29.1. DAF Local Operating Procedure – Alma Bay

Ferry and access to Alma Bay

• Meet the lifeguards at the Breakwater Ferry Terminal at 7:30am.
• Collect return ticket at ticket desk. Tell them your name and specify that it is on the “SLSQ drone operations” account.
• Once on Magnetic Island, the Roving Lifeguard will drop you off with the Alma Bay Lifeguard.
• Upon completion of shift, the Roving or Horseshoe Bay Lifeguard will return you to the ferry terminal. Ensure packed up on time and ready for pick up and transfer to ferry.
  • Pack up by 16:10 for transfer to 16:30 ferry
  • Christmas Holidays 16:40 pack up for transfer to 17:00 ferry
• If weather conditions dictate an early finish, contact the Roving Lifeguard for a lift to ferry. If no Roving Lifeguard, 25 minute walk to ferry or catch bus. Bus only accepts cash and is $2.40 (as at Feb 2023)

Parking

Parking on Weekends – Free parking on weekends is located opposite the ferry terminal at Enterprise House – The Strand Carpark. Note: this becomes paid parking weekdays.

Parking on weekdays is at the Coast Guard.

Set Up

• Keys for Lifeguard Hut located in Magnetic Roving Lifeguard vehicle on Pink Tag
• UAV, radios and phone all located in Lifeguard Hut
• Signage and rest of equipment in cage below Hut
• Ensure all batteries, controller have charged overnight. If not, reposition on charge.
• Log on to SURFCOM via radio
• Plan mission on laptop using phone hotspot for internet connection following DAF Drone Logbook guide
• Inspect all equipment including UAV, controllers and signage
• Conduct pre-flight checklist and JSA
• Set up exclusion area
• Set up additional equipment such as pop up tent, tables, chairs, landing pad
• Calibrate compass and Home Point prior to first flight
• Inform SURFCOM when commencing flights

Transect Flights

• Calibrate the compass/check the home point at your take off/landing position.
• Fly the drone out to the back of the break, maintaining Visual Line Of Sight (up to approximately 500m from where you are standing on the beach)
• Point the camera back in to shore at approximate 45 to 50 degree angle looking into the water
• Commence filming (4K video) and patrol back and forth on a transect line at the back of the surf zone no faster than 8.4m/s (30km/hour)
• When the battery goes down to 40%, finish the transect and stop filming, and then bring the drone back in to the landing pad to change batteries.
• Complete flight operations up to a final flight after 2pm (average 2 flights/hour from patrol set up if conditions are favourable, without interruptions for air traffic/weather).
• If you spot any marine creatures, pause the transect and drop down to 30m. Identify it (if possible). If it is considered a threatening species follow SLSQ procedures and inform the lifeguard/lifesavers and SURFCOM
  • The Lifeguards/Patrol Captain will go through the processes to evacuate the water etc.
  • follow until the battery needs to be changed. Complete the shark sightings log if you see a shark.
  • try and find the shark on the next battery if possible, and communicate with the relevant authorities.

Inclement Weather

• If it is raining or the wind is above 20knots, DO NOT FLY
• If the weather does not look like it will improve for the rest of your shift, you can fill out the Transect Patrol log with the Inclement Weather section at the bottom.
• A minimum shift is three hours (4 hours on a Sunday/Public Holiday) and you can take an earlier ferry, then sign off and go home.
• If you have completed some flights before the weather became Inclement, fill out the Inclement Weather section on your last Transect form (from the last flight you flew.)
• Then pack up and complete all duties and inform your Supervisor if you finish early
  

Pack Up

• Inform SURFCOM that flights have ceased for day and on standby
• Pack up UAV, controller and batteries and put on charge if necessary
• Pack away exclusion area
• Complete any remaining DAF forms including post-op checklist
• Upload all videos to Hard Drive from SD card. Create a folder on HDD using the formula Location Date Initials – EG ALMABAY19012023AS for a mission at ALMA BAY on Jan 19 2023 by pilot Andrew Smith. Format the SD card upon completion and reinsert in UAV
• Finalise mission by syncing flights to Drone Logbook and associate to the day’s mission
• Clean and store any remaining equipment, ensuring electrical components are on charge
• Sign off with SURCOM
• Ensure packed up on time and ready for pick up and transfer to ferry.
  • Pack up by 16:10 for transfer to 16:30 ferry
  • Christmas Holidays 16:40 pack up for transfer to 17:00 ferry
  • If taking an earlier ferry, ensure you have packed up everything before departing.

Suggested Exclusion Area

Exclusion zone on north end against rocks. It can be hard to get minimum area, use rocks to assist with separation. Take off North over rocks and vegetation to remain clear of beach users.