7.9 Radio Training

Purpose

To outline radio communications requirements for training activities.

Overview

SLS services must ensure they use the SLSSA Coastal Radio Network for training in a manner that clearly distinguishes training from real situations.

Procedure

SLS services must ensure the following when they are undertaking training:

• The State Operations Centre (SOC) must be advised of any training that could be confused with a real situation at least 7 days before the training commences. The SOC does not need to be notified of routine training activities that could not reasonably be mistaken for a real incident.
• Training must occur on simplex channels where possible.
• Training involving search and rescue or incident related scenarios must not occur on repeater channels without permission from the State Operations Centre, which may be obtained by phone.
• Call sign SURFCOM must not be used on repeater channels for training without permission from the State Operations Centre.
• Priority must be given to general lifesaving operations.
• Training must cease if directed by the State Operations Centre.

Message

SLS services must broadcast the following message on the channel being used:

Start: All Stations, this is <call sign>. We are undertaking training on this channel until <time> in <area>

End: All Stations, this is <call sign>. We have completed training on this channel.

SLS services undertaking training involving search and rescue or incident related scenarios which has been approved by the State Operations Centre, must notify the SOC by phone at the start and end of the training.

No Duff

NO DUFF indicates a real world emergency occurring during training activities.

In the event of a genuine emergency, NO DUFF must be communicated on the channel in use for training, followed by a description of the emergency.

In the event of a NO DUFF situation being declared, all training must cease until the emergency has ended.