Wed, Jun 30, 2010
Notification Required If Oil Platforms With Weather Reporting
Equipment Are Evacuated
With hurricane Alex in the Gulf of Mexico at Category 1
strength, the FAA is cautioning oil platform operators that have
FAA Air Traffic Control (ATC) Equipment that they have
responsibilities to the ATC system.
Platforms affected are those that have a Radio Communication Air
Ground (RCAG) Facility, Automated Weather Observation System
(AWOS), and/or Surveillance (ADS-B) Ground Station installed on it
to support aviation safety and service in the Gulf of Mexico. While
no action is required by platform personnel to prepare this
Equipment for platform evacuation or impending severe weather, the
FAA needs to know if the platform is being evacuated.
If such platforms are totally evacuated and the FAA is not
aware, they say it could have severe consequences for aviation
safety. The emergency generator or other back-power source that
supports ATC Equipment could run out of fuel, thus rendering it and
the telecommunications capability “out of service.” If,
however, the FAA knows that the platform is being evacuated, then
it can take action to alert the aviation community in the affected
area(s) without compromising aviation safety.
That being said, the FAA recommends:
- For platforms that have ATC equipment installed, if the
platform will be evacuated, please call the FAA’s 24-hour Mid
States Operations Center (MOCC) prior to evacuation at 800-322-
8879; provide platform location and FAA 3-letter identifier (in
table below). Also, please call ITT’s Network Operations
Center (NOC) at 888-461-7277 for AWOS and ADS-B equipment.
- The MOCC and NOC should be notified immediately upon returning
to the platform.
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