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Retired water radios like gold dustSouth West Water is retiring 300 redundant vehicle radio systems and donating them to the Air Training Corps for essential adventure training exercises in Devon and Somerset.
 Photo: click photo for a high resolution image For over 10 years the water company's radio systems in vehicles around the South West have flowed with essential water supply information. Now training information will fly between communication back packs and benefit hundreds of air cadet expeditions. There are approximately 1200 members of the Air Training Corps in Devon and Somerset. The youth organisation nationally is bigger than the Royal Air Force. Cadets learn as much as possible about RAF service and aviation by studying radio communication, air navigation, and principles of flight, mechanics and map reading and by carrying out exercises such as camping expeditions where communications are essential in this modern day and age. The security codes are currently being removed from the water radios and are being tuned to the appropriate frequency and then they will be back in action soon with a completely new purpose in communications training. Water operations are now carried out using mobile phones with hands free car kits and there is no requirement for vehicle radio systems. "The air cadets are extremely grateful to South West Water for the equipment which is hard for a charity to get hold of and is quite simply like gold dust. Radios will be distributed to all thirty two units in the Wing including Chivenor and used in communication back packs," said Flight Lieutenant, Phil Cole at (722) Squadron ATC based at Chivenor. "Having this equipment is very exciting and will enable cadets to gain valuable skills and qualifications; it may even be possible to set up a communications network between South West squadrons covering the whole of Devon and Somerset". "We are pleased that this equipment will benefit others in the region instead of simply being recycled," said Margaret Waterer, South West Water's Computer and Network Services Manager. "I hope it will prove as useful in air cadet training as it did for the essential day to day water communications required to effectively run the region's 10,000 miles of water mains, 6,000 miles of sewers and hundreds of treatment works". -END- For further information please contact Stephen Swain, Communications Manager on 01392 443022 Published: 25 August 2004 |
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