Additional specialized personnel necessary, such as medical staff, logistics specialists, advisors, and aircraft support staff c. Additional transportation-related needs, such as specific vehicles, trailers, equipment, supplies, and fuel d. The type of device to direction find, such as a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT), Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB), Vulnerable Person Tracking Device, or other emergency transmitters 3. Discuss additional specialty equipment, such as hardware, software, ropes, victim evacuation devices, and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 4. The requestor should specify the mission location and operational environment 5. This team relies on local emergency infrastructure for all rescued people and animal hand-off 6. Operations in SAR environments may be immediately dangerous to life and health (IDLH), per ASTM International F2890-17: Standard Guide for Hazard Awareness for Search and Rescue Personnel, the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Manual, and the National Search and Rescue Supplement to the IAMSAR Manual. Requestor should consider the need for additional capabilities or endorsements
Supporting Core Capabilities
None
Components
Component Notes  
Management And Oversight Personnel Per TeamManagement staff for Type 1 follow the Incident Command System (ICS) model
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 21 - Team Leader
SUPPORT PERSONNEL PER TEAMRequestor may order a National Incident Management System (NIMS) Type 1 Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) or a NIMS Type 1 Paramedic as a separate resource to supplement the team based on the needs of the incident
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Team members to support at least two operational field units
Type 21 - Team Member
Capabilities Per TeamThe operational period is determined by the Incident Commander
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2, PLUS: • Team members must be experienced in coordinating with other search teams and aircrews • Team members must have training for operations in wilderness environments • Team is expected to be able to triangulate a distress beacon to its source
Type 2• Team members must be able to operate the team's equipment • Team is expected to be able to triangulate a distress beacon to its source in land environments • Unit level mission release • No search management capabilities
Rescue Equipment Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Equipment to support remote extraction and field transport of aircraft crash survivors
Type 2Not Specified
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Equipment Per Team MemberNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2Appropriate level of PPE for the working environment
Electronics Equipment Per TeamTeams with the capability to detect frequencies of 406 megahertz are recommended, but not required
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1• At least one Handheld Portable Electronic Direction Finder per team • At least one handheld GPS device per team
Type 2• At least one Handheld Portable Electronic Direction Finder • At least one handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) device
Communications Equipment Per TeamNot Specified
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 1Same as Type 2
Type 2• Appropriate radio communications compatible with the incident response • Cell phones
Transportation Equipment Per Team4x4s are recommended, but not required, for the Type 2 team
Component Types
Type Attribute
Type 14x4 vehicles that can transport each team throughout the search area
Type 21 - Vehicle that can transport the team throughout the search area
938
Notes
References
Reference
1. FEMA, NIMS 508: Land Search and Rescue Team 2. FEMA, NIMS 509: Paramedic 3. FEMA, NIMS 509: Emergency Medical Technician 4. FEMA, National Incident Management System (NIMS), October 2017
Published Versions
Version Publish Date Document Type
1.4 11/15/2022 9:01:12 AM PDF
1.3 11/19/2019 2:09:57 PM PDF
1.2 9/28/2018 5:05:54 PM PDF
1.1 4/8/2014 6:33:45 PM PDF
1.0 12/12/2013 5:59:51 PM Unavailable