The International Cospas-Sarsat Programme is a non-profit, intergovernmental organization that operates a global satellite system for detecting and locating activated distress radio beacons (ELT, EPIRB, PLB). The collected information is forwarded to the appropriate Rescue Coordination Centers (RCC) for search and rescue operations.
The system was established in 1979 through cooperation between Canada, France, the United States, and the former Soviet Union and became operational in 1985. It was formally established as an intergovernmental organization in 1988 through the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme Agreement, signed by Canada, the USA, France, and the Soviet Union (now the Russian Federation).
Including the four parties to the agreement, a total of 43 countries and 2 international organizations are formally associated with the program and actively participate in the management and operation of the Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) satellite system.
The first rescue action supported by the C/S satellite system took place in 1982.
The Republic of Serbia is a full member of the International Cospas-Sarsat Programme, with the status of a User State. Serbia officially joined the program on July 17, 2010, after submitting a letter of accession to the International Civil Aviation Organization on June 17 of the same year.
In Serbia, the Civil Aviation Directorate is responsible for cooperation with the international C/S program, the implementation of obligations arising from membership, and the coordination of all activities related to the system. Cospas-Sarsat members implement, maintain, coordinate, and further develop the satellite program. Since its inception, the system has helped save over 50,000 lives worldwide.