Author: kevin

States have the authority and responsibility to decide which beacon types, models and message protocols are authorised for use within their jurisdiction. Consequently, when considering which beacon message protocol would be most appropriate for your requirements, the first step should always be to contact the organization in your country responsible for distress beacon coding and registration to determine which beacon types (e.g. ELT, EPIRB, PLB), models, and message protocols are authorised or mandated. National Contacts for Beacon Matters are listed on the Professionals website (Pro/Contact Lists).

Failure to take this step may result in the beacon not being accepted.

Please advise the Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat at mail@cospas-sarsat.int if the point-of-contact information for your country is out of date.

 

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The Cospas-Sarsat Data Distribution Plan

The purpose of the Cospas-Sarsat Data Distribution Plan (document C/S A.001, “the DDP”) is to:

• establish basic data distribution principles, and
• define procedures to be implemented by Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centres (MCCs) for distributing Cospas-Sarsat alert data and System information.

The annexes to the DDP provide:

• a description of the Cospas-Sarsat Space and Ground Segments (Part I), and
• a detailed description of the operational procedures to be applied by MCCs (Part II).

Data Distribution

Cospas-Sarsat alert data generated by LEOLUTs and GEOLUTs are distributed to the appropriate Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) or Search and Rescue Point of contact (SPOC), according to the computed position of the distress and/or the country code of the beacon. Due to the high degree of redundancy in the Cospas-Sarsat Ground Segment (each operational LUT is capable of providing essentially the same data in the global mode of operation), such distribution must be coordinated and redundant data filtered out of the ground communication network. Each LUT is linked to an associated Mission Control Centre (MCC) and alert messages are forwarded to the appropriate RCC/SPOC through the MCC communication network, in accordance with the procedures described in the Cospas-Sarsat Data Distribution Plan (C/S A.001) (available under the “System Documents” section of our Professionals website – Pro/Documents).

For the purpose of distributing alerts, Cospas-Sarsat has established six data distribution regions (DDRs), each supported by a nodal MCC. Within each DDR there may be several MCCs responsible for the distribution of alerts for a specific geographic area (MCC service area). Alerts are routed by the Cospas-Sarsat data distribution network to the MCC whose service area supports the region where the alert was located. It is that MCC’s responsibility to forward the alert to the appropriate RCC or SPOC. Alerts that must be distributed beyond DDR boundaries are routed via nodal MCCs, and then on to the MCC responsible for the service area concerned. Cospas-Sarsat also sends the alert message to the RCC/SPOC associated with the country code of the beacon.

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Cospas-Sarsat MCC Service Area

Each Cospas-Sarsat MCC is responsible for distributing all alert data for distresses incidents located in its service area. An MCC service area generally includes aeronautical and maritime Search and Rescue Regions (SRRs) in which the MCC’s national authorities facilitate or provide SAR services, and includes in addition such regions of other countries with which the MCC’s national authorities have appropriate agreements for the provision of Cospas-Sarsat alert data.

MCC Service Areas are established following coordination among Cospas-Sarsat Ground Segment Providers (i.e., LUT-MCC Operators), working bi-laterally, taking into account:

• geographical location and common SRR boundaries,

• communication capabilities,

• existing national SAR arrangements and existing bilateral operational agreements.

Agreed MCC Service Areas are described in the Cospas-Sarsat Data Distribution Plan. When a Cospas-Sarsat beacon transmission is located outside the service area of the MCC that receives the alert, the alert message is either forwarded to the MCC serving the area where the distress has been located, or is filtered out if the alert data has already been received through another LUT/MCC.

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Message Formats

Cospas-Sarsat alert messages are exchanged among MCCs according to standardized message formats. The detailed structure of messages for distribution of alert data and system information are described in document C/S A.002 “Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centres Standard Interface Description (SID)” (available under the “System Documents” section of our Professionals website).

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Communication Links

The Cospas-Sarsat SID formats have been defined to allow for the transmission of alert messages on any communication system as agreed between MCCs and between a Cospas-Sarsat MCC and its associated RCCs or SPOCs. Alert messages in SID formats can be routed and processed by MCCs automatically.

