EPIRBs

[laserman]

This is a report from Sweden on the visibility of "Rescue Laser Flare". With one of these I would feel much better treading water while waiting for a response from my Cell Phone, PLB or EPIRB. Passing ships, boats and aircraft do not hear your EPIRB, think about it.

A large amount of cargo ships,tankers, and ferries that got stuck by the Baltic thick ice, 37 ships at total,
in a very short time. The SAR team had to stay extra alert due to emergency situation that could have happened. The test was to confirm the visibility range of the Rescue Laser flares and for the pilots to test and also for the pilots to see how they would experience the flare at range. Specially the green one according to the ongoing debate here! Etc etc. Also for us to be able to refer to the SAR crew, their opinion and this test; for those who puts these flares in question etc.The take of took place at: 05:40 PM.Out door temp at take of: 2 degrees C below 0.Wind speed at take of: 2m/s. Flighweather at scene: Flight weather Clear. Some minor clouds at high altitude. No moon. Flight altitude during flight to test scene. 2000 feet. Outdoor temp at test scene: 5degrees C below 0. Wind speed at test scene: 13,9m/s Flight weather at test scene: Flight weather Clear. Some minor clouds at high altitude. No moon.Wired down the SAR crew surface swimmer to the Hover Craft on the Baltic ice. (I wanted to stay aboard the helicopter to see the flares from far) Carefully instructed him of how to manage the flares at test from deck of the Hover Craft. Turned the helicopter at northerly course and sat of at 1750 feet at 140 knots. Flew up to 24 nm GPS. Turned the heli towards the lasers hovering at 1500 feet. Radio contact all the way with the Hover Craft. Both green and red flare crystal clear at range with naked human eye! Red flare slightly weaker though; however it was quite a bit longer than expected from the red flare!! (only used Red Flare Magnum for red at this test) Turned heli back on course at north again and sat of at 1750 feet 140 knots again At range 31,5 nm (nautical miles); about 58,4 km. Same procedure as before: down to 1500 feet and hovering towards the flares. AND - we are very pleased to confirm to you that the green laser was totally strong crystal and brightly clear for the naked eye - no problem to see at all! Everyone was quite impressed and a bit surprised! More over surprisingly was that we could also see the red flare quite good however much weaken in comparative to the green - that was totally amazing. We also could at this point strongly assume that the green flare would with no doubt been able to be seen by naked human eye - at far longer range at these conditions. Pilots guessed even up to somewhere between 80 to 100 km.By that we stopped test at this time having reached the described maximum visibility range for both lasers even longer for both of them! At flight back towards the Hover Craft the lasers were commanded to be turned on for the heli pilots and crew to see how they would experience the lasers flying right towards them and having them in their eye all the way through. They could then confirm no harmfulness according to blinding or likewise and nothing else strange for that matter! Just very effective for the cause! A green or red bright flash. Nothing else strange. Wiring up the crew surface swimmer to heli. Hover Craft set of to base again and we were back to our base at flight end about 07:25 PM. Same weather conditions as at takeoff. Still I think this does not stop here. They will surely go on testing the green lasers by them selves at far longer range. I would
not be surprised if they should come back to us some day soon and say that the green laser could be seen from Finland territory at specific altitude. These guys are really something and they will not stop. This heli is a: Top modern SIKORSKY S-76 C+. Special equipped

[dolphinfrenzi]

Tbone123 is correct and that is EXACTLY what ACR told me when I bought my first one, the one I just gave weekender. I purchased a new one just because my battery expired but also because those that know me know I have a knack and love for marine electronics and new toys. I ALWAYS on EVERY trip go over safety with everyone on my boat no matter how many times they have been on it. I have even let my newphew give my spill since he has heard it so many times. And one main rule is DO NOT LEAVE THE BOAT with out the big yellow "thing" EPIRB to turn it on you flip the switch all the way over. and do not let go of it or tie it to your life jacket. I have said it once I have said it 1000 times. But that is my boat and glad you have one weekender. I have even taken mine on boats that did not have them. As far as flares, during my captains course my instructor made a good point even though the date runs out do not throw them away, so now I have a pelican box that has all the old ones in it in addition to all my up to date flare guns, smoke, parachutes etc.... and I try and use solas because of the birghtness. Trust me I have enough to make it look like the dayum 4th of July. My opinion there is NO COST involved when it comes to safety that is why I do not mind spending the $ on safety. Because a life is PRICELESS!