I am curious to know how many patrols will be run this weekend. Particularly the Peanut Island area in FL. I noticed that US Wildlife, USCG, Palm Beach Police etc are all going to be out. How about the AUX?
No clue about the Palm Beach area, but Dade County is in full surge with two patrols on the AOR except at night when there is one until about midnight. At least that is what we are trying to do. Last night's coxswain got sick (probably from overwork).
Without access to POMS, I have no idea what my old flotilla is doing. Usually they wouldn't do much on Labor Day Weekend. And there has been a dramatic fall-off in patrol activity within the flotilla this year anyway.
Never fear - there was an article in the Sunday paper that FWC will have all of its boats out. They are coordinating patrol areas with all the local PDs with marine units and the USCG station.
I spent all saturday and yesterday till about 1900L in my happy civilian role as "coxswain for the semi-intoxicated" fisherman in the general vicinity of Boston Harbor to the outer edge of stellwagon and saw NO AUX at all.
We weren't near it, but I read or heard of NO AUX participation in it either.
Fishing sucked as well. Thankfully(for the "fisherman" aboard)the raritan ice maker didn't fail its mission and there was plenty of ice for the cocktails!!!!-JRC
5.2 hours today in the air over the FL/AL/MS Gulf Coast for me and my crew (an Air Crew Auxie and an MST1 from Sector). People appeared to be surprisingly well behaved -- and the crowds/number of vessels were not at the level I expected. I guess the T-storms forecast for the area kept many at home.
The various Stations we over-flew were working a few items, but nothing of major significance based upon the radio traffic observed while maintaining a guard with Sector.
We did have to deviate around a few T-storms on the way home -- I've become very fond of the NEXRAD capability on board the aircraft. In all, a good way to spend some of the Labor Day holiday.
Radio traffic in the south Florida has been well below what I anticipated. Weather was very pretty this morning, the afternoon thunderstorms are beginning to role in, but I don't think that has had any effect on the amount of radio traffic.