USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010 False Alerts

1. USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010False Alerts What did you enter in IHDB? Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

2. Why do we care aboutEPIRB False Alerts? • 96% EPIRB Alerts are false. • 85% Resolved by CC with registration and good detective work. • ~$4 million in A/C time and fuel on EPIRB false alerts (2009). • Projected increase in EPIRB population will bring increase in number of false alerts. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

3. EPIRB OperationalRequirements • Positive visual and/or audible indication that EPIRB is activated (strobe light flashing). • Easily manually deployed, activate, and deactivated, and transferred to survival craft. • Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

4. Prevention of Inadvertent Activation • Must be fitted with means to prevent inadvertent activation and deactivation. • Not automatically activate when water washes over while in bracket. • Most EPIRBs use bracket with magnet to disable activation circuit. • EPIRB held securely in bracket when bumped or vibrated. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

5. EPIRB Operational Requirements Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment. 69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

6. SAR False Alert Rate Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

7. 406 MHz Beacon False Alert Rate Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

8. Classification of COSPAS-SARSAT Alerts Alerts Received By SAR Authorities False Alerts Distress Alerts Undetermined Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

9. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Mishandling • Beacon Malfunction • Mounting Failure • Environmental Conditions • Unknown Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

10. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Mishandling • Installation procedures / location • Exposed to sea action or ship’s work, equipment struck beacon, improperly placing beacon in bracket. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

11. EPIRB Mounted Backward Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

12. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Mishandling • Installation • Testing and maintenance • Failure to follow proper testing procedures • Repair by owner or service center causing activation. • Improper removal from bracket while testing, or cleaning. • Beacon shipped while armed and activated. • Beacon stored improperly Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

13. EPIRB Assembled Backward Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

14. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Mishandling • Mishandling – Installation procedures / location • Mishandling – Testing and maintenance • Improper use • Illegal activation: hoax, vandalism, theft • Accidental activation: reported, NFI • Demonstrated / test not co-ordinated. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

15. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Mishandling • Mishandling – Installation procedures / location • Mishandling – Testing and maintenance • Improper use • Improper disposal of beacon • Beacon discarded as trash, abandoned. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

16. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Malfunction • Switch • Switch broken Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

17. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Malfunction • Switch • Water Ingress • Water leakage due to manufacturing defect, cracked casing, faulty seal. • Not exterior of beacon getting wet. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

18. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Malfunction • Switch • Water Ingress • Transmitting distress signal while in test position. • Transmitted non-inverted frame Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

19. IHDB False Alert Reason • Beacon Malfunction • Switch • Water Ingress • Transmitting distress signal while in test position. • Electronics malfunction • Non-GPS electronics malfunction Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

20. IHDB False Alert Reason • Mounting Failure 69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

21. IHDB False Alert Reason • Mounting Failure • Bracket • Strap or bracket failure • Beacon fell out of bracket • Failure of bracket to control the water activation function (magnet missing, or beacon loose) 69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

22. Not Just a US Problem!! Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

23. IHDB False Alert Reason • Mounting Failure • Bracket • Mounting Release • Premature release of hydrostatic realease. 69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

24. IHDB False Alert Reason • Mounting Failure • Bracket • Mounting Release • Magnet • Switch magnet not effective or missing. 69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

25. IHDB False Alert Reason • Environment Conditions • Extreme Weather conditions • Hurricane / cyclone conditions, vsl knocked down, heavy seas, ice build-up. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

26. False Alert ELT Environmental Conditions? YES Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

27. False Alert EPIRB Environmental Conditions? NO Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS

28. IHDB False Alert Reason • Unknown • Reason Unknown (Confirmed Beacon False Alert) • No feedback on why activated • Investigation in to beacon activation cause was inconclusive. Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS