SOPs

[Aaronw]

Welcome to the 2010 Rescue Group Build, your hosts are Aaronw and Wayne S.

The basics

The idea behind this group build is aircraft performing a humanitarian mission. This may be as obvious as a rescue helicopter winching a sailor off of a sinking boat or more subtle such as a cargo plane delivering food and supplies to the victims of a natural disaster.

The primary focus is on the aircraft used by dedicated rescue services, but any aircraft used to assist people in dire straits may be acceptable. There are numerous examples of regular aircraft that have become involved in saving lives. The major determination on whether a specific subject is acceptable or not is your ability to demonstrate why it should be allowed (photos, the story behind it etc). While aircraft belonging to a rescue service excludes the builder from any requirement to provide support for the subject, info on the service / aircraft or info about the specific aircraft being modeled is welcome and encouraged.

Some of the obvious choices (generally these will need little or no documentation)

Air Sea Rescue

Coast Guards

Border Patrols / Border Guards (if involved in SAR)

Civil Air Patrol (and similar)

Medevac (civilian & military)

Search & Rescue

Military CSAR

Disaster Relief Agencies

An aircraft that was used to conduct a rescue, but not normally assigned to a service tasked with rescue must be documented. This does not require extensive citations or notorized documents, but I do expect a good effort to be made and an entertaining story included. In general photos and an article are quite adequate.

Dioramas of a rescue scene are welcome, and will be given generous leeway.

Although they may not always directly rescue people, Firefighting and Law Enforcement aircraft will be acceptable since it is not hard to imagine how they save lives by slowing a fire or assist in catching dangerous criminals.

Armed aircraft used to support CSAR ops are acceptable with varying levels of documentation. A-1 Skyraider or A-7 Corsair II which were frequently used during the Vietnam war to suppress enemy forces while helicopters picked up downed pilots would require minimal support documentation (basically that the unit markings match a unit used for these missions, so don't build an A-7 with markings for a unit statoned in Germany). Most observation planes also fall into this category since they were often the first to arrive over a downed pilot and helped coordinate rescue efforts. The MC-130P would be another acceptable aircraft since they are frequently used to support CSAR operations.

Naval helicopters frequently assigned to plane guard duties are acceptable with minimal documentation.

Combat aircraft involved in a rescue mission, that are not normally assigned to CSAR will require more information to support their inclusion.

UN cargo aircraft (disaster relief / evacuation) will generally be acceptable as they frequently deliver supplies or transport refugees. Documentation on where it was used and how is strongly encouraged. Peacekeeping aircraft do not qualify unless used for a specific rescue as mentioned above.

Civilian aircraft (private or airliners) are acceptable again based on being able to show they performed or supported rescue operations. Airliners used to evacuate refugees from a disaster or war zone are acceptable, but again require some documentation.

Fictional services (movies, TV etc) and "what if" aircraft are acceptable within reason. A USCG V-22 Osprey is no problem, a USCG F-16 on the other hand...

I'd also like to thank Phantom for starting the post that got this going.

Edited January 31, 2010 by Aaronw