ASTM F1591-95

Standard Practice for Visual Signals Between Persons on the Ground and in Aircraft During Ground Emergencies

SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the signals to be used between persons on the ground and in aircraft when two-way voice communications cannot be established during ground emergencies. Ground signals are limited to land-based ones that do not require special equipment. Flare, light, panel, and maritime signals are specifically excluded.  
1.2 The signals are divided into two categories: those used by persons on the ground and those used by aircraft.  
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 31-Dec-1999
• Technical Committee: F32 - Search and Rescue
• Drafting Committee: F32.02 - Management and Operations

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM F1591-95(2000) - Standard Practice for Visual Signals Between Persons on the Ground and in Aircraft During Ground Emergencies
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2000
• Referred By: ASTM F3026-14(2019) - Standard Guide for Helicopter Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Crew Chief
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2000
• Referred By: ASTM F2958-14(2019) - Standard Guide for Helicopter Inland Search and Rescue (SAR) Technician
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2000
• Referred By: ASTM F3193-16 - Standard Guide for Training of a Land Search and Rescue Team Leader
• Effective Date: 01-Jan-2000

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: F 1591 – 95
Standard Practice for
Visual Signals Between Persons on the Ground and in
Aircraft During Ground Emergencies
This standard is issued under the fixed designation F 1591; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 3.3 The signals are also useful in situations where either
complete or partial voice communications exist. Where only
1.1 This practice covers the signals to be used between
partial capabilities exist, for example, a ground unit with
persons on the ground and in aircraft when two-way voice
receive-only capability, the aircrew can transmit voice and the
communications cannot be established during ground emergen-
ground crew can respond with the appropriate signal.
cies. Ground signals are limited to land-based ones that do not
3.3.1 The signals described in Section 4, by their nature, are
require special equipment. Flare, light, panel, and maritime
not intended for real-time communications with aircraft. They
signals are specifically excluded.
can be left unattended as messages for aircrews. Persons on the
1.2 The signals are divided into two categories: those used
ground (SAR or otherwise) can make a signal and continue on
by persons on the ground and those used by aircraft.
without contact with the aircraft. The SAR personnel should
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
keep this in mind when encountering the signals of Fig. 1.
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
3.4 Search and rescue agencies utilizing this practice should
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
disseminate these signals to the public as part of their preven-
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
tative search and rescue (PSAR) efforts. The signals have
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
changed over the years and a number of publications contain
2. Referenced Document obsolete signals.
2.1 International Civil Aviation Organization Standard:
4. Ground-to-Air Signals
International Standards and Recommended Practices,
4.1 Signals for use by either SAR personnel or persons in
Search and Rescue, Annex 12 to the Convention on
distress on the ground are shown in Fig. 1.
International Civil Aviation
4.1.1 The signals in Fig. 1 have been adopted by the
3. Significance and Use
Convention on International Civil Aviation. As defined in
Annex 12 to the Convention (see 2.1), these signals are divided
3.1 While many of the reasons for needing the signals
into those for use by SAR personnel and those for use by
contained in this practice have been overcome by technology
persons in distress. Several of the signals have only been
development, situations still arise where voice communications
adopted by certain countries.
cannot be established between aircraft and persons on the
4.1.2 Since the signals are useful regardless of the user’s
ground during emergencies. This is particularly true of persons
situation or location, this practice includes all of them without
in distress, who typically have no communications equipment.
limitation. While there may be potential for this to cause
These signals continue to meet the need for communications.
confusion for aircrews seeing the signals, this would be a
3.2 Most of these signals have been adopted by international
temporary condition and the aircrew’s response should not be
convention, the others by civilian and military agencies of the
dependent on the user’s status. The benefits of unlimited use of
United States Government. The signals described in this
the signals outweighs any confusion caused by their use
practice are intended for use on land and can be made without
contrary to the Convention.
special equipment such as flares or colored panels. Other
4.2 The signals in Fig. 1 shall have the meanings indicated.
signaling systems are described in the National Search and
They shall be used only for the purpose indicated and no other
Rescue (SAR) Manual.
signals likely to be confused with them shall be used.
4.3 All signals shall be as large as possible in the propor-
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee F-32 on Search and
tions shown in Fig. 2.
Rescue and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee F32.02 on Management and
4.4 The signals shall be made in a manner that contrasts
Operations.
Current edition approved April 15, 1995. Published July 1995.
with the surface on which they are placed. Brush, vegetation,
Available from the International Civil Aviation Organization; Document Sales
rocks, stones, or surface material can be piled up; trenches dug;
Unit; 1000 Sherbrooke St. West, Suite 400; Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2R2.
3 soft material stomped down; brush or grass cut down; strips of
National Search and Rescue (SAR) Manual, Vol I, Joint Publication 3-50, Feb.
material laid out; etc. Materials can be combined, such as
1, 1991. Available from United States Coast Guard; Washington, DC 20953-0001.
Copyright © ASTM, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
F 1591
destroyed if at all possible, to prevent confusion and additional
search effort later.
5. Ground-to-Air Body Signals
5.1 The signals of Fig. 1 are “messages,” in that they take
considerable time to prepare, and so are not suitable for direct
communications when an aircraft is overhead. For real-time or
spontaneous communications, the body signals of Fig. 3 shall
be used.
5.1.1 The signals in Fig. 3 shall have the meanings indi-
cated. They shall be used only for the purpose indicated and no
other signals likely to be confused with them shall be used.
5.1.2 The person making the signal shall be in the open and
as conspicuous as possible. Clothing wor
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