[NCDXA] Wake and Johnston

Thu Jan 5 16:24:32 UTC 2023

is there a zoom meeting today?
If yes, please send me the link.

thanks,

Art  WA7NB
-----Original Message-----
From: Fred Matos <blainefred at verizon.net>
Sent: Jan 5, 2023 9:00 AM
To: ncdxa at ncdxa.org <ncdxa at ncdxa.org>
Subject: [NCDXA] Wake and Johnston

Hello DXers, 
My government spectrum management job involves dealing with federal agencies, one of which is the Dept. of the Interior.

DOI has a spectrum management office; and some years ago, the director was Michael "Sparky" Terry, KD4KL.

Sparky and I became good friends, and we stay in touch even after he retired abt 20 years ago.

One of Sparky's responsibilities at DOI was to occasionally travel to the DOI Pacific Islands and inspect, etc.

He used to take a rig out there and make a few hundred QSOs. 

We exchanged holiday greetings recently, and I asked the question about possible DXpeditions to the islands.

We had some email exchanges that I am copying below.  He's been retired for a long time, so some of the info may not be valid, esp the USAF operations.  He talks about Johnston.  I followed up with a question on Wake that I waiting for a reply. 

It's too bad that we lost our best diplomat, K3ZO, who could provide his wisdom towards possible DXpeditions.

One possible strategy to get approval would be to include a research scientist, either a ham or not a ham, go with the DXpedition, with the DXpedition paying his way. The scientist would conduct research, etc.  Including a scientist could facilitate approval of the DXpedition.   

73

Fred
W3ICM

W3ICM to Sparky 

Some of the guys in my DX club raised the point that islands like Johnston and Wake have not been active for a long time.  Are they still under DOI??   If so, can hams do a DXpedition there?

Would appreciate your advice on the islands.

Sparky’s Reply

Well, both are still nominally under control of the Department of the Interior/National Wildlife Service & both seem to have policies discouraging activities not directly associated with environmental and/or wildlife studies.

I understand the airfield on Johnston Island is no longer used by commercial airlines so access (if approved) is no longer an option.  No known regular shipping  companies schedule visits to my knowledge.

My guess is they would only allow operation by a ham operator otherwise employed by the government or contractor on the island.

W3ICM reply

Some DXpeditions charter a large ship that stays until the DXpedition is over.

So that’s possible, but DOI permission would be needed for a group to go ashore.  

We could ask DOI for permission,  maybe get a Congressman to support the effort.

Sparky reply 

It’s possible that a high level “political” approach could work. However in my day there were several classified activities (USAF) ongoing that would, in my opinion, probably preclude approval.  

You are correct regarding charter operators willing to go to either of the islands, but even they would be required to obtain appropriate clearances in advance. 

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