On Tuesday evening, the Civil Air Patrol Incident Commander (IC) asked me, Lt Col Mike Carlson to assist in the search for a missing aircraft. A Piper PA-32 was overdue on a flight from Dodge City, KS to Casper, WY. Through the dedicated efforts of everyone involved, they found the aircraft on Thursday afternoon. As the planning section chief (PSC) for the mission, I was responsible for helping to narrow the search and recommend future search areas. To accomplish this, we leveraged all the technology at our disposal. Here are the steps we took, the technologies used, and the lessons learned.
Google Earth overlays for missing aircraft
Google Earth
Google Earth was perhaps the most effective tool we had at our disposal. On Google Earth, I plotted every detail I could, and as a team, we viewed the results of the plots to make search decisions. Once tasked as PSC, I first plotted the departure and arrival airports and the suspected flight path.
As the mission developed, we captured more information. The next major piece of information plotted was the NTAP points (radar points) of the suspected route of travel for the missing aircraft. I plotted each point and drew a path connecting each point. This showed us where to start our search.
CAP Grid System
We next overlay the CAP Grid System for our area of search. This allowed us to determine search grids rapidly for our pilots. Using the grid system as a template, I shadowed the areas searched and proposed to be searched. This helped to tell a story and easily identified future search grids.
As the search progressed, we received input from ground teams on sightings they were making. I would plot the coordinates of the ground team along the direction of the sighting and distance. After the mission concluded, one of the ground teams provided me with their GPS tracks. I uploaded these to Google Earth.
With each piece of the puzzle, we could narrow the search to be within .15 miles of the actual missing plane location.
Google Earth makes it convenient to turn the display of an item on and off depending on the need. One of the key features that helped narrow the search quickly was the 3-D view of the terrain. By changing the view from 2-D to 3-D, we could rule out proposed search areas.
SPOT
We use SPOT to monitor our aircraft in flight. Approximately every 10 minutes, the SPOT device transmitted a signal that is displayed on a Web site we followed. Besides regular status checks on the radio, the SPOT device allowed us to follow our aircraft in flight.
Upon the completion of each day’s sorties, we downloaded the tracks from SPOT in a KML file and posted it to the mission Google Earth KMZ file.
Dropbox
We used Dropbox to store documents vital to all essential personnel. Primarily, we used Dropbox to share the ever-changing Google Earth KMZ file. Each time we updated Google Earth, we also updated Dropbox. Additionally, we posted photos taken from the search aircraft to Dropbox.
Dropbox is a great tool for collaboration with a dispersed team. Our team operated from various dispersed locations; We were also working with the Albany County Sheriff Department and search and rescue teams.
Skype
Skype was our primary means of communication among the mission staff. We created a Skype group that was used throughout the mission. Except for an occasional conference call, typically twice a day, we extensively used the chat features to keep the team up to date. At the end of each day, we copied the chat and saved it as a text file to the mission files.
Using the premium features of Skype, we could conduct conference calls with all essential agencies. The IC could conference in both Skype users and other phone numbers.
Because I could access Skype from all my computers, my iPad, and smartphone, I was always up to date on the status of the mission.
Evernote and Google Alerts
With Evernote and Google Alerts, we could track and capture all the news stories relating to the search. Here are the details for capturing important information to Evernote. I track and save all news feeds with the terms “Wyoming” and “Civil Air Patrol” in them.
WyoLink
WyoLink radio system was essential to the IC and his ability to communicate with aircrews, ground teams, and other essential agencies. Other systems have been inferior to this effective system. WyoLink has been a welcome augmentation to other systems we use such as mutual aid, and the CAP system.
Lessons Learned
This was perhaps one of the most effective and educational searches that we had carried out. However, there are always lessons learned.
- I could have changed locations and integrated with the Albany County Sheriff’s Office to demonstrate how we are tracking the mission. I will still do this as well as establish relations for future missions.
- We could have established a Dropbox folder specifically for this mission and shared it with all parties earlier.
- Take advantage of the 3-D capability of Google Earth earlier in the mission.
- Work to get everyone on Skype chat to keep everyone informed.
- Clear out Skype timely each morning.
I learned a lot on this mission and wanted to share my lessons learned.
Additional Reading
- Growing up in Tunkhannock, PA: a Google Map Story
- How Technology Helped Our Air Force Operations Evaluation
- Adapting a New Communication Strategy in an Established Organization
- How to Scan Docs as a PDF to Dropbox or Evernote With Your Smartphone
- Setting Up a Couple of Dropbox Folders to Do Your Bidding
- Remote Printing With Dropbox
- Google Alerts, Gmail, and Evernote, Saving What Is Important
- How I use Evernote, Gmail, and Google Scripts to Help Manage a 3,500 Member Organization
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