Search and rescue (SAR) operations refer to search and rescue, using aircraft, aircraft in danger, their passengers and crews, in accordance with the general provisions and procedures for the implementation of the Convention. Chicago and its annexes.

The plans of the SAR regions adopted by the competent administrations of the Contracting Parties shall serve as the basis for cooperation between the SAR services of the Contracting Parties.

2. These plans specify:

(a)

The boundaries of SAR regions;

(b)

Designation of SAR Coordination Centres (RCC);

(c)

The definition of air and ground response;

(d)

The recommended reciprocal facilitations.

3. The Responsible Authorities shall ensure that each SAR service receives any relevant information concerning the updating or modification of the facilities and SAR capabilities of the other Contracting Party.

Common procedures, all technical modalities and lessons learned shall be documented in a document entitled "Manual of SAR Operations", prepared and updated between the competent authorities of the Parties Contractants.

1. In the territory of each Contracting Party, the air navigation services shall without delay transmit the alarm to the RCCs by observing the standards and recommendations adopted within the framework of the Civil Aviation Organization International.

2. Each RCC shall adopt within the national framework appropriate measures in order to be aware, without delay and by all direct and indirect sources of information, of the situations of danger for which a SAR operation is necessary.

1. In case of necessity, the liaison between the RCCs in Bern and Montevenda (Padua) must be ensured on a permanent basis in order to provide an alarm from one RCC to the other and to ensure their cooperation in the course of a SAR operation.

2. The means of communication for use shall consist of:

(a)

Public telecommunications networks and Etat;

(b)

The Aeronautical Fixed Service Network (AFTN).

1. Each RCC alarmed by the air traffic control services, by another body, or in any way, requests and transmits all the information deemed necessary, within the framework of its own jurisdiction, The first intervention measures compatible with its geographical position and available means. If it is aware that other RCCs have been alarmed and that its own resources are insufficient, or are not in a state of operation, it may request the cooperation of the CCB of the other Contracting Party.

2. If the SAR operation involves more than one CBI, it will be referred to as the RCC Director in the region (SRR) of which the incident likely occurred.

The other CCB that remains interested in the operation continues to collaborate as a related CCB.

4. If in the course of operations the circumstances require it, the responsibility of the management of the operations of the CCB to the associated CBI will have to be transferred.

Tasks of the Steering Committee:

(a)

Ensure the cooperation of all specialized and complementary means engaged and define the research areas and the tasks to be carried out;

(b)

To provide such means with any indication to enable the mission to be carried out;

(c)

Plan and organize the replacement of resources to ensure continuity of research;

(d)

To ensure the coordination of air and ground-based research; to the extent that it considers it useful, it may request the associated RCCs for this purpose;

(e)

To propose to the associated RCC the suspension of operations, after consultation with the competent national authorities.

Persons assigned to the SAR service of one of the Contracting Parties who are required to enter the territory or space of the other Contracting Party during a joint SAR operation or mission shall comply with the laws, regulations and Other administrative provisions of this Contracting Party, except for the facilitations provided for in this Agreement.

1. To facilitate and expedite the execution of a SAR operation, the aircraft of a State participating in such an operation (SAR aircraft) may cross the border and land without prior notice on a specified number of aerodromes designated by each State, Within the limits set out in the "SAR Operations Manual". The relevant CBI will need to be informed of this. In addition, at the request of and with the agreement of the competent RCC of the other State, the SAR aircraft of a State may land directly beyond the border with an accident aircraft.

2. The competent authorities of the Contracting Parties shall set in the "Manual of SAR Operations" the standards for the payment of fuel and other equipment delivered to an SAR aircraft of the other Contracting Party by one of the Aerodromes mentioned above. The same procedure shall be used in respect of fees or charges relating to the use of radio, technical or commercial installations of such aerodromes.

The competent CMRs shall provide the necessary information relating to aircraft and crews participating in a specific SAR operation. The facilitations provided for in this Agreement shall apply to such aircraft and crews.

No special mission order is required for pilots and any auxiliaries involved in a SAR operation. They simply have to be able to prove their identity.

1. SAR aircraft are also authorized to take off and land on non-customs aerodromes of the Contracting Parties, subject to prior notification by the RCCs to the nearest Customs Offices and to the Police Authorities of the In order for them to carry out their tasks, the Nominal List with the elements of identification of the crews and the persons carried.

2. The same procedure shall apply in cases of landing in places outside aerodromes.

Aircraft and all other SAR means required to carry out a SAR operation shall be considered to be temporarily imported into the State of destination without any document being required.

1. SAR aircraft shall have on board only the equipment, rations and medicines necessary for the SAR operation; these shall be considered as being admitted to temporary importation in the State of destination, on the same conditions as the aircraft.

2. The equipment, rations and medications used during SAR operations shall be exempt from any import duties and taxes, and shall be listed in the flight documents in any event. The equipment, food and unused medicines will have to be re-exported; otherwise, they will be subject to import provisions.

3. If certain goods have had to be abandoned for compelling reasons, the RCC of the State of destination will be informed immediately; the nature and quantity of the goods and the place where they have been abandoned will be specified. They shall, in any event, be recorded as soon as possible to the competent customs office. For goods that have been destroyed or lost, no import duties or taxes will be collected.

1. The persons rescued according to Article 1 of this Agreement shall be first placed in security in the Contracting State in which they arise or, if they arise from a third State, in the Contracting State in which the accident occurred. In the event of an emergency, the rescued persons may be transported immediately to the other State, even if they are not in possession of an official identity document.

2. The crossing of the border during a relief operation in accordance with this Agreement shall not constitute an exit from the country. Each Contracting Party undertakes to resume, regardless of their nationality, the rescuers and evacuees transferred from its territory to that of the other Contracting Party, even if they are not in possession of an official part Of identity. If they are foreigners, they will be subject to the same residence and settlement status they had before crossing the border.

1. Radiotelephone links are established to allow for cooperation:

(a)

CBI with air assets and land resources;

(b)

Air assets between them;

(c)

Aerial means with land resources.

2. The frequencies to be used are, if possible, those set out in Annex 10 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation.

1. In the context of a SAR operation, the ground rescue teams of one of the Contracting Parties may cross the common border with the agreement of the RCC of the other Contracting Party without the need to follow a customs route, By prior notice to the nearest customs and to the Border Police Authorities, to which the nominative list must be communicated with the elements of identification of the team.

2. Terrestrial rescue teams may be equipped with all search and rescue equipment necessary for their mission.

3. The competent authorities of each Contracting Party shall adopt appropriate provisions in order to allow-upon request of the competent CMRs-patrols made up of soldiers, in uniform but without arms, to cross the border for Carry out their SAR mission in accordance with the procedures set out in the preceding paragraphs.

4. Art. 11, 13 and 14, para. 2 and 3, and 15 of this Agreement shall apply mutatis mutandis to SAR operations carried out by ground rescue teams.

The SAR authorities of the Contracting Parties may organise a limited number of joint exercises and annual meetings for an exchange of information. They may correspond directly to this purpose.

Each Contracting Party may temporarily suspend the application of this Agreement for compelling reasons relating to public order and security. The decision to suspend shall be communicated immediately by diplomatic means to the other Contracting Party.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the date on which the Contracting Parties have exchanged the respective instruments of ratification.

2. This Agreement may be amended with the consent of the Contracting Parties and shall be denounced at all times by each Contracting Party on six months' notice.

Done at Rome, On 27 October 1986, in two originals in the Italian language.