Moving map

[Flying Pig]

Someone on here some time ago asked how we navigate to calls in the helicopter.  I finally remembered to take pictures of our Aero map.  There is a key board directly under the screen that didnt make it into the picture. 

[♠SARKID♠]

MOVING MAP SYSTEM NOT TO BE USED FOR NAVIGATIONAL PURPOSES

I smell an oxymoron...

[Flying Pig]

I know......   When we got the system installed we all said the same thing!

However, the map system has 5 different types of maps, The one you see on the photo, Topo, Major Roads, and it also has Aviation Sectionals and WAC charts.  The data base is updated every year, so technically, the aeronautical charts are out of date shortly after the update comes back.  That is what the placard actually refers to.  Plus, they want no liability if someone tries to go IFR  with it.

[afgeo4]

We use helicopters? Who pays for that maintenance? 

[Flying Pig]

Your Wing doesn't have helicopters?

[isuhawkeye]

do yourself a favor and look up some of flying pigs posts and reconsider your last statement

[Flying Pig]

  But to answer your question, the county tax payer does.

[Eclipse]

Don't 'cha just love the internet?

http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5712653&nseq=0

Quote from the site: Callsign "Sheriff's Eagle One" departing the Sheriff's pad at FAT. Good guys to work with and their landings are always impressive on that little trailer.

Nice!   

[Flying Pig]

Holy Cow!!!!!!  Im in the left seat.  I had a set of black framed glasses I used to wear with my helmet which how I can tell.  I think one of the Tower guys took that photo.  Here is something a few of you might find interesting.  Click on the video on the right.

We employ this rescue technique a couple of times per year.  We have the Kings rive and San Joaquin rivers running through the county and have several drowning deaths every year from people who do not understand the power of water.  Many of our "rescues" end up being body recoveries.  In the case of an unconcious victim, we lay them over the skids and get them to shore to medical aid and or start CPR until a determination is made. 

During the summer, we spend a lot of our time patrolling up and down the rivers when not on other calls for service.  I have personally been involved in one rescue of a couple that was stranded on a rock after their raft had popped.  And a few others.  During the summer, there are literally thousands of people on the lakes and rivers every day in Fresno County.

http://www.fresnosheriff.org/Patrol/SearchRescue.htm

[MikeD]

I used to work for a company that did moving map software for boats/sips.  Our software had the same disclaimer for legal reasons.  Otherwise we could be liable for bad software or bad charts if someone had an accident and hit land or a bridge or something.

[afgeo4]

Sorry... thought this was CAPTalk, not SheriffTalk.

[flyerthom]

We're using Garmin 530 and 430 in our EMS helicopters

[Flying Pig]

What are you flying for your EMS Operation?  I know this isn't EMSTalk, but Im still curious.  If you look through the threads, you'll find there are several topics that have nothing to do with CAP.   I think the "get to know each other" portion has a little to do with it.

LOBBY
Feel free to talk about anything and everything in this board. Get to know one another, chat with other CAPers, and field topics not covered elsewhere.

There is currently a mission going on in Ca. Wing that my CAP Sq.'s aircraft participated in yesterday.  If the mission is still going on come Friday, I will be headed down.  There were four CAP aircraft, the CHP helicopter and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's helicopter.  From talking with the Mission Pilot, all birds were in contact with each other via radio.  There is a possibility, that my department could send resources if mutual aid is requested.  Seeing as how the CHP and SBSO also use the Aero-Map, and conduct the same missions when it comes to SAR, I can see how this is relevant to CAP.  The black ball on the side of the helicopter is a FLIR.  I can assure you the FLIR is being used, even during the day.  How many members have any idea how a Thermal Imager works? 

Our moving map is so detailed, when we get up to the Sierra's we can also accurately follow small dirt trails because they are depicted on the Topo maps.  Our IC can call us up and tell us he wants us to follow the trail leading east from Duck Lake.  I can set "bread crums" on the map which I can transfer to a paper map showing exactly what trails we searched from tree top level or We can land and show an IC on the video screen exactly where we searched, all recorded and stored on the screen.  The two helicopters and our Cessna TC206 also have color video and FLIR microwave down link so I can send back video real time to the IC while orbiting an area or potential crash site, or, if possible, we can just land and look for ourselves.  Our Airplane has a $450k Gyro cam on it that can photograph a license plate from 4000 ft.  I imagine that could have an application in a SAR environment.  Our radios also have CAP channels on them.

What we do in our civilian lives can be very important to CAP.  Who doesn't want to network with other members of the same profession that you instantly have a connection.  One of the biggest complaints I hear about when it comes to SAR is CAP's reputation with other agencies.  Take this particular mission in Ca.  How neat would it be for my Sheriff's unit to head down there to assist and to be able to walk in a tell the IC, that I am a CAP Pilot also, and that tomorrow I'll be back as a CAP Pilot. Or better yet, be able to explain to another Law Enforcement pilot why CAP is doing what they are doing.  I cant tell you how many times I have heard from LE pilots that CAP is a flying club for old retired pilots.  Many have no idea what it takes to become a Mission Pilot or Observer.

I would imagine any professional organization that performs SAR duties and has the potential to also work side by side with CAP, like what is going on right now in Ca., would definitely have a place on this site.

[afgeo4]

Well... relating this thread to CAP mission... how useful do you think this tool would be fore CAP aircrews flying DF missions in urban areas? Would this allow for better navigation and interopration with UDF teams? I know that using lat/log in NYC is fairly difficult since ever point convers a large number of city blocks.

Example:
Aircrew-  UDF Team, signal originating from vicinity of Queens Blvd and 80th Street.

instead of:
Aircrew- UDF Team, signal originating from the central Queens area.

I've worked with aircrews in the City and it is not an easy task. GPS systems often don't work well in dense urban areas and signals bounce off of buildings when you're tracking from the ground. The most precise tracking comes from above and I think, if this tool is used, it could cut down the average time to ELT shut-off on UDF team missions when working with air assets.