The purpose of this chapter is to adopt rules pertaining to the use, classes, scope, conditions of duty and training of emergency workers involved in air search and rescue or air disaster relief missions.

Any emergency situation most likely requires multiagency contact and coordination. To insure a timely and effective response nothing in this chapter is intended to preclude local law enforcement from taking immediate and constructive action. The aviation division will insure that each county sheriff's department is briefed on potential emergencies underway in their jurisdiction.

The intent of these rules is to clearly delineate the responsibilities of authorized officials and emergency workers before, during, and after emergencies, disasters, and other specific missions conducted under the authority of the Washington state department of transportation, aviation division.