Second 406 MHz GPS Enabled Emergency Beacon Evaluation Sponsors

Second 406 MHz GPS Enabled
Emergency Beacon Evaluation
Sponsors

The conduct of this evaluation required considerable financial and equipment resources beyond that normally available to the Equipped To Survive Foundation. Sponsorship for the evaluation was solicited, both of financial assistance and of gifts in kind.

The two primary outside financial sponsors were:

BoatU.S. Foundation for Boating Safety & Clean Water (Alexandria, Virginia, USA), a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that creates education and outreach campaigns, researches issues and products, and helps boaters and user groups learn specific actions they can take to be safer and better stewards of the environment while boating.

West Marine (Watsonville, California, USA), a major U.S. headquartered, publicly traded marine chandlery chain and purveyor of marine safety equipment, both wholesale and retail. In addition, West Marine hosted the testing logistics out of their headquarters building, provided added logistical support, provided boats and equipment necessary for the marine testing, and assigned employees to assist for the duration of the testing, as well as additional support both prior to and after the actual field testing.

Additional assistance was provided by:

Landfall Navigation (Stamford, Connecticut, USA) provided McMurdo test beacons from their warehouse and store shelves and sent an independent observer to the evaluation.

Mr. Carl Ruhne (Santa Cruz, California, USA) donated the use of Willow, a Cal 2-46 ketch, as the “mother ship” for the maritime testing, with Carl captaining the Willow for our time onboard.

Mr. Chuck Hawley (Santa Cruz, California, USA) donated the use of his 21 ft. RIB

Mr. Bob Simpkins (Santa Cruz, California, USA) donated the use of his 22 ft. RIB

Mr. Peter Forey of Sartech Engineering Ltd. (Surrey, United Kingdom) provided the use of two TSR406 406 MHz beacon receivers and attended the evaluation as the guest of ETS Foundation, assisting in the conduct of the evaluation.

Mr. George Lariviere of Whiffletree Corporation (Marshfield, Massachusetts, USA) donated the use of two WS Technologies BT100A 406 Beacon Testers, and attended the evaluation as a guest of ETS Foundation to operate the test sets.

Mr. Robert Dubner of Dubner International, Inc. (Westwood, New Jersey, USA) wrote and donated a computer program to seamlessly translate and capture the data received by the Sartech TSR406 receivers GPS receivers and also provided donated database engineering and analysis services for the data generated by the field testing.

EMS Technologies Emergency Management Products Group (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada) provided near real-time access to the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite downlink.

Mr. David Shuler of David J. Shuler Yacht Photography (San Diego, California, USA - yachtphotography@hotmail.com) donated his professional photography services to document the evaluation.

Mr. Rick Lindstrom (Hayward, California, USA) donated his professional videography services to document the evaluation.

The Protection and Survival Laboratory FAA Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA) monitored these activities in furtherance of their mission to enhance safety and survival for transport aviation.

Iridium Satellite, LLC (Arlington, Virginia, USA) donated the use of an Iridium satellite phone and free airtime so that communications could be maintained when out of range of cellular phone service.

Roadrunner Fire & Safety Equipment (Glendale, Arizona, USA) donated hose and fittings for use with our water pump to generate simulated rainfall.

Stearns, Inc. (Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, USA) donated insulated waterproof waders for use in wading down a creek to place beacons in an otherwise inaccessible gorge.

Equipped To Survive Foundation volunteers who donated their time and considerable efforts:

Mr. Dave Foster
Mr. Russ Tatro
Mr. Steve White
Mr. Dave Pulver

The Equipped To Survive Foundation also appreciates the cooperation and assistance provided by:

NOAA
U.S. Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

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Publisher and Editor: Doug Ritter
Email: Doug Ritter
URL: http://www.equipped.org/406_beacon_test2_sponsors.htm
First Published: November 11, 2005
Revision: 01 November 25, 2005

Email to: info@pulvertech.com