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EPIRB’s How They Work & DF-430 On the C-130H

EPIRB’s How They Work & DF-430 On the C-130H. January 2010. How the System Works. LEOSAR & GEOSAR Satellites. Types of Beacons. Maritime Distress Beacon. EPIRB s 406 MHz (w/ 121.5 homer) Automatic activation when out of bracket and wet. Floats upright to transmit Strobe light

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EPIRB’s How They Work & DF-430 On the C-130H

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  1. EPIRB’sHow They Work&DF-430On the C-130H January 2010

  2. How the System Works L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  3. LEOSAR & GEOSAR Satellites L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  4. Types of Beacons Maritime Distress Beacon • EPIRBs 406 MHz (w/ 121.5 homer) Automatic activation when out of bracket and wet. Floats upright to transmit Strobe light Min 48 hour transmit Some GPS enabled L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  5. Types of Beacons Distress Beacon for Personal Use (Land Rescue) • PLBs 406 MHz (w/ 121.5 homer) Manual activation Carried on persons May or may not float Held out of water to transmit NO Strobe light required Min 24 hour transmit Some GPS Enabled L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  6. Types of Beacons Aviation Distress Beacon • ELTs Transmit on 121.5 (most) or 406 MHz Integrated 121.5 MHzhomer Crash activation Floats upright to transmit No Strobe light Min 48 hour transmit L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  7. EPIRB • Maritime Satellite • Emergency • Position-Indicating • RadioBeacon L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  8. EPIRB Operational Requirements • EPIRB 406 MHz Signal - 5 Watts • Short bursts at approximately 50 second intervals (varies between 47.5 and 52.5 s), with a transmission time of 440 ms or 520 ms. • Transmits in the 406.0 to 406.1 MHz band. • Transmission consists: • unmodulated carrier, for 160 ms, • short synchronization signal, signal inverted for test, • Digital message that provides stored information (identification, nationality, type of user), • Optionally, current information like, type of emergency and estimated location. Designed to prevent inadvertent activation L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  9. Hex ID • EPIRB’s identification, when decoded into its 15 character hexadecimal representation, which is the EPIRB’s unique identifier number. • http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/Beacons/decode.htm • Normally readout in 3 groups of 5 characters. Example: ABCDE 12345 ABCDE L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  10. Battery Replacement • Required at Expiration date or if EPIRB activated for any reason besides test. • Useful Life = power for all required testing + 48 hrs operation. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  11. EPIRB Operational Requirements • 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. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  12. EPIRB Control • Ready – EPIRB should be ON in the water unless in its bracket. Sometimes labeled “OFF”. • ON – EPIRB operates regardless of location or orientation. Unconditional “ON” position. (Requires two physical actions) • Test – Self-test Function. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  13. 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. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  14. EPIRB Deactivation • Remove beacon from water and dry off or replace in bracket • Move switch to OFF or Ready position • If the above failed then: • Remove cover and disconnect battery L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  15. EPIRB Activation • How • By definition it transmits: • out of bracket and wet, • by manual switch, in or out of bracket, Or • Self test L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  16. EPIRB Activation • What Happens; • Beacon starts transmitting its Unique Hex ID in a 406 MHz digital message, • 121.5 MHz homer with an audible warble, • Strobe Light starts flashing. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  17. Rockwell Collins DF-430

  18. DF-430 Bearings • Bearing are relative • (Heads up, not compass). • Bearing Accuracy – less than 3° • Bearing Stability - +/- 5° (means less needle swing, a more stable point) • Bearing Range – continuous 360° L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  19. Bearing Inhibit • Bearing Inhibit – during on-board transmission, the bearing computation is frozen (DF LOCK is displayed during on-board transmissions) L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  20. SLDMBs • ARGOS (401.650) is the frequency for your SLDMB. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  21. DF Bearing Pointer • DF pointer only updates on receipt of next 406 MHz EPIRB burst transmission. • Will seem jerky. • EPIRB transmission only every ~50 sec. • Burst transmission only half sec duration. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  22. Figure-of-Merit (FOM) Values • DF-430 will display a FOM value in range of 0-255. • Practical application is as a secondary level of confidence the aircraft is tracking towards target. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  23. 406 MHz Detection Range L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  24. Operational Considerations • Transit in SAR Scan, unless tasking indicates a need to monitor a tactical freq. • Greatest range/ earliest detection opportunity at higher altitudes. • If a 406 signal is detected, DF needle will point. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  25. 406 Beacon Tests • Every 406 MHz Beacon is supposed to be tested (using the self-test function) once every month. • Each test transmits one live 406 burst. • Wait at least two bursts before you react to a 406 Det. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  26. EPIRB Prosecution What Does the CC/RCC do with a 406 Alert?

