Page 5 - SVHS Ops Plan 2017_18

3. COMMUNICATIONS PLAN
Helicopter Skiing Communications Overview
Communications between the helicopter, guides, and the SVHS Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle Operator are maintained utilizing VHF radios, SPOT devices, and satellite or cell phones. Guides carry 5- watt handheld radios with extra batteries, and cell phones. The helicopter and Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle, as well as the SVHS shuttle vehicle are equipped with 50-watt mobile radios. The helicopter and Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle have satellite phones. The Lead Guide carries a SAT phone and a second guide in the field carries a SAT phone, each group guide also carries a SPOT device. Further, 50-watt base radios are located in the SVHS Warm Springs office, SVHS Fuel Complex at the Sun Valley Gun Club, at SVSP Headquarters on the top of Baldy, and at the Smoky Mountain Lodge. A portable mountaintop radio repeater located on Baker Peak enhances and extends radio communications. Prearranged report times may be used when terrain interference is a factor in communications. Relays through the helicopter pilot to the guides and the mobile or base radios are utilized as necessary. SVHS mobile and base stations and two-way handheld radios are compatibly programmed with one repeater frequency and multiple simplex frequencies, including frequencies for county and state-wide emergency response. SVHS maintains an FCC license for all radio communications.
SVHS will sometimes check in with Sun Valley Ski Patrol dispatch and inform them of daily skiing plans and/or ski circuit changes.
For radio communications on HASTA (one-lift) Tours guides and/or pilot will check in with SVHS Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle Operator from first landing zone. Guide(s) will then contact the SVHS Fuel/ Dispatch operator periodically along the tour route, typically from high-points that allow radio or cell phone communication. SPOT’s can also be used on HASTA tours.
SVHS Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle
The SVHS Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle is equipped with a 50-watt mobile radio, a cell phone, a satellite phone, and rescue/first aid equipment. The operator of this vehicle serves as a dispatcher for flight following and records pertinent communications, group locations and significant events or observations on the SVHG Radio/Event Log. If there is a significant injury, incident, or a major emergency, the SVHS Fuel/Dispatch Vehicle Operator assumes the role of incident commander and coordinates the response effort.
See—SVHS Emergency Operations Plan for a radio frequency list and a phone list.
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P.O Box 978 Sun Valley, ID 83353
Phone: 208.622.3108 E: info@sunvalleyheliski.com W: sunvalleyheliski.com