In addition to telephone (voice and/or facsimile) communications, all Cospas-Sarsat MCCs are required to have access to at least two international data networks for transmitting alert messages in order to provide maximum availability and adequate flexibility for the exchange of alert data. MCCs transmit alert data to other MCCs, SPOCs or RCCs using the following systems:

• Automatic Fixed Telecommunication Network (AFTN) of Civil Aviation,

• File Transfer Protocol over Virtual Private Network (FTP-VPN),

• Facsimile/email (for SPOC/RCC communications only).

AFTN addresses, telephone or facsimile numbers are provided on the Contacts page of the Cospas-Sarsat Professionals website (http://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/contacts-pro/contacts-details-all). Coordination between the MCC operator and SPOCs in its service area to agree on communication systems and interfaces to be used is strongly encouraged.

To ensure that Cospas-Sarsat alert and location data is distributed efficiently, IMO and ICAO have invited each of their Member states to designate a national SPOC and to provide the required information on available communication links either to IMO, ICAO, or the Cospas-Sarsat Secretariat.

Cospas-Sarsat has also made available a template for a model agreement for cooperation between MCCs and SPOCs (https://www.cospas-sarsat.int/en/documents-pro/document-templates, under the System Documents tab on that page).

Cospas-Sarsat meetings are open only to designated representatives of the Administrations formally associated with the Programme and invited representatives of International Organisations.

Simultaneous translation to and from the three languages of the Programme is provided at Council meetings. Meetings of subsidiary organs will normally be held in the English language only, with no interpretation (i.e., Joint Committees, Task Groups, Experts Working Groups).

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[ List and map of MCCs ]

[ MCC Contact Information ]

MCCs have been set up in most countries operating at least one LUT. Their main functions are to:

• collect, store and sort the data from LUTs and other MCCs;

• provide data exchange within the Cospas-Sarsat System; and

• distribute alert and location data to associated RCCs or SPOCs.

Most of the data fall into two general categories : alert data and system information.

Alert data is the generic term for Cospas-Sarsat 406 MHz data derived from distress beacons. 406 MHz beacons alert data comprise the beacon location and coded information.

System information is used primarily to keep the Cospas-Sarsat System operating at peak effectiveness and to provide users with accurate and timely alert data. It consists of satellite ephemeris and time calibration data used to determine beacon locations, the current status of the space and ground segments and coordination messages required to operate the Cospas-Sarsat System.

All MCCs in the System are interconnected through appropriate networks for the distribution of System information and alert data. To ensure data distribution reliability and integrity, Cospas-Sarsat has developed MCC performance specifications (document C/S A.005) and MCC commissioning procedures (document C/S A.006). Reports on MCC operations are provided by MCC Operators on an annual basis. World-wide exercises are performed from time to time to check the operational status and performance of all LUTs and MCCs, and data exchange procedures.

 

