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

1. U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING MODULE 3

2. U. S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARYEIGHT EASTERN REGIONAID VERIFIER TRAINING VERIFYING LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS 02APR03

3. INDEX TO TOPICS • INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND • DESCRIBING A LIGHT’S 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

4. 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"

5. DESCRIBING A LIGHT'S CHARACTERISTICS • LIGHTRHYTHM • 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

6. 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

8. 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 _____________________

9. 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

10. 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.

11. 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

12. 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 (2+1) R 6S • QR • QG • AND THE EVER-POPULAR BUT CONFUSING • FW

13. 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.

14. 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)

15. 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) EQUALSTWENTY 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) EQUALSTHIRTY FLASHES PER MINUTE

16. 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 _____ = _____

17. TIMING A LIGHT Fl (2) R 6s • EXERCISE: DETERMINE THE NUMBER OF FLASHES EXPECTED IN ONE MINUTE 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_

18. 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 ___ = ____

19. 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_

20. EXERCISE: COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING TABLE FOR THE LIGHT CHARACTERISTICS COMMONLY FOUND ON PRIVATE AND FEDERAL LIGHTED AIDS TIMING A LIGHT

21. TIMING A LIGHT

22. 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 • .

23. 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

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

25. 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

26. CHECKING A LIGHT’S 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

27. CHECKING A LIGHT’S 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.

28. CHECKING A LIGHT’S 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

29. 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.”

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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