U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY EIGHT EASTERN REGION AID VERIFIER TRAINING

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U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN
REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING

• MODULE 3

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U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN
REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING

• VERIFYING LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS
• 02APR03

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INDEX TO TOPICS

• INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND
• DESCRIBING A LIGHTS CHARACTERISTICS
• VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS
• TIMING A LIGHT
• TECHNIQUES FOR TIMING LIGHTS
• CHECKING A LIGHT'S FOCUS
• WHEN IS A LIGHT CONSIDERED TO BE "WATCHING
  PROPERLY"?
• REPORTING PRIVATE AID VERIFICATIONS
• IDENTIFYING SPECIFIC PRIVATE AID LIGHTS
• REPORTING THE RESULTS SUMMARY

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INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

• MOST LIGHTED AIDS TO NAVIGATION ARE EQUIPPED WITH
  A DAYLIGHT CONTROL
• AUTOMATICALLY CAUSES THE LIGHT TO OPERATE (ON)
  DURING DARKNESS AND BE OFF DURING DAYLIGHT
• EACH LIGHT IS UNDER ITS OWN CONTROL
• THEREFORE ALL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON OR GO OFF AT
  THE SAME TIME
• AID VERIFIERS MUST ASSURE THERE IS SUFFICIENT
  DARKNESS TO WHERE A LIGHT SHOULD BE OPERATING
• BEFORE REPORTING THE LIGHT AS "EXTINGUISHED"

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DESCRIBING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• LIGHT RHYTHM
• LIGHTED AIDS TO NAVIGATION ARE "FIXED"
  (CONTINUOUSLY ON), "FLASHING, OCCULTING,
  ISOPHASE, ETC. (SEE NEXT CHART)
• LIGHT PERIOD
• FOR OTHER THAN "FIXED" LIGHTS, THE TIME IN
  SECONDS DURING WHICH THE PATTERN OF FLASHES IS
  REGULARLY REPEATED
• LIGHT (LENS) COLOR
• RED AND GREEN (HAVE LATERAL SIGNIFICANCE)
• WHITE AND YELLOW (HAVE NO LATERAL SIGNIFICANCE

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• FOR EXAMPLE
• A LIGHT WITH PUBLISHED CHARACTERISTICS OF
• "Fl G 6s"
• WOULD HAVE A FLASHING LIGHT RHYTHM,
• GREEN LENS COLOR,
• ONE FLASH PER PERIOD,
• AND A PERIOD OF SIX SECONDS

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Light Rhythm Light List Example Description / Definition
Fixed F Light (ON) continuously and steadily.
Flashing Fl OFF longer than ON Single flash each period
Quick Flashing Q Continuous flashing sixty (60) flashes per minute
Isophase Iso Time light is ON equal to time light is OFF
Group-Flashing Fl (2) Specified group of flashes in number, repeated regularly Flashes equal duration.
Composite Group-Flashing Fl (21) Multiple groups, each group a different number of flashes Repeated in regular sequence.
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DESCRIBING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• IF A LIGHT HAS PUBLISHED CHARACTERISTICS OF
• Fl (2) R 6s
• WHAT IS THAT LIGHT'S
• LIGHT RHYTHM___________________________
• LIGHT PERIOD ____________________________
• LIGHT (LENS) COLOR _____________________

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• AIDS WITH FIXED CHARACTERISTICS
• ARE CONTINUOUSLY "ON" AND ARE SHOWN IN THE LIGHT
  LIST WITH CHARACTERISTICS OF "F R" (FIXED RED),
  "F G" (FIXED GREEN) OR "F W" (FIXED WHITE)
• SHOULD BE VERIFIED TO ASSURE THAT
• LIGHT IS IN FOCUS UPSTREAM AND DOWNSTREAM -- LAMP
  FIXTURE IS NOT LEANING MORE THAN 15 DEGREES, NOT
  COMPROMISED BY BRUSH OR TREES
• LAMP IS IN GOOD SHAPE -- NOT EXTINGUISHED OR DIM,
  NOT COMPROMISED BY BIRD NESTS OR FOULING

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• NOTE
• MANY PRIVATE AIDS ARE SHORE POWERED (VS BATTERY
  POWERED) AND MAY NOT USE A DAYLIGHT CONTROL TO
  TURN THE LIGHT OFF DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS.
• THE LIGHT MAY BE "ON" 24 HOURS A DAY. THIS IS
  NOT A DISCREPANCY.
• AIDS WITH FLASHING CHARACTERISTICS
• IN ADDITION TO THE ABOVE VERIFICATIONS, MUST ALSO
  BE TIMED TO VERIFY THAT THE CHARACTERISTICS ARE
  AS PUBLISHED IN THE LIGHT LIST.

