History of DJRCC/QAMCC
HISTORY OF DOHA JOINT RESCUE COORDINATION CENTER (DJRCC) AND QATAR MISSION CONTROL CENTRE (QAMCC)
29th May 1985 – According to the State of Qatar Council of Ministers Decree No.21, a committee was established under the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Transport and Communications to study Search and Rescue (SAR) issues and to establish a SAR entity in the State of Qatar. The committee decided to establish a SAR sub-centre (Operations Room) at the Doha Air Force Base. In the same year the Qatar Emiri Air Force started managing this SAR sub-centre.
24th July 1990 – His Highness, the Crown Prince and Commander-in-Chief of the Qatar Armed Forces approved and signed constant instructions that formulated SAR operations within the State of Qatar. These instructions were addressed to all national agencies in the country involved in implementation and support of SAR. They clarified the general SAR policy and determined responsibilities of respective agencies. The SAR sub-сentre duties included the coordination between agencies involved in SAR operations, as well as direct operational control of all facilities specialized in SAR, and the power to request assistance and intervention from all military and civil authorities in the country.
20th August 2004 – His Highness, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Qatar Armed Forces agreed to form a permanent committee on execution and support of SAR operations in the State of Qatar and to develop a SAR sub-centre for the Qatar Emiri Air Force. A power was granted to the SAR sub-centre to receive all emergency alerts for land, sea and air accidents involving human lives under the threat of death within the regional and economic borders of the State of Qatar. As a result, the Joint Reference Search and Rescue (JSM22) document for the State of Qatar was adopted.
2006 – A committee under the Qatar Emiri Air Force was established to prepare technical and operational specifications of the SAR sub-centre and define its appropriate location. To share SAR experience of other countries, it was agreed to visit regional and international SAR centres in the world.
March 2009 – It was agreed to convert the existing SAR sub-centre into the national rescue coordination center (RCC) under the Qatar Emiri Air Force to help creation of the SAR structure in the country.
October 2009 – The national RCC was moved from the Doha Air Force Base to the Coastal Station in the Al-Lusail area to take advantage of the ground services associated with the Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS).
2012-To enhance the national SAR sub-centre, a contract was signed regarding deployment of the satellite Cospas-Sarsat ground equipment in the same location as the SAR sub-centre.
3rd November 2013 – According to the Emiri Decree No: (147), the Doha Joint Rescue Coordination Center was established and obtaining his legal status,defining his duties and objectives under the Ministry of Defense.
15th June 2014 – Installation of LEOLUT, GEOLUT and MCC by TSi. Operations room established by DJRCC.
12th November 2017 – The State of Qatar joined the international satellite Cospas-Sarsat Programme for search and rescue as a Ground Segment Provider.
11th – 21st June 2019 – The 33rd meeting of the Cospas-Sarsat Joint Committee (JC-33) was successfully hosted by the State of Qatar in Doha, hosting around 200 delegates.
1st October 2019 – The nodal Spanish MCC (SPMCC) announced the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) status for the Qatar Cospas-Sarsat ground segment: Qatar Mission Control Centre (QAMCC), LEOSAR Local User Terminal (LEOLUT) and GEOSAR Local User Terminal (GEOLUT).
17th August 2020 – Full Operational Capability (FOC) status for the Qatar Cospas-Sarsat ground segment achieved and announced by SPMCC.
1st December 2020 – Establishment of the National SAR Training Centre (SARTC).