CDR Erin MacDonald

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EPIRB PLB Alert Issues
CDR Erin MacDonald U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters Office of Search and Rescue
(CG-534) 22 Feb 2008
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Rescue 21 Fielded Capability to date
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USCG Rescue 21 Acceptance Schedule
Western Rivers (Recapitalize current
coverage/capability)
Ohio River ValleyTBD Upper
Mississippi..TBDLower MississippiTBD
? Sector accepted by USCG ? Scheduled for
acceptance through 2008 Tower coverage
issues outstanding acceptance date subject to
change
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EPIRB PLB Alert Issues
CDR Erin MacDonald U.S. Coast Guard
Headquarters Office of Search and Rescue
(CG-534) 22 Feb 2008
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EPIRB PLB Alert Issues

• The SARSAT System
• Termination of 121.5 MHz beacon alerts
• EPIRB False Alert Study
• New Direction Finding Capability
• Outreach and Education Efforts

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Cospas-Sarsat System Overview
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SARSAT Alerts in the US SAR Region
These dots represent 6965 SARSAT alerts between
2001-2006 for distress, non-distress,
undetermined, ceased/ undetermined. 90 of EPIRB
SAR Cases are within 20 NMof shoreline.
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Need for Satellite-Aided SAR

• SAR Satellite-aided Tracking (SARSAT) contributes
  to saving an average of 300 persons in the US and
  1,300 persons around the world every year
• In 2007, SARSAT helped save 353 lives in the U.S.
• Over 22,000 lives have been saved worldwide since
  1982

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121.5 MHz Phase-Out

• International Termination of 121.5/243 MHz
  Satellite Alerting Occurs On
• February 1, 2009!
• U.S. Termination of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs 3 Phases
• Certification of new 121.5 EPIRBs ceased
• Sales and manufacture ceased in 2003
• Operation/Use of 121.5 MHz EPIRBs became
  prohibited on Jan 1, 2007

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406 MHz Beacons

• At the end of 2007, there were approx 191,000
  registered 406 MHz beacons in the U.S.
• 143,000 EPIRBs carried on comm rec vsls
• 18,000 Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)
  carried on aircraft
• 30,000 Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) carried
  by individuals in harsh environments
• 175 Ship Security Alert System beacons.

EPIRB
ELT
PLB
SSAS
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121.5 MHz Phase Out

• FCC regulations state that the operation of A, B,
  AND S EPIRBs (121.5 MHz) are prohibited after
  31DEC06 this does not apply to ELTs or to Man
  Overboard Devices that operate locally on 121.5
  MHz.
• The FCC reg is part of the U.S. phased plan to
  remove all EPIRBs operating on 121.5/243MHz
  frequencies prior to 01FEB09, when satellite
  processing of these distress signals by the
  International Cospas-Sarsat Program will be
  terminated worldwide.
• Note that authorized 406MHz EPIRBs, ELTs, and
  PLBs do contain an internal 121.5MHz homing
  signal, which will continue to be used for close
  range direction finding.
• The phase out means that the all vessels will
  switch to 406 MHz beacons if they havent
  already.

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EPIRB False Alert Abatement Project

• Approx 92 of alerts rcvd fm 406 MHz beacons are
  false
• 171 false to real distress
• CG spent 3.6M on non-distress alerts in FY2007
  (that we know of)
• Intangible costs
• Risk to the lives of SAR crews
• SAR resources not available when needed
• Approx 82 of EPIRBs are registered. Valuable
  time is lost on detective work when an
  unregistered beacon is activated

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Funds Spent on EPIRB False Alerts
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Reasons For False Alerts

• User Error
• Testing
• Installation
• Improper disposal
• Manufacturing/Design
• Compromised magnetic reed switch
• Weathering/corrosion
• Bracket failure
• Electronic malfunctions

ELTs in recycling bin
EPIRB placed backwards in housing
Broken tab on activation button
Broken antenna
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EPIRB False Alert Abatement Project

