How The SOS Emergency Management Works

The Spidertracks SOS Emergency Management will alert you and your selected members to any incidents via SMS, Email and alerts on the map.

The SOS notification sent by the Spider can be triggered in two ways:

1. Manually by the pilot through the Spider by pressing the SOS button. When a pilot presses the SOS button, this will show on the map as Status: Open. 

2.  Automatically using Watch Mode.  If the Spider were to lose power for 15 minutes, the system will automatically send out an SOS messages to the selected members of your organisation.  This will show as 'Last point' in the track history.

When using Watch and an SOS alert is generated, the notification will be sent to the selected Tier One and then 15 minutes later to the selected Tier Two members in your account.

What is a Tier One Member

Tier one support people are the first group to receive an SOS message. In the event of Watch SOS or a pilot activated SOS, these people will receive an email and text message with the SOS details. Tier one people should attempt to make contact with the pilot and either resolve or escalate the SOS within 15 minutes. They may be required to call search and rescue authorities as the authorities are not automatically informed of an SOS.

Note: If you are a tier one support person you will be notified if the SOS is escalated to tier two.

What is a Tier Two Member

Tier Two support people are the second group to receive an SOS message. In the event of Watch SOS or a pilot activated SOS, these people will receive an email and text message with the SOS details fifteen minutes after the tier one people have been alerted, but only if the SOS remains unresolved. Tier two support people should make contact with the tier one support people as well as the pilot. They may be required to call search and rescue authorities.

Notifications

When an alert is raised, the selected members will receive an email, text or both.

Email Notifications

The email contains the following information:

1. The Aircraft that raised the alert.

2. A link which will redirect you to the website to view the track. 

3. Latitude and longitude, Altitude and Speed of the last point received.

 

SMS Notifications

1. A link which will redirect you to the website to view the track. 

2. Texting Close will cancel the SOS from the mobile device.

The SOS SMS also allows you to immediately escalate to Tier Two emergency contacts by replying with SOS.

 

The Flying Page

The SOS SMS also allows you to immediately escalate to Tier Two emergency contacts by replying with SOS.

If you are flight following on the Flying Page, you will receive an SOS notification on the upper right side of the map.

1. Clicking on the SOS box will show the Alert details.

2. The Latitude and longitude, Altitude and Speed of the last point received.

3.  The members that have been contacted in relation to the SOS.

4.  Will allow an SOS member to either Close or Escalate the the Alert.

Notes

If you escalate the alert to Tier 2 members, all members involved will receive another notification (email or SMS if selected)

If you close the alert, all members that received a notification will also be alerted that the SOS alert was closed by a member of the account.

What if I want to see a log of all the SOS that have been triggered?

You will need to go to the History Page and filter the flights by either by using the SOS filter.

• Closed: which shows the alerts that have been closed.
• Active: which shows all fights were an SOS have been triggered.

What if the SOS was triggered by accident?

If the SOS was button was pressed by the pilot, by accident, please follow these steps:

1. The pilot will need to unplug the unit to stop the current track.
2. When powering up again, Mark buttons can be used to tell ground that all is well. Please click here to see how Mark notifications work.
3. Ground or flight-watch personnel will be able to close the SOS alert.

FAQ

Q. Do you have to long press the red button to activate the SOS, or is it just a short press?
A. It is just a normal press, no need to hold the button down. This is enough for an alert to be sent.

Q. Once you’ve activated an SOS via the button, can you press it again to deactivate the SOS?
The Spider will remain in SOS mode for the duration of that flight.

IMPORTANT: After an SOS is triggered, no other functions (ie. Mark, Watch, Spidertxt) will work until the Spider is power-cycled.

For further help or assistance, please email us at [e-mail]