Maine Revised Statutes Title 6. Aeronautics § 303. Air search procedures

1. Agreements. The Chief of the State Police may establish agreements with public or private agencies or organizations to assist in air search operations.

2. Situations covered. The Chief of the State Police shall establish and maintain a state air search and rescue plan for the immediate handling of the following emergency situations arising from aeronautical activities:

For purposes of this section, the phrases “within the State” and “in the State” include the coastal waters of the State as defined in Title 12, section 6001.

3. Plan of action. The state air search and rescue plan must provide a plan of action for search and rescue that will mobilize all state and federal agencies that can contribute in those emergencies and inform all state and federal agencies that request to be informed of any air search operation, in accordance with agreements reached in advance. The plan may include utilization of the Maine Wing Civil Air Patrol to coordinate and control specific air search operations. The plan must provide that its first objective is saving human life and rendering prompt aid to survivors.

4. Authority. The Chief of the State Police is responsible for the execution and overall coordination of air search and rescue efforts initiated in support of the air search and rescue plan by the Maine Wing Civil Air Patrol and those state and federal agencies that are designated in the plan to play a role in emergencies.