Elevating Search and Rescue: IAMSAR Becomes IASARCs First Plank Owner
Professionalism in Search and Rescue (SAR) Coordination Is Non-Negotiable: International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue (IAMSAR) Solutions becomes the International Association of Search and Rescue Coordinators (IASARC’s) First Plank Owner and Lifetime Member
The IAMSAR Solutions team, while training with the Dutch Caribbean Coast Guard and Bristow Group in Curaçao.
When an aircraft vanishes from radar or a vessel taking on water hails mayday in treacherous seas, there is no time to hesitate. Lives hang in the balance. Behind every successful rescue mission lies not just the bravery of crews in the field, but the preparedness and professionalism of those in Rescue Coordination Centres (RCCs). These are the unsung heroes of the global Search and Rescue (SAR) system.
RCCs are not just dispatch hubs, but tactical coordination centers responsible for analyzing incoming alerts, leveraging complex systems to develop optimal search plans, coordinating assets from multiple agencies and sometimes multiple nations, and liaising with families of those in distress. They must be masters at their craft while responding with the utmost urgency under duress.
Coordination in such high-stakes environments does not happen by accident. It’s the result of rigorous training, deep familiarity with international procedures, and the capacity to make life-saving decisions under immense pressure. Mistakes in these roles can lead to delays, duplicated efforts, or even a failure to save a life in distress.
SAR operations are often extraordinarily complex. They involve vast search areas with shifting environmental conditions, coordination among aircraft, ships, satellites, and local responders, real-time decision-making with incomplete or conflicting information, and adherence to international legal frameworks and cross-border responsibilities.
Without robust and standardized training, even skilled personnel can make costly errors, such as deploying resources inefficiently, misreading alerts, or losing precious time due to poor communication. That is why RCC personnel, particularly SAR Mission Coordinators (SMCs), require more than just procedural knowledge. They require scenario-based training, exposure to realistic simulations, and a thorough understanding of tools such as COSPAS-SARSAT systems, drift modeling, and computer-aided search planning systems.
One company working at the forefront of this vital effort is IAMSAR Solutions, a Canadian firm specializing in SAR training and consulting for both aeronautical and maritime operations. Their work is helping RCCs around the world respond more quickly, effectively, and with greater confidence in the face of disasters. They currently offer 12 SAR courses and operate in 31 countries, with more to come.
IAMSAR Solutions provides SAR coordination training in Canada.
Founded in Canada by veteran SAR Mission Coordinator Jean Houde, IAMSAR Solutions Inc. is a globally recognized provider of specialized training, consulting, and transformation services for RCCs and SAR personnel. Their name is derived from the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search and Rescue Manual (IAMSAR)—the global standard for SAR operations. Jean’s team boasts a combined 150 years of SAR training, and they continue to prove themselves innovators in the field, leading the industry rather than merely maintaining the status quo.
That spirit of innovation has led them to join forces with the International Association of Search and Rescue Coordinators (IASARC) as their first plank owner. Historically, plank owners were the original crew of a ship from construction through sea trials and commissioning. As such, they were a part of the ship and had a right to the “ownership” of one of the planks in the main deck. Today, the term is often applied to the original members of an organization, those who were there when the figurative keel was laid and the sails hoisted for the first time. As a plank owner of IASARC, IAMSAR Solutions has become the first lifetime member of our lifesaving journey to advance the profession of SAR coordination.
“Survivability decreases with time. The international standardization of SMC personnel training and the establishment of a measurable standard of qualification through a globally accredited process will inevitably lead to more lives being saved. IASARC offers a beacon of innovation in this field, and IAMSAR Solutions is extremely proud to fully support its development towards the betterment of SAR internationally.”
IASARC extends its most profound appreciation to the IAMSAR Solutions team for their support during our formative years. As the saying goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Together, the global SAR community will continue to strive for ever-greater levels of excellence, ultimately saving more lives.
For organizations interested in learning more about the IASARC Plank Owner Program, please email info@iasarc.org.
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