[SFDXA] K1N Navassa Island DXpedition

[Bill]

News / Updates
4 December 2014
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 From The KP1-5 project
RE: K1N Navassa Island DXpedition

The KP1-5 Project and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service have been working 
together on preparations for our joint 14 day visit to Navassa Island 
NWR.  Although the actual dates may still vary, it now appears we will 
begin transport to the Island during the last week of January 2015.

Our container of equipment and supplies will depart late in December 
enroute to our helicopter staging area.  All of our equipment is being 
assembled, tested and packed.

We have visited and contracted with the largest helicopter operations 
group in the Caribbean to transfer personnel and equipment to the 
island.  Our window of opportunity, dictated by USFWS, is during the 
period of least bird nesting.  But it is also the time of the most 
treacherous seas, making a safe sea landing of all our equipment and 
people all but impossible.  The famous "ladder" used to access the 
island at Lulu Bay was removed when the U.S. Coast Guard turned 
administration over to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.  For safety 
reasons, the USFWS uses helicopter transport to the island and we will 
too.  Consequently, and as one might expect, the costs of this 
DXpedition are quite high.  The team has contributed approximately half 
of the total cost.  Foundations such as NCDXF and INDEXA have been very 
generous, as have a number of DX Clubs and individuals, and for this 
generosity, we are deeply grateful!

The particulars of this DXpedition require more "up front" payments than 
most DXpeditions and we have a "cash flow timing" situation that needs 
to be addressed.  The helicopter contractual agreement requires all 
charter costs to be paid prior to the conclusion of the project.  Many 
older hams need a mode or band fill from Navassa, but an entire 
generation has grown up without Navassa being on the air. Hence, it has 
risen to the #1 Most Wanted on the ClubLog list.  If you need Navassa 
for an all-time new one (ATNO), or for a particular band or mode, we 
could use your financial help.  If you plan to help support the 
DXpedition, we ask that you do so now, not later.

We have an excellent team of fifteen operators who will be manning eight 
stations 24 hours/day, dedicated to giving out as many contacts as 
possible over the two week period.

Your generous financial gift will help insure a most successful 
DXpedition for all!

Please visit www.navassadx.com for details.

For the KP1-5 Project,

Bob Allphin, K4UEE, president
Glenn Johnson, WØGJ, vice president
Mike Thomas, NA5U, secretary