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• VERIFICATION OF A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS
  REQUIRES TIMING EACH LIGHT FOR THE NUMBER OF
  FLASHES EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE
• NOTE
• FEDERAL RDB AIDS HAVE FOUR SECOND PERIODS. LDB
  AIDS HAVE FIVE SECONDS
• FEDERAL WHITE AIDS MAY BE SEEN
• MOST PAToNS HAVE SIX SECOND PERIODS
• MOST RED AIDS HAVE TWO FLASHES PER PERIOD
• MOST GREEN AIDS HAVE ONE FLASH PER PERIOD

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MORE NOTES

• EXAMPLES OF VARIATIONS FROM LL Vol V ALL IN 8ER
  
• FR
• FG
• Fl (2) W 5s (FED LDB CHARACTERISTICS)
• Fl (2) w 6S (PRIVATE AID)
• Fl W 4S (FED RDB CHARACTERISTICS)
• Fl (21) R 6S
• QR
• QG
• AND THE EVER-POPULAR BUT CONFUSING
• FW

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• DETERMINING THE "PERIOD" AND THE NUMBER OF
  FLASHES PER PERIOD FROM THE CHARACTERISTICS
  PUBLISHED IN THE LIGHT LIST
• Fl(2) R 6s
• EXAMPLE IF THE PUBLISHED CHARACTERISTICS
  ARE SHOWN AS " Fl (2) R 6s"
• THE PERIOD IS SIX SECONDS AND THE NUMBER OF
  FLASHES PER PERIOD IS TWO.

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF PERIODS PER MINUTE BY
  DIVIDING SIXTY SECONDS BY THE PERIOD
• EXAMPLE A LIGHT WITH A PERIOD OF SIX SECONDS
  WILL HAVE TEN PERIODS PER MINUTE (60 DIVIDED BY
  6)
• EXAMPLE A LIGHT WITH A PERIOD OF FOUR SECONDS
  WILL HAVE FIFTEEN PERIODS PER MINUTE ( 60 DIVIDED
  BY 4)

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VERIFYING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS

• MULTIPLYING THE NUMBER OF PERIODS PER MINUTE BY
  THE NUMBER OF FLASHES PER PERIOD
• EXAMPLE (TEN PERIODS PER MINUTE) X (TWO
  FLASHES PER PERIOD) EQUALS TWENTY FLASHES PER
  MINUTE .
• EXAMPLE (TEN PERIODS PER MINUTE) X (ONE FLASH
  PER PERIOD) EQUALS TEN FLASHES PER MINUTE
• EXAMPLE (FIFTEEN PERIODS PER MINUTE) X (TWO
  FLASHES PER PERIOD) EQUALS THIRTY FLASHES PER
  MINUTE

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TIMING A LIGHT

• EXERCISE DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FLASHES
  EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE

Fl (2) R 6s

• DURATION OF EACH PERIOD _____ SECONDS
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER PERIOD _____ .
• NUMBER OF PERIODS PER MINUTE 60 / _____
  _____
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER MINUTE _____ X _____
  _____

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TIMING A LIGHT

• EXERCISE DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FLASHES
  EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE

Fl (2) R 6s
DURATION OF EACH PERIOD _6_ SECONDS NUMBER
OF FLASHES PER PERIOD _2_ . NUMBER OF PERIODS
PER MINUTE 60 / _6_ _10_ NUMBER OF
FLASHES PER MINUTE _2_ X 10 _20_
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• TIMING A LIGHT
• EXERCISE DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FLASHES
  EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE

