[MilCom] Civil Air Patrol Search & Rescue Competition Scheduled Westover JARB

[Ken]

According to a news release printed in the Chicopee (MA) "Register" May 31,
2007 edition the following information was provided:

"CIVIL AIR PATROL TO HOLD SEARCH & RESCUE COMPETITION AT WESTOVER"

*The first of it's kind competition in the nation.

*Northeast Region will sponsor the competition June 15th through 17, 2007

*235 CAP personnel, 30 aircraft, & 30 ground vehicles will participate.
There will be nine teams from each of the wings comprising the Northeast
Region.

*Competition Events will include:
**Air & ground team emergency locator transmitter (ELT search)
**Inspections & written exams

*Trophy's will be presented to the top three wing teams.

I would assume that the 'Dog Patch' training area, Westover Joint Air 
Reserve Base, which is a wooded & field area at the northeast corner of the 
base will be the primary area utilized for Ground ELT searches, as well as 
the mission base, sleeping/eating facilities. It's also possible that other 
wooded areas within the WMass area will be utilized for aircraft ELT 
searches.

"Monitoring Times" magazine, June 2007 edition has a VERY extensive list of 
all potential Civil Air Patrol  HF & VHF frequencies, ground/mobile tactical 
callsigns, aircraft tactical callsigns.  The March 2007 edition also lists 
the (low power intra squad radio freqs).  Isn't it just amazing that MT 
columnist Larry Van Horn always seems to publish "information you can 
readily use" at the right time!!!!  :)

You can use google maps or google earth to give you an idea of perimeter 
areas accessible by vehicles.  BUT the only area that you can legally park 
at that will get you close enough to monitor the low powered radio action is 
the access road (South St) to the Westover Golf Course/Wade Lake
fishing/recreational area (Granby/Ludlow).  You might also be able to park 
along New Ludlow Road just west of South St (in the area of the 
Blueberry/Strawberry picking stand).   Also for those
who like to hike in the woods, you could enter Chicopee State park
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/chip.htm which is off Burnett Rd in 
Chicopee (exit 6 of Mass Pike Interstate 90).   The Westover Air Park North 
area, Griffith Rd, Chicopee has No Trespassing signs (violators will be 
prosecuted) in the parking lot areas adjecent to the base fence line, so
you could have a problem parking there.  Also the Civilian Metro airport 
area (255 Pagette St, Chicopee) may be a bit too far for picking up much of 
the lower powered radio traffic and they haven't been very happy with people 
parked for extended periods of time in their parking area.

Additionally for those of you that would like to perform a "electronic - 
near scene activity",  you might also want to try some mountain top/hill top 
monitoring at Skinner State Park
http://www.mass.gov/dcr/parks/central/skin.htm  -- You can drive your 
vehicle to the top of the mountain on a paved road, with a very short walk 
to the summit house.

BTW if you are "on scene" remember to give a call out for other milcom 
hobbyists on the nationwide "on scene" FRS Channel 14 (467.7125 mhz) with 
CTCSS 38 (250.3 hz) OR the alternate  frequency/ctcss is Channel 7 (462.7125 
mhz) CTCSS 15 (110.9 hz).  For this "on scene" activity use the general call 
..."CAPCOMP units within range".

Should prove to be an interesting monitoring challenge!!!

Perhaps I will see some of you on the fence line!!!

BTW for those of you that are interested in becoming active participants in 
activities such as these, rather than just passive monitoring hobbyists, you 
can find the nearest CAP unit to your home by visiting 
http://cap.findlocation.com/  and input your zipcode & it will give you the 
nearest 3 units.

Ken
Springfield MA Monitoring Area