uscg/noaa sarsat conference 2010 false alerts
DESCRIPTION
USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010 False Alerts. What did you enter in IHDB?. Why do we care about EPIRB 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). - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
USCG/NOAA SARSAT CONFERENCE 2010
False Alerts
What did you enter in IHDB?
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
EPIRB Operational Requirements
Not be activated or deactivated by conditions encountered in maritime environment.
69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.
SAR False Alert Rate
Beacon Type 406 MHz EPIRBs
All 406 MHz Beacons
2004 94.9% 95.8%
2005 - 96.0%
2006 - 97.1%
2007 94.3% 95.0%
2008 93.9% 96.0%
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
406 MHz Beacon False Alert Rate
Beacon Types
EPIRBs ELTs PLBs All Types
2004 2.2%(1) 9.2%(1) 2.1%(1) 2.1%(2)
2005 1.8%* 6.6% 0.5%* 1.6%
2006 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%
2007 1.5% 8.2% 0.6% 2.1%
2008 1.2% 8.0% 0.9% 2.0%
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
Classification of COSPAS-SARSAT Alerts
Alerts Received By SAR Authorities
False Alerts
Distress Alerts
Undetermined
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Beacon Mishandling
• Beacon Malfunction
• Mounting Failure
• Environmental Conditions
• Unknown
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
EPIRB Mounted Backward
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
EPIRB Assembled Backward
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Beacon Malfunction– Switch
• Switch broken
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test
position.• Transmitted non-inverted frame
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Beacon Malfunction– Switch– Water Ingress– Transmitting distress signal while in test
position.– Electronics malfunction
• Non-GPS electronics malfunction
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Mounting Failure
69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
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.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
Not Just a US Problem!!
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release
• Premature release of hydrostatic realease.
69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Mounting Failure– Bracket– Mounting Release– Magnet
• Switch magnet not effective or missing.
69% Of False Alerts Mounting Failure.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Environment Conditions– Extreme Weather conditions
• Hurricane / cyclone conditions, vsl knocked down, heavy seas, ice build-up.
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
False Alert ELT Environmental Conditions?
YES
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
False Alert EPIRB Environmental Conditions?
NO
Feb 2010 Beth Creamer, NOAA SARSAT Larry Yarbrough, D7 CFVS
IHDB False Alert Reason
• Unknown– Reason Unknown (Confirmed Beacon False
Alert)• No feedback on why activated• Investigation in to beacon activation cause was
inconclusive.