The White Falcon - 04.06.1993, Blaðsíða 2

By ICC (AW) Richard Gearheart
NBS Station Manager
Waves of electrons flowed into huge vac-
uum tubes, where they were made to repeat
exactly 1,484,000 times per second. They
were shaped by audio waves, excited by large
plate voltages and sent racing up large anten-
nas, to spill out over the Icelandic country-
side, spreading news, information, and enter-
tainment wherever they went. It was May 1,
provided to the station by the AFRTS Broad-
cast Center in Los Angeles. This program-
ming is selected based on several criteria,
including cost, availability, and popularity.
The cost of the programming is greatly re-
duced by trade unions and guilds waving
their fees and rights to the programming for
AFRTS. In exchange for this waiver of fees,
AFRTS agrees not to sell commercial air
time. The true value of this agreement is
apparent when looking at the cost per episode
differential between commercial television
Significant
May 1,1952: first radio broadcast.
1976:
events
in
station’
history
Mar. 17,1955: first black and white television broadcast.
1975: cable television service began.
color television service began.
Dec. 20,1981: live AFRTS satellite programming
1978: “Roller” went on
Oct 1986:
Feb. 1990:
air, name
changed to Detachment Keflavfk
provided live coverage of Reagan/Gorbachev
began European satellite cable service expansion project.
summit.
1952, and AFRS Keflavfk had just signed cm
air for the first time.
Since then, technology has swept forward.
Transistors replaced tubes; chips replaced
transistors, but the basic mission of keeping
the Iceland Defense Force informed and
entertained has never changed. The Air Force
operated the detachment from its inception
undl 1961, when the Navy took over opera-
tions.
The station today is manned by two com-
mands: Detachment Keflavfk of the Navy
Broadcasting Service, and Detachment Eight
of the Air Force European Broadcasting
Squadron, totaling 25 military and three Ice-
landic technicians. Although they are two
separate commands, they serve the same
mission, working side-by-side to accomplish
the command information mission of the
station.
The television and radio programming is
and AFRTS. Most popular shows command
$50-100,000per episode commercially, while
AFRTS pays about $800 for the same epi-
sode. Most programming runs about one
season behind what is currently airing state-
side. This delay is created by the combina^
tion of several factors, including the remo'
of commercials, duplication and shipmi
However, the biggest delay is in procure*
ment. In an effort to protect their investment,
the major networks will not release a show
for overseas distribution until it has com-
pleted that season’s airing in the United States.
Command information remains the pri-
mary mission of the station. This mission is
met through the use of several vehicles.
“Newsline”, a one-half hour nightly local
newscast, is aired at 6 p.m. Monday through
Friday. Radio announcements are aired
throughout the day, and the “Roller” compli-
ments the other two, providing a text-based
information channel, 24-hours a day. The
station also airs “Feedback” Tuesday nights
at 7 p.m. This show features a live call-in
format, allowing community members ac-
cess to base leadership, and giving base lead-
ership an additional venue for spreading the
word.
The future of the station is promising. New
technology has permitted the station to con-
tinue expansion of services offered, despite
numerous manpower reductions. A new
building is scheduled for construction in fisj
cal year ‘95, andcontinued expansion of cal
services is planned.
ina^^
IB
ure^
#
56th Rescue Squadron called to action again
On Thursday evening, May 27th, the squadron launched two HH-60G Pavehawk rescue
helicopters and an HC-130 tanker in what proved to be just short of a 700 mile round-trip
mission lasting more than six hours.
Two Icelandic fisherman working on board a fish processing ship had been injured that
afternoon and due to the uncertainty of their medical condition, the decision to launch was
made.
A pararescueman from each of the helicopters was lowered to the 66 meter ship. They
stabilized the victims and rigged them for transport to the helicopter. The men were then flown
to City Hospital, Reykjavik. One man suffered a concussion and the other a broken arm.
The mission of the rescue squadron is to provide rescue services to military airmen within
the area of Iceland, however, over the past 21 years it has been able to assist the Icelandic Coast
Guard with more than 250 saves of a life or death nature.
A W.F. bravo zulu to the many people who risked their lives.
TheWhite Falcon
Commander, Iceland Defense Force
RADM Michael D. Haskins
Public Affairs Officer
LT Joseph L. Quimby
Deputy Public Affairs Officer
Fridthdr Kr. Eydal
Chief Petty Officer in Charge
JOC Terry J. Bamthouse
Draftsman
DM2 Danielle J. Kim
Editor
J02 Carlos Bcngioanni
Journalists
J02 Colleen “Ghostwriter'’ Casper
J03 (SW) Andreas Walter
The White Falcon is printed by the NAS Keflavik
Print Plant Photo processing is provided by Fleet Im-
aging Command Detachment Keflavik.
The While Falcon is an authorized, gov-
ernment-funded weekly publication of the Ice-
land Defense Force. Contents of The White
Falcon are not necessarily the official views
of or endorsed by, the U. S. Government, the
Department of Defense or the Iceland Defense
Force. Everything advertised in this publica-
tion shall be made available without regard to
race, color, religion, sex, age, marital sums,
physical handicap, or any other non-merit
factor. The White Falcon is located in Bldg.
936, leLexL 4612 or 4552.
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The White Falcon