The White Falcon - 11.04.1980, Blaðsíða 4

Page 4
The White Falcon
April 11, 1980
Telephone Maintenance Division
Our link to
Our job is communications, said
the Public Works Department Tele-
phone Officer, Mr. Eric Kinchin,
"And we do our best to ensurethatthe
communication lines remain operable
at all times."
The Keflavik Telephone Branch
consists of three work divisions:
maintenance, operations and adminis-
tration. The telephone is the NATO
Base's link with the rest of the
world. Located in the Communication
Station (Bldg. 839) is the main
nerve center for the Naval Station's
telephone system.
Mr. Kinchin has run tele-
phone maintenance since 1976, and
has worked on the Keflavik NATO base
since 1969. As the director of the
maintenance division he supervises
32 employees. "There are Americans
and Icelanders employed in the Tele-
phone Branch," said the maintenance
supervisor. "For example, the out
cable crew of Icelanders and Ameri-
cans exhibits a daily camaraderie of
which I am proud," so states their
supervisor.
The normal work day for 14 Ice-
landic telephone operators who
the world 0
man the switchboard consists of
six hours during the day, and 12
hours in the evening. Four opera-
tors are on the switchboard at a
time. "Only if we have an emergency
will military personnel operate the
switchboard, such as in a 'Charlie'
weather condition," says Mr. Kin-
chin.
He explains that the autovon
lines are the most hectic from 10:30
to 11:30 a.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. The
lines are very busy and each shift
of four operators has to be alert
particularly during these hectic
hours.
Equipment maintenance is always a
full time process. There always is
a piece of equipment which needs it.
"We're using fairly outdated equip-
ment, and it might be replaced by an
electrical exchange in 1984. But
for the time being, we are repairing
our present equipment frequently in
order to keep the vital communica-
tion links of the base open," com-
mented Mr. Kinchin.
He further explains that two 50
volt generators run the telephone
system. If Something was to
wrong with the generators
standby batteries would be use
generate the 65 miles of cabl
the base. These batteries will keep
the system running for 24 hours. By
then an emergency generator could be
installed and operating.
Outside of the Telephone Depart-
ment the majority of the workload
is the answering of trouble calls,
and the installation of phones.
Trouble calls average 10 to 15 a day
about problems with phones, alarm
systems, and close circuit televi-
sion. All of these are Telephone
Maintenance Division's responsibi-
lity. "The trouble desk's phone
number is 4501, and is manned 24
hours a day," Mr. Kinchin commented.
A telephone can be obtained by
applying for one at the telephone
business office. "Just fill out a
form while at this ‘ office, and your
phone should be installed within the
week. The same procedure holds true
when getting your phone disconnect-
ed," stated Mr. Kinchin.
"Good communication links people
with good ideas," concludes Mr.
Kinchin, "for vital jobs throughout
the NATO Base."
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