Last Friday night the 15th of March a helicopter with search light was flying in circles over Gungahlin. This prompted a number of people to post on our Facebook wall and message us directly. A large discussion thread started about the helicopter. Caroline advised us she had rang the police who advised they were concerned with someone’s welfare and was assured it was nothing dangerous.
Looking at aircraft tracking websites it was noted the SnowyHydro SouthCare helicopter was the helicopter circling above Gungahlin.
It is understood that the Rescue Coordination Centre of Australia tasked SnowyHydro Southcare on a distress beacon homing mission.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) is reminding people to dispose of their unwanted distress beacons properly after three false alerts over the weekend.AMSA’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC Australia) responded to three distress beacons over the weekend that were not related to an emergency in North Canberra, and the suburbs of Williamstown and Lilydale in Melbourne.
The beacons were found at a waste facility in Lilydale, in long grass at Williamstown, and within an industrial estate in North Canberra.
This financial year to date, AMSA has had 32 confirmed cases of distress beacons being disposed of incorrectly. In the 2011-12 financial year, there were 73 confirmed cases.
Unwanted beacons can be disposed of free of charge in collection bins at Battery World stores around Australia.
Anyone selling or disposing of a registered 406MHz distress beacons should contact AMSA on 1800 406 406. The seller is required to provide the purchaser’s name, address and phone number.
For more information on disposing of unwanted distress beacons, visit http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/batteries-disposal.html
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