Acronym	Term	Definition
A/D	Analogue/Digital
ACC	Area Control Centre
ACHA	Advisory Committee on the History of Cooperation in Space Activities
AEMCC	United Arab Emirates MCC
AFTN	Aeronautical Fixed Telecommunication Network
AGC	Automatic Gain Control
AI	Action Item
AIS	Automatic Identification System
ALC	Automatic Level Control
ALE	Average Location Error
ALMCC	Algerian MCC
AM	Amplitude Modulation
AMSA	Australian Maritime Safety Authority
AMSS	Aeronautical Mobile-Satellite Service
AOS	Acquisition of Signal
APSAR/TF	Asia/Pacific Search and Rescue Task Force
ARCC	Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre
ARMCC	Argentine MCC
ASMCC	South African MCC
ATC	Air Traffic Control
AUMCC	Australian MCC
Az	Azimuth
BASARNAS	National SAR Agency of Indonesia
BCD	Binary-Coded Decimal
BCH	Bose-Choudhuri-Hocquenghem
BCN	Beacon
BER	Bit Error Rate
BIH	Bureau International de l’Heure
bps	Bits per second Bits par seconde
BRMCC	Brazilian MCC
BW	Bandwidth
C/N	Carrier-to-Noise Ratio
C/N0	Carrier-to-Noise Density Ratio
C/S	Cospas-Sarsat
CDA	Command and Data Acquisition Station (NOAA)
CDARS	Cooperative Data and Rescue Services
CDDR	Central DDR
CDR	Critical Design Review
CEP	Circular Error Probable
CHMCC	Chilean MCC
CIRM	Comité International Radio-Maritime	International Radio-Maritime Committee
CISPR	International Special Committee on Radio Interference
CLD	Closed	Closed Meeting of a CSC Session
CMC	Cospas Mission Centre (Russian Federation)
CMCC	Canadian MCC
CNES	Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (France)
Cospas	“Cosmicheskaya Sistyema Poiska Avariynich Sudov”	Russian words meaning “Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress” Système spatial pour les recherches des navires en détresse (sigle dérivé du russe)
CSC	Cospas-Sarsat Council	Conseil Cospas-Sarsat
dB	Decibel Décibel
DND	Department of National Defence (Canada)	Ministère de la Défense nationale (Canada)
ELT	Emergency Locator Transmitter	Aeronautical distress beacon Emetteur de localisation d’urgence (balises de détresse aéronautiques)
	Ephémérides	Données relatives à la position et à la vitesse du satellite qui permettent le calcul des positions du satellite à tout instant
	Ephemeris	Satellite position and velocity data that allows the satellite position to be calculated at any point in time
EPIRB	Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon	Maritime distress beacon Radiobalise de localisation de sinistre (RLS – balises de détresses maritimes)
GEOLUT	Geostationary Earth Orbit Local User Terminal	A Ground receiving station in the Cospas-Sarsat GEOSAR System that detects, processes, and recovers the coded transmissions of 406 MHz emergency distress beacons, and relays the appropriate information to an MCC Station de réception au sol dans le système GEOSAR Cospas-Sarsat, qui détecte, traite et récupère les émissions codées des balises de détresse à 406 MHz, et relaie les informations adéquates à un MCC
GEOSAR	Geostationary Earth Orbit Search and Rescue	Satellite system at 406 MHz Système de satellites géostationnaires à 406 MHz pour les recherches et le sauvetage
Hz	Hertz
ICAO	International Civil Aviation Organization	Organisation de l’Aviation Civile Internationale (voir OACI)
IMO	International Maritime Organization	Organisation Maritime Internationale (voir OMI)
ITU	International Telecommunication Union	Union Internationale des Télécommunications (voir UIT)
kHz	Kilohertz
LEOLUT	Low Earth Orbit Local User Terminal	A ground receiving station in the Cospas-Sarsat LEOSAR system that detects, characterises and locates emergency beacons, and forwards the appropriate information to an MCC Station de réception au sol dans le système LEOSAR Cospas-Sarsat, qui détecte, identifie et localise les balises de détresse, et envoie les informations adéquates à un MCC
LEOSAR	Low Earth Orbit Search and Rescue	Satellite system in polar orbit Système de satellites en orbite polaire basse pour les recherches et le sauvetage
