This SAR APP should not be used as the sole or primary means of notifying a SAR Authority of a DISTRESS or EMERGENCY situation. Your first means of notifying a SAR Authority of an emergency should be via a phone call to the SAR Authority or by use of an approved and registered 406MHz beacon, an EPIRB, an ELT or a PLB. Only following this primary means of notification should SAR APP be used to alert a SAR Authority or friend.

Please note that SAR APP will not send email notifications to a SAR Authority in the following SAR Regions:

•Australia
•Netherlands
•United States of America

* Note: The above mentioned SAR Authorities have requested that the SAR APP not be used in their SAR Region to notify them because they do not consider that email is an appropriate form of notification for a distress situation. Even though testing has been conducted and emails have passed firewalls, in this day and age, one would think that our rescue authorities would consider embracing new technology that can save lives. Isn't that why they are signatories to the Chicago Convention?

SAR APP has been developed to assist those people who find themselves in a distress situation and provide a backup to other approved distress notification devices. SAR APP provides the ability for a person to post their distress information, personal details and position (Google Maps + Latitude & Longitude) with a view to notify a SAR Authority (where supported) or to notify a family member of a specific situation where you need help. The choice is yours. SAR APP uses Mobile Emergency Notification Device (MEND) technology to notify agencies or friends of your position and nature of distress via mobile and GPS technology. SAR APP is not a satellite beacon and does not transmit on emergency radio frequencies. All transmissions are conducted over mobile and email networks via the service of your communications provider and as such, come with limitations.

People in the following industries, sports or interest groups have found SAR APP useful:

•Aviation
•Maritime
•Disaster & Emergency Management
•Hikers & Bushwalkers
•Personal Safety
•Child Safety
•Extreme Sports People
•Police & Emergency Services
•Volunteer Support

The developer, Andrew McWhirter is a Commercial Pilot and has over 20 years experience as a SAR Coordinator, Pilot and Emergency Manager in Australia at State and Federal levels. He has coordinated search and rescue incidents across some of the world's most inhospitable terrains and environments. Numerous Southern Ocean yacht race rescues, the Sydney to Hobart yacht race disaster in 1998 and even Steve Fossett's solo balloon World Circumnavigation crash near Noumea.

Andrew has led teams at the highest coordination level as a SAR Mission Coordinator with the Queensland Police Service, and as Senior SAR Coordinator at the Federal level within Australia.

Andrew has coordinated many SAR actions, ranging from EPIRB activations to full SAR responses involving the tasking of SAR aircraft, defense force assets, civilian personnel and volunteers. He has trained thousands of volunteer and professional crews in aviation drop supply operations and delivered SAR seminars across Australia and been reported in National media and on television.