PRELIMINARY ASSESSMENT OF U.S. COAST GUARD SHORT RANGE RECOVERY (SRR) FORWARD LOOKING INFRARED (FLIR) SYSTEM SMALL TARGET DETECTION PERFORMANCE

Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) detection data have been collected in a dedicated electronic detection experiment conducted in 1981 by the U.S.C.G. Research and Development Center. This experiment was part of a series designed to improve search planning guidance contained in the National Search and Rescue Manual. An HH-52A helicopter equipped with a prototype Northrop Corp. SeeHawk FLIR system conducted detection runs with 15- to 19-foot fiberglass boats, 4- and 7-man life rafts, and simulated person-in-water (PIW) targets. The tests were conducted in Block Island Sound during September through November 1981.