• What needs to be done?
• Improve detection capabilities
• Identify faulty EPIRBs
• Educate mariners
• Additional standards for designing EPIRBs and
  their brackets by RTCM

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USCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities

• The Problem
• Legacy CG aircraft homing equipment could not DF
  on the 406 MHz signal and would typically lock on
  to the 121.5 MHz signal only in close proximity
  (less than 5 NM).
• The Solution
• The CG is in the process of equipping aircraft
  with 406 MHz DFs.
• This is a huge advantage since a beacons
  121.5MHz signal is only 25 milliwatts, but a
  406MHz data burst is transmitted at 5 watts every
  52 seconds! Also, the 406MHz burst is not easily
  degraded by environmental obstacles like the
  weaker 121.5 signal.

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USCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities
1st Operational Success with 406MHz DF Equipment
12 Jun 05 10 a/c, 18 sorties, 19 search areas,
13,118 sq. nm searched to locate the 34 P/C
Extractor 26 nm off the FL coast. After
thousands of miles of search effort, a C-130H was
launched fm E City, NC w/ a 406MHz DF prototype
on board. While en-route to the assigned datum,
but still 90 NM from scene, the DF locked on to
the EPIRB signal. The C-130H flew directly to
the new intercept solution and located 2
hypothermic survivors clinging to the bottom of
an overturned craft, thus ending a 20 hr
search. An HH-65 helo was vectored to the
position hoisted the 2 survivors to safety.
They had been holding onto the bottom of the
boat for over 24 hrs.
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USCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities

S/V Paradox Voyage from Honduras to Florida HU-25
unable to locate C-130 w/ new 406 DF located
220nm SW of Tampa, FL
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USCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities
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USCG 406 MHz DF Capabilities
Shore-Side Direction Finding--Rescue 21

• On 18 Dec 2007, approval was given to add 406MHz
  detection homing capability to all coastal VHF
  comms towers (the Rescue 21 system).
• This capability is essential since the majority
  of maritime SAR cases occur within 20 NM of the
  shore

406MHz DF on Cutters and Boats

• The USCG is currently considering adding 406 MHz
  DF capability to small boats and cutters due to
  the proven superiority of this direction finding
  technology.
• This upgrade will directly contribute to the
  saving of lives as well as significant search /
  cost savings when the CG can quickly isolate
  activated beacons in harbors and marinas.

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The Way Ahead

• Education and Outreach on Beacon Issues
• CG Boarding Officers, Inspectors, Examiners
• Boating organizations
• Maritime Community
• Beacon Registration
• Work w/ NOAA to monitor registration rates
• Public education on importance of beacon
  registration
• Improvements to Beacon Standards
• Work w/ RTCM (manufacturers and govt agencies)
  to improve beacon and bracket standards

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How the US Power Squadron Can Help the CG SAR
Program

• EDUCATION and OBSERVATION
• Does boat owner/operator have a 406MHz EPIRB or
  PLB?
• If a 121.5MHz EPIRB is found, educate on reasons
  to replace (signal from 121.5 will not alert
  rescue personnel after 1Feb09 and 121.5 EPIRBs
  are prohibited by U.S. law).
• Does the EPIRB or PLB have a current
  registration?
• Assist owner with beacon registration by
  providing registration form or website address.
  www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov
• Is EPIRB properly mounted and in good condition?
• Ensure bracket will prevent false activation
• Report any significant beacon issues to CG Office
  of SAR.

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Its Not Just About Boaters!

• 16 FEB 2008
• PLB Rescue
• British National
• 75 mi NW of Puerto Plata, DR
• HH-60 Recovery
• PLB Registered in New Zealand

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EPIRB PLB Alert Issues
Any Questions???
U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters Office of Search
and Rescue (CG-534) CDR Erin MacDonald
LCDR Kathy Niles erin.d.macdonald_at_uscg.mil
or katherine.m.niles_at_uscg.mil [phone]
[phone]
Visit Our Website! http//www.uscg.mil/hq/g-o/g-op
r/g-opr.htm