ARCC - Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre

11/10/2026

06/10/2026

South African Search and Rescue (SASAR) consists of two rescue coordination centres. The ARCC for Aeronautical operations and the MRCC for Maritime operations. SASAR was established and operates under the South African Maritime and Aeronautical Search and Rescue Act No.44 of 2002.

A short write up below of our sister RCC

When people get into trouble at sea, South Africa’s response involves the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre, rescue sub-centres, the NSRI and other authorities. Here is how the country’s maritime search-and-rescue system works.

28/09/2026

Float-Free EPIRB - Infographics

A Float-Free EPIRB (Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon) is an important maritime distress device used to help locate a vessel or persons in an emergency.

* Automatic release: When a vessel sinks, the hydrostatic release unit allows the EPIRB to separate from its housing and float to the surface.
* Automatic activation: Once released and in the water, it activates and begins transmitting a distress signal.
* Satellite communication: The EPIRB transmits on 406 MHz, normally including the vessel’s GPS position.
* Rescue coordination: The distress alert is received through the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system and relayed to rescue authorities.
* Purpose: It enables rescue services to determine the casualty’s location and coordinate a faster search and rescue response.

In simple terms:
Vessel sinks → EPIRB releases → EPIRB floats and activates → satellite receives signal → rescue center locates the vessel → SAR operation begins.

26/09/2026

The ejection seats in every F-35 and almost every US Navy fighter jet trace back to a story of 2 best friends.

In 1934, engineer James Martin and famous World War 1 pilot Valentine Baker founded a small aircraft company in England. Martin designed the planes. Baker, his closest friend, flew them.

On September 12, 1942, Baker was testing their new fighter prototype when the engine failed. He tried to put the plane down in a field. At the last moment, a wingtip caught a tree stump and the aircraft flipped. Baker lost his life.

His death changed Martin forever. He kept his friend's name on the company. And in 1944, when the British government asked him to find a way for fighter pilots to escape their aircraft, he made it his life's work.

Nobody knew how much upward force a human spine could survive. So a company fitter named Bernard Lynch volunteered. On January 24, 1945, Lynch rode a test rig 4 feet 8 inches into the air, the first person ever fired up an ejection seat. On July 24, 1946, he ejected from a jet flying 320 mph at 8,000 feet. His parachute opened. He landed safely. The seat worked.

On May 30, 1949, pilot Jo Lancaster became the first person whose life a Martin-Baker seat saved, ejecting from an experimental aircraft at 5,000 feet.

The company has counted every single life since. Each survivor is invited to join its Ejection Tie Club and receives a tie, a certificate and a membership pin.

This Wednesday, a Royal Air Force training jet crashed shortly after takeoff in Wales. Both pilots ejected in Martin-Baker seats and survived. Police said their injuries were believed to be minor.

The company updated its count: 7,829 lives saved.

Sir James Martin died in 1981. His family still runs the company today. More than 90 air forces fly with its seats.

24/09/2026

🚨Save these numbers before your next adventure!

⛰️August update: Here are the updated regional emergency numbers Mountain Club of SA - Search And Rescue.

👉 Share this post with your hiking buddies, pin it to your club WhatsApp groups, and tag your trekking crew in the comments below! 👇

24/09/2026

As South Africa Celebrates National Heritage Day, we share the celebrations with all the Mariners as we celebrate World Maritime Day.

"Our heritage anchors us. Our oceans connect us." Mr Thembe Thabethe 🙏

Today is World Maritime Day and the IMRF is proud to champion the role of the International Maritime Organization. For decades the IMO has worked to develop a comprehensive framework of international maritime conventions, with associated codes, guidelines and recommendations to support safe maritime operations, including the SOLAS Convention. Yet the true value of this framework is only realised when it is effectively implemented, enforced and embedded in day-to-day operations.

As the international voice of maritime search and rescue, the IMRF helps connect policy with practice. Through our consultative status at the IMO, we work to ensure that the experience of SAR practitioners is heard when international policy and guidance are developed, and that the realities of saving lives at sea are reflected in global decision-making.

This World Maritime Day, the IMRF is proud to do its part to help support safer ships, safer ports and safer seafarers and ensuring that international policy supports effective and coordinated SAR operations when they are needed most.

Find out more about this year’s World Maritime Day: https://ow.ly/lsEr50ZQR4r

24/09/2026

Learning. Connecting. Staying ready to support. 💙

From 3–5 September, Mayday-SA volunteers came together at Alt.Academy for our annual Critical Incident Response Programme (CIRP) training.

This year, we were delighted to welcome a number of new volunteers to the training, alongside experienced volunteers returning to refresh their knowledge and skills. To remain current, Mayday-SA volunteers are required to attend in-person training at least every two years - an important part of ensuring that we are equipped and ready when someone in our aviation community needs peer support.

Over the three days, Anjenita Hugo and Martie van der Berg guided the group through the CIRP training, while Margie Viljoen shared valuable insight into our support statistics from the past year.

Our annual training is about more than learning. It is also a rare and valuable opportunity for our volunteers, Board and EXCO members to connect face-to-face, strengthen relationships and spend time together - including a Board and EXCO dinner on Thursday evening and a relaxed braai with our volunteers on Friday.

A sincere thank you to Alt.Academy for hosting us and for taking such good care of everyone with the venue, facilities and catering throughout the training.

And, most importantly, thank you to every volunteer who gave their time to learn, refresh, connect and continue being there for others.

Because peer support starts with people who are prepared to show up.

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

24/09/2026

Exterior Parts of a Lifeboat - Infographics

The exterior parts of a lifeboat are essential for identification, safety, visibility, protection, and emergency operation.

* IMO Number & Call Sign – Provide the lifeboat’s identification for communication and emergency purposes.
* Light – Helps make the lifeboat visible, especially at night or in poor visibility.
* Glass Windows – Provide visibility for the persons inside the lifeboat.
* Sprinkler Pipe – Helps protect the lifeboat from heat and fire by spraying seawater over its exterior.
* Painter Release – Allows the painter line to be released when required after launching.
* Reflective Tape – Improves visibility during nighttime search and rescue operations.
* Fender – Protects the lifeboat from impact when alongside a ship or during launching/recovery.
* Lifeline – Provides hand support and assists safe movement around the lifeboat.
* Hatches & Doors – Provide access and must remain properly secured to maintain watertight integrity.
* Lifeboat Number – Clearly identifies the assigned survival craft.

Key point: Crew members should know these parts and their functions so they can operate and inspect the lifeboat effectively during an emergency.