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AFRCC, CAP team up to support Sun ‘n Fun 2008 aviators
Fla. Wing members prepared for emergencies
April 09, 2008
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Photo by Mike Strickler |
Maj. George Barker of Florida Wing Headquarters uses a radio in the Civil Air Patrol communications at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport, site of Sun 'n Fun 2008. The Air Force Rescue Coordination Center works with CAP at major aviation events to prepare to respond to emergencies.
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Photo by Mike Strickler |
| Capt. Len Goellner of Florida Wing Headquarters waits in a Civil Air Patrol Cessna 182-T at Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport, where the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center and CAP have positioned aircraft and airmen to provide search and rescue services if needed at Sun 'n Fun 2008. |
Brooke Davis
1st Air Force Public Affairs
FLORIDA -- First Air Force units have taken measures to help speed search and rescue assistance to pilots flying to Lakesland for the 2008 Sun ‘n Fun fly-in, including opening a precautionary mission April 6 to enhance Civil Air Patrol members' ability to respond to emergency locator transmissions or missing aircraft that may require search and rescue services.
Staff Sgt. Jessica Barton, AFRCC search and rescue coordinator, said the center works with CAP "early during a major aviation event like Sun ‘n Fun, so they can preposition pilots and aircraft to be ready to respond in case an incident occurs."
While the 1st Air Force-centric team has not been called on so far, in light of the experiences of previous years they will continue to standby to assist through April 13, when Sun ‘n Fun 2008 concludes.
The AFRCC and CAP coordinated last April 17, 2007, in response to three missing aircraft at Sun ‘n Fun 2007. Two of the missing aircraft were located and determined to be nondistress-related. The third crashed in a parking lot adjacent to the Lakeland-Linder Regional Airport. Local authorities responded, and the pilot survived.
The previous day, two men died when their experimental aircraft crash just short of the runway at Lakeland. Local authorities brought the situation under control.
In 2007, the AFRCC -- located at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. -- responded to 7,322 incidents during which 468 lives were saved, according to records.
“As far as who responds to the search and rescue, CAP does roughly 90 percent of our searches,” said Capt. Bob Nichols, watch supervisor for AFRCC.
The AFRCC and CAP members are also part of a 1st Air Force team attending Sun ‘n Fun 2008 to meet with general aviation pilots to discuss air defense and the enforcement of Federal Aviation Administration-imposed temporary flight restricted and air defense identification zones in the U.S. First Air Force members will also educate pilots on intercept procedures and encourage them to consistently check Notices to Airmen, as well as discuss issues at large with the general aviation audience.
“Most of the team are private pilots and share the same interests and concerns in general aviation,” said Mike Strickler, 1st Air Force public affairs operations officer, “so we are able to convey the duties we carry out in a common language of aviation.”
Right now, those issues include registering 406 MHz Emergency Beacons, filing and closing flight plans and checking Notices to Airmen for Temporary Flight Restrictions.
Nichols said satellites will stop monitoring 121.5 frequencies Feb. 1, 2009, so it’s important for pilots to invest in 406 MHz beacons and register them with the U.S. 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database system at NOAA.
“When pilots register their 406 ELTs it reduces the amount of time we need to respond to an emergency transmission, and having registered emergency contact information for the ELT owner makes it easier for us to locate the aircraft and assist pilots and passengers if needed,” he said.
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