Flotilla Commander: Larry Owens
Flotilla meeting 3rd Thursday of every month!
***** Auxiliarists - ATTENTION *****
To: ALAUX
From: CHDIRAUX
Subj: DISCONTINUATION OF BOATING SAFETY HOTLINE -011/08
**********************************************
1. Coast Guard support of the toll-free Boating Safety Hotline number
1-800-368-5647 has been discontinued. However, this hotline number is still
displayed in many boating safety materials used and distributed by the Coast
Guard Auxiliary. It is displayed in approximately 2.5 million separate
boating safety items available from the Auxiliary National Supply Center
(ANSC), namely the following types of materials:
Boat Responsibly (You're-In-Command) pamphlets
Carbon Monoxide (You're-In-Command) pamphlets
GDMSS Recreational Boating pamphlets
Boating Fun (Coastie) books
Safe Boating Tip pamphlets
Solid Waste/Debris pamphlets
Storm Water Runoff pamphlets
Good Mate training manuals
Vessel Safety Check (ANSC-7012) forms (back, bottom right corner)
Federal Requirements and Safety Tips booklets (back of prior-year versions)
VSC Manual (COMDTINST M16796.8, pages 5 / 34 / 35 / 38)
RBS-VP Manual (COMDTINST M16796.3, pages 5 / 14)
2. ANSC has begun to line out/obliterate the number wherever it appears in these materials. However, it will not be able to do so for all of them. Auxiliarists must therefore review all boating safety materials received from ANSC and ensure that this hotline number is thoroughly lined out/obliterated prior to use for training or distribution to the public. If found to be retained for reference by an individual, Auxiliarists should point out that the Boating Safety Hotline number has been discontinued.
3. Recognizing that Auxiliarists may already have some stocks of these materials on personal hand for intended future use, and in the interest of maximizing their value, the same attention must be paid to ensure that the number is thoroughly lined out/obliterated prior to using them.
4. Auxiliary vessel examiners shall pay particular attention to ensure that the Boating Safety Hotline number on ANSC-7012 Vessel Safety Check forms is thoroughly lined out/obliterated prior to presenting them to vessel owners/operators at the conclusion of vessel safety checks. Similarly, Auxiliary public education instructors shall pay particular attention to ensure that the number is thoroughly lined out/obliterated in any boating safety course materials prior to provision to the public.
5. Some stocks of these materials at ANSC may last about two more years. Auxiliarists should anticipate having to continue this action into 2010.
COMMUNICATIONS UPDATE:
Quoting Bill Scholz, DVC-OT
Chief, Telecommunications Division
NARROW BAND RADIOS
The CG Auxiliary is, FOR VHF AUXNET RADIOS, subject to the standards for "narrow band" radios that are codified in the FCC Regulations, Part 80, which is for marine radios and Part 90, which is for commercial radios. NOTE that these are somewhat less stringent than the NTIA standards, but they have the major advantage of being documented in the sense that if you are considering a particular radio, you can go to a web site and check to see if that radio meets these standards. In "bureaucratic speak", it's called being "certificated". I and my boss in the Auxiliary, met with the Spectrum Management group at CG headquarters and successfully made the case to them that the NTIA standards were way beyond what was necessary for the CGAUX and would impose a serious economic burden on our members. They took our position to the NTIA and reached an agreement that we would be allowed to use radios that met the FCC standards.
So what do I (USCGAux) do?
FIRST, If you are using a "modified" ham radio for AUXNET, that radio must be replaced on or before 31 DEC 07.
SECOND, our repeaters must be either replaced or "narrow banded" on or before 31 DEC 07. (some repeaters have kits available to them for narrow band "upgrades")
THIRD, Marine VHF radios do NOT require any change.
FOURTH, after 31 DEC 2007, new, or re-inspected facilities will have to list an FCC Part 80 or FCC Part 90 certificated radio for AUXNET in order to be approved as a facility.
FIFTH, At the moment, there are several radios from each of three manufacturers which will meet the FCC standards. For a handheld radio, expect to pay around $200 to $250. For a "mobile" radio (used either as a mobile or a fixed base radio) expect to spend around $300 to $350.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Echo Echo, OVER.
Subject: Frequencies for D11 Net and WC Regional Net on 23/24 JUNE
All,
Here is the frequency plan for the D11 net and for the WC (PACAREA) net on
the 23rd and 24th of June in conjunction with the Field Deployed Station
Exercise.
"SCHEDULE FOR HF FIELD DEPLOYED STATIONS -- released on 04 JUN 07".
NET TIME Primary/Secondary
D11 231900Z B5D/C6B
WC(PACAREA) 232100Z C6B/E9A
D11 240200Z B5D/A2C
WC(PACAREA) 240230Z C6B/E10C
D11 241200Z B5D/C6B
WC(PACAREA) 241230Z C6B/E9A
You are encouraged, even if you are not involved with a field deployment to
check into these nets from your permanent station location.
/r,
Bill Scholz, DVC-OT
Chief, Telecommunications Division
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Attention:
The USCG is changing the channels they will monitor 24/7 for initial distress and safety comms. The new ones and time details are given at:
http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/marcomms/cgcomms/call.htm
The new ones are those commonly referred to as 4A, 6A, 8A, and 12A. Frequencies are:
4A = 4125 kHz
6A = 6215 kHz
8A = 8291 kHz
12A = 12290 kHz
These are all simplex channels and replace the formerly used duplex channels. 2182 kHz will of course continue to be monitored.
regards,
Bill Scholz, USCGAUX
* * * Also:
LIFE JACKET ALERT: Non-Serviceable and Substandard Type 1 Unicellular Plastic Foam Life
Preservers
Recently during several annual inspections of small passenger vessels, Coast
Guard Marine Inspectors discovered a number of problems with Personal
Flotation Devices (PFDs) manufactured by Atlantic-Pacific Manufacturing Co.
(APCO). APCO formerly produced various types of PFDs including several sizes
of unicellular plastic foam life preservers and is currently out of business. PFDs from other manufacturers
could have similar problems.
A close inspection revealed:
* varying body strap lengths, sometimes less than 54" from the tip of the
snap hook to the tip of the D-ring, resulting in a very tight fitting adult
sized PFD on average sized crewmember,
* non-resilient and brittle condition of the PFD flotation foam,
* differences in foam volumes and physical size for the same model of PFD
and,
* inaccurate markings, incorrect Q-spec numbers (106.055 vs. 160.055),
misspelled words, and incorrect narratives.
Additionally, follow-up buoyancy tests of suspect PFDs performed by the Marine Inspectors resulted in numerous failures. All PFDS that had failed were condemned and each exhibited noticeable shrinkage and compression. Many of these PFDs have been in use since the 1970's and may have reached the end of their service life.
Heat and Hydration:
For information on your place in the sun and protection from heat and
dehydration, read Heat and Hydration. Extreme heat conditions are impacting
upon large areas of the country, and there is an increased potential for
heat related illnesses and dehydration. You may believe that you can
tolerate heat. However, when the weather is so warm and the heat index
rises to the levels as high as they have been occurring recently and are
expected to continue, you should take measures to avoid the heat and
compensate for increased fluid loss. Dehydration can occur insidiously.
When you realize you are thirsty, you are already behind in your drinking
and becoming dehydrated. It may be hard to catch up on your fluids that
same day. So think ahead, avoid the heat if possible, and stay hydrated.
Next Flotilla Meeting Agenda:
1900 - Call to order / Pledge of Allegiance
Introduction of visitors
Minutes of previous meeting
Flotilla Commander's report of Division meeting
VFC takes staff reports
Old Business
New Business
Training session
