Gaborone, 15 March 2022; CAAB in collaboration with other agencies hosted a Search and Rescue (SAR) workshop at Sir Seretse Khama International Airport (SSKIA) aimed at strengthening the resilience of the current search and rescue plan, evaluate the preparedness of SAR agencies, and to practice response protocols used during search and rescue missions.

ICAO Annex 12 mandates CAAB’s to alert other agencies of aircraft in distress and to subsequently coordinate the SAR Missions together with facilitating emergency overflights within its territory (Search and Rescue Region-SRR). The Search and Rescue function is mandated through Annex 12 of the International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) regulations.

Through the tabletop workshops, SAR can maintain the competency and overall efficiency of all SAR personnel and its agents/units. This is achieved through a current thorough review of distress protocols and open dialogue discussions across the agencies.

Agencies in attendance included Botswana Defense Force (BDF), Botswana Police Service (BPS), Department of Meteorology Services, Department of Wildlife and National Parks and Air Botswana.  Additionally, joining the SSKIA team through a virtual connection from Maun and Kasane was the Department of Wildlife and National Parks, South African Air link, and counterparts of the BDF and BPS.

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