LUT	Local User Terminal	Cospas-Sarsat ground receiving station Station terrienne d’utilisateur local (station Cospas-Sarsat de réception au sol)
MCC	Mission Control Centre	Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centre Centre de contrôle de mission Cospas-Sarsat
MHz	Megahertz Mégahertz	Radio frequency Fréquence radio
	MORSVIAZSPUTNIK	Russian agency responsible for maritime navigation and mobile satellite communications at sea and on land
NOAA	National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (USA)
NSS	National Search and Rescue Secretariat (Canada)	Secrétariat National – Recherche et Sauvetage (Canada), voir SNR
OACI	Organisation de l’Aviation Civile Internationale	International Civil Aviation Organization (see ICAO)
OMI	Organisation Maritime Internationale	International Maritime Organization (see IMO)
PAIS	Primary Air Information Stations
PLB	Personal Locator Beacon	Balise de localisation personnelle
RCC	Rescue Coordination Centre	Centre de coordination de sauvetage
RF	Radio Frequency
RLS	Radiobalise de localisation de sinistre	Balises de détresses maritimes, voir aussi EPIRB
RSFTA	Réseau du service fixe des télécommunications aéronautiques
SAIS	Secondary Air Information Stations
SAR	Search and Rescue	Recherches et Sauvetage
SARP	Search and Rescue Processor	Processeur SAR
Sarsat	Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking	Système d’aide aux recherches et au sauvetage par satellite
SEU	Single Event Upset
SNR	Secrétariat National – Recherche et Sauvetage (Canada)	National Search and Rescue Secretariat (Canada), see NSS
SPOC	SAR Point of Contact	Point de contact SAR
SRR	Search and Rescue Region	Région de responsabilité SAR
UIT	Union Internationale des Télécommunications	International Telecommunication Union (see ITU)
А	АРБ (EPIRB)	Аварийный радиобуй-указатель местоположения (морской аварийный радиобуй)
А	АРМ (ELT)	Аварийный передатчик-указатель положения (авиационный аварийный радиобуй)
А	АФТН (AFTN)	Сеть авиационной фиксированной связи
Б	бит/сек (bps)	Бит в секунду
Г	ГЕOСПОИ (GEOLUT)	Наземная приемная станция в Системе Коспас-Сарсат ГССПС, которая обнаруживает и обрабатывает закодированные сообщения от аварийных радиобуев 406 МГц, а также передает соответствующую информацию в КЦС
Г	ГОСПС (GEOSAR)	Геостанционарная спутниковая система поиска и спасания (406 МГц)
Г	Гц (Hz)	Герц
Д	ДБ (dB)	Децибел
Д	ДНД (DND)	Министерство национальной обороны Канады
И	ИКАО (IMO)	Международная организация гражданской авиации
И	ИМО	Международная морская организация
К	КГц (kHz)	Килогерц
К	КНЕС (CNES)	Национальный центр по исследованию космоса (Франция)
К	Коспас (Cospas)	Космическая система поиска аварийных судов (Россия)
К	КЦС (МСС)	Координационный центр системы
М	МГц (MHz)	Мегагерц
М	Морсвязьспутник (Morsvizsputnik)	Государственное предприятие электронавигации и спутниковой связи Министерства транспорта и связи (Россия)
М	МСЭ (ITU)	Международный союз электросвязи
Н	НИОСПОИ (LEOLUT)	Наземная приемная станция в системе Коспас-Сарсат НССПС, которая обнаруживает и определяет местоположение аварийных радиобуев, а также передает соответствующую информацию в КЦС
Н	НОАА (NOAA)	Национальное управление по океанам и атмосфере (США)
Н	НСС (NSS)	Национальный Секретариат по поиску и спасанию (Канада)
Н	НССПС (LEOSAR)	Низкоорбитальная спутниковая система поиска и спасания (с приполярной орбитой спутников)
П	ПОСПС (SARP)	Процессор обработки сигналов поиска и спасания
П	ПРБ (PLB)	Персональный радиобуй (аварийный радиобуй для использования на суше)
П	ПС (SAR)	Поиск и спасание
П	ПСР (SRR)	Поисково-спасательный район
Р	РЧ (RF)	Радиочастота
С	Сарсат (Sarsat)	Спутниковая система поиска и спасания
С	СКС (CSC)	Совет Коспас-Сарсат
С	СКЦ (RCC)	Спасательно-координационный центр
С	СПОИ (LUT)	Станция приема и обработки информации (наземная приемная станция Коспас-Сарсат)
Т	ТКПС (SPOC)	Точка контакта для поиска и спасания
Э	Эфемериды (Ephemeris)	Данные о перемещении спутника и его скорости, которые позволяют рассчитать его положение в любой момент времени