Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)


Most aircraft and vessels are nowadays equipped with emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRB), emergency locator transmitters (ELT), or a personal locator beacon (PLB). Once such a device is triggered, a signal is sent via the 406 megahertz frequency to the COSPAS (Latin acronym for Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress) and SARSAT (Search And Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking) satellites orbiting Earth. The satellites send the distress signal to two or more ground stations to calculate the position of the signal, then forward the position to the French Mission Control Centre (FMCC) of COSPAS-SARSAT in Toulouse. From there, the relevant rescue coordination center (RCC) in the country responsible for the search and rescue mission is alerted.


60 Jan/Feb 2024


Germany has two military RCCs responsible for handling these (military) distress calls. Aeronautical Rescue Coordination Centre (ARCC)-Glücksburg is responsible for northern Germany and the territorial sea areas including parts of the North Sea and Baltic Sea. ARCC-SEE (translated ‘Sea’) calls in helicopters from the German navy. Until 2023, they used the Westland Sea King Mk.41 helicopter with SAR detachments at Helgoland and Warnemünde (Hohe Düne), but this aircraft was replaced by the NTH-90 Sea Lion helicopter at these detachments. The remaining part of Germany is controlled by Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC)- Münster, and is called “RCC-Land.” At this location, 36 soldiers closely monitor air traffic in their area and call in, when necessary, Airbus H145 LUH SAR helicopters assigned to the German Army operating from three SAR detachments.


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