Yes Chuck, I've been a rated mission pilot for years, but I'm not current.
In our Wing, mission checkouts now include demonstration of integration of
modern GPS technology into the search patterns. For example, I must
demonstrate how to set the GX50/60 series that are in most CAP aircraft for
Creeping Line, Parallel Track, and Expanding Square searches from an Initial
Point. I must also demonstrate using the GPS to compute and display the
standard grid search that you described.
Unless the route of flight of the target aircraft is one of four compass
headings (actually true headings) - North, South, East, or West - the search
pattern used could easily not be aligned with latitudes and longitudes.
Additionally, rather than fly several miles outside the pattern entry point,
many mission pilots equate that fix similarly as we do a holding fix. We
approach it via the most direct and expeditious route and then execute the
proper "holding pattern entry" to align us with the inbound heading -
essentially a 1/2 turn hold prior to entry into the grid. Most usually this
contributes to more time in the search box and less in transit.

My whole point in starting this thread was to determine if these SAR
capabilities are peculiar to the Apollo GX50/60 series or should I have been
able to find them in the Garmin 400/500 series. Apparently this feature is
unique to Apollo,

--
Jim Carter
Rogers, Arkansas
"Chuck Gerlach" wrote in message
...
The vast majority of CAP's 500+ aircraft fleet are not G1000 but the old
round guage panels we all know and love, To the best of my knowledge all
the fleet is equipted with GPSs. Since each was equipted with the latest
and greatest panel when it was built, what's in each plane varies widely.
What's taught at CAP's National Emergency Services Academy Mission Aircrew
School is to plan your search on paper. The observer finds the lat/long of
the entry and exit points. Since most search legs are on cardinal
directions (N-S, E-W) these points define the search area, The pilot flys
the airplane to a point several miles outside the search area on the
extended first leg. Holding either the lat or long steady, the first leg is
flown. Once out of the search area on the first leg the pilot makes
approximately a standard rate 180 degree turn. That positions the plan one
mile to the side and close to the lat or long of the next leg. With a
little fine adjustment to the lat or long the search areaa is entered and
the next leg flown, This process is repeated until the search area is
covered. All that is needed is some way to see your current position's
lat/long. And all the GPSs can display this. Very straight forward
process.