  27. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB • 1. RCC or RSC on receipt of unlocated registered 406 EPIRB: • a. Place case in the DISTRESS phase. • b. Assume SMC. • c. Determine status of vessel from contact number listed, available databases, etc. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  28. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 2. If vessel is determined to be safe underway or in port: • a. Close case. A case will be claimed for all 406 alerts prosecuted L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  29. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 3. If vessel is underway and cannot be contacted: • a. Issue UMIB for Home Port and general area in which vessel is believed to be operating. • b. Contact AMVER Ships and request callouts for the vessel. • c. Contact USMCC and request satellite forecast for the geographic area. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  30. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 3. If vessel is underway and cannot be contacted: • d. If the next forecast satellite pass does not locate the beacon consider sending an SRU to the area to attempt to hail the vessel or DF on 406/121.5MHZ homing signal. Continue investigating to try to determine last known position/probable track of vessel for additional searches. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  31. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 3. If vessel is underway and cannot be contacted: • e. If vessel cannot be located after reasonable search is conducted, search will be suspended. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  32. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 4. If SRU is tasked to search for vessel: • a. Proceed to LKP/tasked search area. Make callouts for vessel and attempt to DF homing beacon on 406/121.5MHZ. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  33. Registered/Unlocated 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 4. If SRU is tasked to search for vessel: • b. If signal cannot be DF’d once on scene and unless otherwise tasked, aircraft shall complete a VS search at radius of 12NM. Vessels shall complete the same search at 3NM. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  34. “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB • 1. RCC or RSC on receipt “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB: • a. Place case in the DISTRESS phase. • b. Assumed SMC. • c. Determine status of vessel from contact number listed (if registered), available databases, etc. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  35. “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 2. RCC or RSC if vessel is determined to be safe/underway or in port: • a. Close case. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  36. “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 3. RCC or RSC if vessel is underway and cannot be contacted: • a. Issue UMIB for general area in which vessel is believed to be operating. • b. Contact AMVER ships in vicinity and request callouts for vessel. • c. Dispatch SRU to located vessel and determine status. SRU’s should be tasked to DF on the signal. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  37. “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 3. RCC or RSC if vessel is underway and cannot be contacted: • d. If vessel cannot be located after reasonable search is conducted, search will be suspended. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  38. “A” solution located 406MHZ EPIRB (cont) • 4. SRU if tasked to search for vessel: • a. Proceed to position/tasked search area. Make callouts for vessel and attempt to DF homing beacon on 406/121.5MHZ. • b. If a signal cannot be DF’d once on scene and unless otherwise tasked, aircraft shall complete a VS search at radius of 12NM. Vessels shall complete the same search at 3NM. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  39. “B” solution with alert probability less than or equal to 20% 1. RCC or RSC on receipt “B” solution with probability less than or equal to 20%: • Place case in the UNCERTAINTY phase. • Assume SMC. • Coordinate investigation with RCC responsible for “A” solution. If investigation determines “B” solution is the likely position, respond in same manner as an “A” solution. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  40. “B” solution with alert probability greater than 20% • 1. RCC or RSC on receipt “B” solution with probability greater than 20%: • a. Place case in the ALERT phase. • b. Assumed SMC. • c. Coordinate investigation with RCC responsible for “A” solution. If investigation determines “B” solution is the likely position, respond in same manner as an “A” solution. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  41. Unregistered/Unlocated EPIRB alerts: • 1. RCC or RSC investigate identity of vessel through vessel data bases. • 2. RCC or RSC contact RCC country of vessel registered and attempt to determine vessel’s status. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  42. False Alerts

  43. False Alerts • If a false alert is determined upon arrival on-scene complete the following actions: • Have vessel de-activate the beacon. • Have vessel provide the beacon “HexID” • Have vessel provide the reason beacon alerted and include in MISLE Reporting. • Advise vessel that EPIRB and bracket require servicing and battery replacement. • Relay to tasking authority as required. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  44. Operator Induced False Alerts • 10% were Testing without following manufactures instructions, or other deliberate non-emergency activations • 6% were EPIRBs deliberately taken out of bracket and naked of any control of the wet sensor. L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  45. EPIRB False Alerts 69% Caused by Failure of “The bracket decoupling function” to control the EPIRB • Manufactures, makes and models in the US registration data base were proportionally represented by False Alerts L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  46. Why didn’t I get a 406 Detection orHow Long do False Alerts Last? L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

  47. Questions? (305) 415 6868 Larry.T.Yarbrough@uscg.mil L Yarbrough/D7 CFVS

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