Fl G 4s

• DURATION OF EACH PERIOD ___ SECONDS
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER PERIOD ___ .
• NUMBER OF PERIODS PER MINUTE 60 / ___
  ____
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER MINUTE ___ X ___ ____

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TIMING A LIGHT

• EXERCISE DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FLASHES
  EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE

Fl G 4s

• DURATION OF EACH PERIOD _4_ SECONDS
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER PERIOD _1_ .
• NUMBER OF PERIODS PER MINUTE 60 / _4_
  _15_
• NUMBER OF FLASHES PER MINUTE _1_ X _15_
  _15_

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TIMING A LIGHT
EXERCISE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TABLE FOR THE
LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS COMMONLY FOUND ON PRIVATE
AND FEDERAL LIGHTED AIDS
Characteristics as Published in the Light List Number of Periods per Minute Number of Flashes per Period Number of Flashes per Minute
Fl (2) R 6s (Typical LDB PAtoN) 10 2 20
Fl G 6s (Typical RDB PAtoN)
Fl (2) R 5s (Typical LDB Federal AtoN)
Fl G 4s (Typical RDB Federal AtoN)
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TIMING A LIGHT
Characteristics as Published in the Light List Number of Periods per Minute Number of Flashes per Period Number of Flashes per Minute
Fl (2) R 6s (Typical LDB PAtoN) 10 2 20
Fl G 6s (Typical RDB PAtoN) 10 1 10
Fl (2) R 5s (Typical LDB Federal AtoN) 12 2 24
Fl G 4s (Typical RDB Federal AtoN) 15 1 15
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TECHNIQUES FOR TIMING LIGHTS

• EVERY AID VERIFIER WILL DEVELOP THEIR OWN "STYLE"
  FOR TIMING LIGHTS.
• THE FOLLOWING IS SUGGESTED ONLY AS A STARTING
  POINT FOR AUXILIARISTS NEW TO AID VERIFICATION.
• EXPERIENCE HAS DETERMINED THAT A SPORTS WATCH
• MAY BE EASIER TO USE WITH ITS LARGE BUTTONS AND
  DISPLAY
• USUALLY INEXPENSIVE, AVAILABLE AT K-MART,
  WAL-MART, RADIO SHACK, ETC.
• AN ILLUMINATED DISPLAY IS CONVENIENT
• .

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TECHNIQUES

• ACTUAL TIMING
• MUST BE PERFORMED AT NIGHT
• SHOULD START AND STOP AT THE END OF THE LAST
  FLASH IN A PERIOD TO ELIMINATE 'ANTICIPATION
• MUST BE PERFORMED AS A DEDICATED TASK,
  UNINTERRUPTED, BY AN INDIVIDUAL WITH NO OTHER
  ASSIGNED TASKS

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TECHNIQUES FOR TIMING A LIGHT
Fl (2) R 6s
START
STOP
ONE PERIOD
ON
OFF
0,
,19,20
1, 2,
Fl G 6s
START
STOP
ONE PERIOD
ON
OFF
1,
0,
,10
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SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS

• MAINTAIN ADEQUATE LOOKOUTS!
• PRE-PLANNING IS CRITICAL
• KNOW WHAT IS BEING SOUGHT AHEAD OF TIME
• AV TEAM SEPARATE FROM OPS TEAM (CREW)
• OPS TEAM FOCUSES ON SAFETY
• AV TEAM OF TWO WORKS WELL
• SHARING OF TASKS
• READING CHARTS
• ENTERING DATA
• TIMING
• OBSERVING/COUNTING FLASHES
• PORTABLE CASSETTE RECORDER CAN BE USEFUL

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CHECKING A LIGHTS FOCUS

• IN ORDER FOR A LIGHT TO BE CONSIDERED "WATCHING
  PROPERLY"
• IT MUST BE LEVEL SO AS TO BE VISIBLE WITHIN THE
  VIEWING RANGE OF THE MARINER
• TOWER MOUNTINGS, AND A LEVELING PLATE THAT
  ATTACHES THE LIGHT ASSEMBLY TO A TOWER OR OTHER
  STRUCTURE, ALLOW THE LIGHT'S HORIZONTAL POSITION
  TO BE ADJUSTED TO AN ACCEPTABLE "LEVEL" POSITION
• WHICH IS DEFINED AS /- 15 DEGREES FROM THE
  HORIZONTAL

