Who coordinates U.S. search and rescue

Max talks with Cyriel Kronenberg, Vice President of Airports and Air Traffic Management at uAvionix and a volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol’s National Radar Analysis Team (NRAT), about one of aviation’s most overlooked safety questions: if you survive a crash, how quickly will you be found?

How Long Searches TakeCyriel explains that while ADS-B has shortened search times, the reality is sobering. Without a flight plan, overdue aircraft may not even be reported missing for hours. Average search times have historically stretched from 18 hours with a VFR flight plan to more than 60 hours with no plan at all. Even today, two to three hours is considered fast for locating a downed aircraft.

ELTs: The Critical DifferenceCyriel stresses the enormous difference between old 121.5 MHz ELTs and modern 406 MHz beacons. The older units provide only a vague signal and are prone to false alarms, often ignored. A properly registered 406 beacon, by contrast, transmits GPS coordinates via satellite, dramatically reducing search times. But here’s the catch: as many as half are mis-registered, with outdated or missing phone numbers. That makes even the best ELT nearly useless until rescuers conduct a blind search.

Flight Plans, Contacts, and ADS-BFiling a flight plan helps, but only if searchers can reach someone who knows your intended route. Cyriel urges pilots to list an emergency contact not on the aircraft in the remarks section—ideally a spouse, friend, or FBO. While apps like ForeFlight allow pilots to enter contact details, those aren’t passed to the FAA. ADS-B provides an even bigger safety net: an aircraft with ADS-B out can usually be pinpointed within yards, while non-equipped aircraft may take days to locate.

Survival LessonsCyriel shares personal changes he’s made after years of analyzing accidents. He always keeps his cell phone in his pocket so it won’t be lost in a violent crash, carries a handheld transceiver tuned to 121.5 MHz, and wears or packs high-visibility gear. He emphasizes staying with the aircraft, since wreckage is easier to spot than a single person. Route planning also matters—flying near highways or populated areas at night increases survivability compared to wilderness routes.

Behind the Scenes of NRATMax and Cyriel dive into how NRAT works with the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC). Using radar, ADS-B, and even cell-phone forensics, the team helps determine whether an incident is a false alarm, an accident with no survivors, or a mission where lives can be saved. They coordinate directly with controllers and search crews, sometimes correcting errors in coordinate formats that would otherwise send helicopters to the wrong location.

Success Stories and ScaleIn 2024, AFRCC handled nearly 500 aviation missions, with over 200 lives saved. Civil Air Patrol was involved in more than 300 of those missions, while NRAT contributed to 71 cases—directly responsible for dozens of finds and 10 documented saves. Cyriel recalls a dramatic case in Montana where local ADS-B receivers installed by uAvionix employees helped locate a couple who survived a crash into icy water; thanks to quick coordination, a helicopter pulled them out within 20 minutes.

Key Takeaways for PilotsCyriel closes with a checklist:

• Make sure your ELT is registered correctly.
• Consider adding a personal locator beacon.
• Use ADS-B out whenever possible.
• File a flight plan and put a reachable emergency contact in remarks.
• Carry your cell phone and handheld radio on your person.
• Stay with the aircraft if you go down.

Max underscores the theme: nobody takes off expecting to crash, but hundreds of missions each year prove it happens. With preparation, you can improve your odds not just of surviving the impact, but of being found in time.

If you're getting value from this show, please support the show via PayPal, Venmo, Zelle or Patreon.

Support the Show by buying a Lightspeed ANR Headsets Max has been using only Lightspeed headsets for nearly 25 years! I love their tradeup program that let's you trade in an older Lightspeed headset for a newer model. Start with one of the links below, and Lightspeed will pay a referral fee to support Aviation News Talk. Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset $1299 NEW – Lightspeed Zulu 4 Headset $1099 Lightspeed Zulu 3 Headset $949Lightspeed Sierra Headset $749 My Review on the Lightspeed Delta Zulu

Send us your feedback or comments via email

If you have a question you’d like answered on the show, let listeners hear you ask the question, by recording your listener question using your phone.

News Stories

• Duffy Takes ATC Privatization Off Table
• FAA opens bids for sweeping ATC overhaul
• EMAS Halts Two Runway Overruns in 24 Hours
• FAA reports 14% increase in wildlife strikes
• Pilot Killed in California Cessna Crash
• NTSB Prelim: Rockwell International 112
• Savvy Aviation unveils AI-powered aircraft anomaly detection tool

Mentioned on the Show Buy Max Trescott's G3000 Book Call 800-247-6553 Lightspeed Delta Zulu Headset Giveaway NTSB News Talk Podcast UAV News Talk Podcast Rotary Wing Show Podcast Video of the Week: Arrival into AirVenture 406 MHz ELT Beacon Registration Civil Air Patrol  Free Index to the first 282 episodes of Aviation New Talk

So You Want To Learn to Fly or Buy a Cirrus seminars Online Version of the Seminar Coming Soon – Register for Notification

Check out our recommended ADS-B receivers, and order one for yourself. Yes, we’ll make a couple of dollars if you do.

Get the Free Aviation News Talk app for iOS or Android.

Check out Max’s Online Courses: G1000 VFR, G1000 IFR, and Flying WAAS & GPS Approaches. Find them all at: https://www.pilotlearning.com/

Social Media Like Aviation News Talk podcast on Facebook Follow Max on Instagram Follow Max on Twitter Listen to all Aviation News Talk podcasts on YouTube or YouTube Premium

"Go Around" song used by permission of Ken Dravis; you can buy his music at kendravis.com

If you purchase a product through a link on our site, we may receive compensation.