AVIATION IN DISASTER RESPONSE OPERATIONS

Abstract

Aviation assets have played an important role in response to major natural disasters for many years. Traditionally aviation support to disaster relief included airlift, SAR and ATM services. Nowadays, the scope of civilian and military aviation employment in disaster response increases. Air surveillance and reconnaissance as well as command and control capabilities are more and more common contribution to disaster response operations. The paper includes the discussion of lessons observed and development trends related to aviation support to disaster response operations.