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CHECKING A LIGHTS FOCUS

• AID VERIFIER NEEDS TO CHECK IF FIXTURE IS LISTING
  OVER 15 DEGREES
• "IS THE LIGHT IN FOCUS AND/OR ARE ANY DAYBOARDS
  LEANING MORE THAN 15 DEGREES"?
• STRUCTURES (PILINGS, CELLS, CONCRETE PIERS, ETC.)
  MAY OFTEN BE LISTING AS MUCH AS 35 TO 40 DEGREES
  WHICH CANNOT BE FIXED WITHOUT TOTALLY REBUILDING
  THE AID
• HOWEVER, THE LIGHT MAY BE "IN FOCUS" (AND
  "WATCHING PROPERLY") BY USING THE LEVELING PLATE
  OR BY ADJUSTING THE MOUNTING HARDWARE.

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CHECKING A LIGHTS FOCUS

• NOTES
• AIDS ARE MADE TO VIEWED FROM TOWBOAT PILOT
  HOUSES, NOT RECREATIONAL BOATS
• WHAT MIGHT SEEM OUT OF FOCUS TO AN OPFAC MIGHT
  BE WATCHING PROPERLY TO COMMERCIAL TRAFFIC
• OFTEN THE DAYBOARDS ARE ANGLED FOR BETTER
  VISIBILITY WHEN THE AID IS HIGH ON THE BANK. THIS
  NOT A DISCREPANCY
• WHILE CHECKING FOR FOCUS (USE BINOCULARS) LOOK AT
  THE BATTERY CASE AND THE SOLAR PANEL FOR
  VANDALISM OR THEFT

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WHEN IS A LIGHT CONSIDERED TO BE "WATCHING
PROPERLY"

• LIGHT IS IN PROPER FOCUS AND CAN BE SEEN
  UNOBSTRUCTED IN THE DIRECTION(S) AND FOR THE
  RANGE EXPECTED
• FLASHING LIGHTS ARE CONSIDERED TO BE "WATCHING
  PROPERLY" IF THE ACTUAL (TIMED) NUMBER OF SECONDS
  IS WITHIN PLUS OR MINUS FIVE PERCENT (5).
• EXAMPLE A Fl G 6s LIGHT FLASHES 10 TIMES A
  MINUTE. 5 OF 20 EQUALS ONE (1). THE LIGHT MAY
  FLASH 9, 10, OR 11 TIMES IN 60 SECONDS AND STILL
  BE WATCHING PROPERLY. ANY OTHER NUMBER IS
  DISCREPANT.

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REPORTING PAToN VERIFICATIONS

• IF YOU NEED TO IDENTIFY A SPECIFIC LIGHT FOR
  PRIVATE AIDS WITH MORE THAN ONE LIGHT
• BEGIN WITH THE MOST U/S LIGHT AS 1 AND
• 2 U/S, D/S
• 3 U/S, MIDDLE, D/S
• 4 MOST U/S, U/S, D/S, MOST D/S
• 5 MOST U/S, U/S, MIDDLE, D/S, MOST D/S

Number of Lights
Nomenclature for Light Identification /Location
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REPORTING PAToN VERIFICATIONS

• PAToN verifications are to be reported on the D8
  Excel spreadsheet or in any manner that sends the
  required information.
• Discrepancies should be described completely in
  the Remarks column.
• Communications between the CG and the aid owner
  are more productive when information is complete
  and accurate.
• REMEMBER! Extinguished lights are considered
  Critical and need to be reported to GOHV ASAP

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REPORTING THE RESULTSSUMMARY

• Accurate and thorough reporting required
• Coast Guard personnel receiving our reports are
  expected to take action based on the data
  reported
• Action may involve contacting owner or bridge to
  get discrepancies corrected
• Be very specific in describing discrepancies and
  the location (for example, which light) of each
  discrepancy
• NOTHING LESS THAN 100 PERCENT COMPLETE,
  DEFECT-FREE REPORTS ARE ACCEPTABLE