Notification Required If Oil Platforms With Weather Reporting Equipment Are Evacuated

With hurricane Alex in the Gulf of Mexico at Category 1 strength, the FAA is cautioning oil platform operators that have FAA Air Traffic Control (ATC) Equipment that they have responsibilities to the ATC system.

Platforms affected are those that have a Radio Communication Air Ground (RCAG) Facility, Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS), and/or Surveillance (ADS-B) Ground Station installed on it to support aviation safety and service in the Gulf of Mexico. While no action is required by platform personnel to prepare this Equipment for platform evacuation or impending severe weather, the FAA needs to know if the platform is being evacuated.

If such platforms are totally evacuated and the FAA is not aware, they say it could have severe consequences for aviation safety. The emergency generator or other back-power source that supports ATC Equipment could run out of fuel, thus rendering it and the telecommunications capability “out of service.” If, however, the FAA knows that the platform is being evacuated, then it can take action to alert the aviation community in the affected area(s) without compromising aviation safety.

That being said, the FAA recommends:

• For platforms that have ATC equipment installed, if the platform will be evacuated, please call the FAA’s 24-hour Mid States Operations Center (MOCC) prior to evacuation at 800-322- 8879; provide platform location and FAA 3-letter identifier (in table below). Also, please call ITT’s Network Operations Center (NOC) at 888-461-7277 for AWOS and ADS-B equipment.
• The MOCC and NOC should be notified immediately upon returning to the platform.

FMI: www.faa.gov