BRANCH SIGNALS - Branch County Amateur Radio Club

V O L U M E 6 , I S S U E 5
BCARC ARES/RACES
ASSISTS WITH CIVIL
AIR PATROL (CAP)
EXERCISE
Page 6
On On the the weekend weekend of of April April 21st 21st and and 22nd, 22nd, the the Branch Branch County County Amateur Amateur Radio Radio Club’s Club’s ARES/RACES ARES/RACES group group participated participated in in a a multi- multi
phased phased exercise exercise with with the the Michigan Michigan Wing Wing of of the the Civil Civil Air Air Patrol.
Patrol.
The The primary primary focus focus of of the the exercise exercise was was Search Search and and Rescue, Rescue, Damage Damage Assessment Assessment and and Communications. Communications. The The CAP CAP had had a a number
number
of of aircraft aircraft in in Coldwater Coldwater for for the the weekend weekend along along with with lots lots of of personnel personnel and and vehicles. vehicles. Of Of primary primary interest interest to to the the hams hams was was the
the
Communications Communications Trailer, Trailer, complete complete with with it’s it’s own own 70 70 foot foot self self extending extending fold-over fold
overover tower. tower. The The gear gear inside inside was was Icom Icom in in various various flaflavors.vors.
In In addition addition to to the the aircraft aircraft and and VHF VHF equipment equipment and and antennas, antennas, there there was was an an HF HF radio radio and and a a folded folded dipole dipole sloper sloper that that anan-
gled gled down down from from the the top top of of the the the tower.
tower.
On On Saturday Saturday morning, morning, Andrew, Andrew, KD8AGZ KD8AGZ and and Mark, Mark, KD8CYV KD8CYV were were sent sent to to the the northern northern portion portion of of the the county county to to let let the the CAP CAP lo- lolocate cate them them by by air air and and send send in in the the ground ground team team to to “rescue” “rescue” them. them. Mark Mark played played the the role role of of an an injured injured person person (see (see photograph…
photograph…
he sure looked like an old drunk to me!) and Andrew played a limping property owner that was was not sure what what what all all the the fuss fuss was
was
all all about. about. It It did did not not take take long long before before the the folks folks in in camouflage camouflage located located our our guys.
guys.
Saturday Saturday afternoon afternoon we we did did some some “busy “busy work” work” and and primarily primarily worked worked on on our our first first sunburns sunburns of of the the season. season. We We were were asked asked to to se- se-
lect lect 6 6 locations locations for for Sunday Sunday morning’s morning’s missing missing person person searches searches and and for for downed downed aircraft aircraft locating locating exercises.
exercises.
On On Sunday Sunday morning morning we we were were asked asked to to send send out out personnel personnel to to 6 6 locations locations around around the the county county to to provide provide practice practice for for the the CAP
CAP
ground ground teams. teams. Three Three of of our our personnel personnel had had Emergency Emergency Locator Locator Transmitters Transmitters (ELT) (ELT) with with them them and and were were sought sought first first by by air air teams
teams
followed followed by by ground ground teams teams with with direction direction finding finding equipment. equipment. Due Due to to a a reduced reduced number number of of ground ground teams teams available, available, two two of of the
the
ELT’s ELT’s were were located. located. The The direction direction finding finding gear gear that that the the CAP CAP has has has seems seems to to work work well. well. This This was was an an an interesting interesting experience experience to to be
be
the the hunted.
hunted.
All All in in all all we we had had a a good good weekend, weekend, and and while while we we certainly certainly were were not not the the center center of of the the weekend’s weekend’s events, events, we we did did have have the the oppor- oppor-
tunity tunity to to contribute. contribute. Participating Participating was was considered considered to to be be a a relationship relationship building building event event and and a a great great opportunity opportunity for for both both organ organiza- organ iza
tions tions to to learn learn about about each each other other for for future future planning. planning. We We have have a a lot lot to to offer offer the the CAP CAP and and likewise likewise we we can can learn learn a a lot lot from from them them. them .
Your Your leadership leadership team team is is looking looking forward forward to to the the next next chance chance we we have have to to “play” “play” with with the the CAP.
CAP.
Many Many thanks thanks to to the the following following individuals individuals for for taking taking the the time time to to join join us: us: KC8YUN, KC8YUN, KD8EPV, KD8EPV, KD8CYV, KD8CYV, KD8EWY, KD8EWY, KC8ZDA,
KC8ZDA,
KD8ATL, KD8ATL, KC8ZFT, KC8ZFT, KC8ZFR, KC8ZFR, NS8T, NS8T, K8BPD, K8BPD, KC8PRM, KC8PRM, KD8AGZ, KD8AGZ, WD8MGF, WD8MGF, and and WB8R.
WB8R.
We We appreciate appreciate everyone’s everyone’s participation participation in in all all ARES/RACES ARES/RACES activities.
activities.
Larry Larry Camp, Camp, WB8R, WB8R, Branch Branch County County Emergency Emergency Coordinator/Races Coordinator/Races Officer
Officer