Thursday, October 30, 2014

Hams await Navassa Island project in January



"Navassa Island is currently ranked #2 on the DX Magazine's "Most Wanted List".

KP1, Navassa Island (Press Release)

From the The KP1-5 Project, dated October 22nd

"The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has notified the KP1-5 Project that they will be the team to activate Navassa Island (KP1) in January 2015.  The DXpedition will be a maximum of fourteen days. The exact dates in January will be determined by USFWS mission requirements and weather
windows.
 
 Our experienced team of fifteen is complete and is ready for the challenge. The weeks ahead will be extremely busy as the team has less than 90 days before the DXpedition comes on the air.  January is the month of minimum bird nesting activity and this is the primary reason USFWS is asking that the operation be completed during that month. However, the weather is unpredictable in January and becauseNavassa is surrounded by cliffs, this may preclude a safe landing by boat. For safety reasons and in order to maximize our time on the Iiland and on the air, a helicopter operation is planned. Navassa is over 100 miles (160 km) from the nearest helicopter staging point and as many as
ten round trips will be required at the beginning and end of the operation.

Obviously, this means that there will be a significant cost for activating this #1 ranked DXCC entity.
In the next few weeks, we be working with USFWS and as details firm up, we will issue periodic press releases. Check our webpage www.kp1-5.com for more details of the operation and how you may financially support this DXpedition.

The KP1-5 Project team has committed to fund 50% of the total costs. We are hopeful the DX community at large will fund the remainder  for The KP1-5 Project,
   Bob Allphin, K4UEE, President
   Glenn Johnson, W0GJ, Vice-President
   Mike Thomas, NA5U, Secretary"

  Added Notes:
 * OPDX was informed that the callsign they will use on the island will be "K1N".

 * Press Release: "INDEXA Supports Navassa Island DXpedition

Hello fellow DXers and INDEXA Members:
     INDEXA is pleased to announce that we are generously supporting the just announced major DXpedition to Navassa Island, KP1. The official team announcement says this will occur in January, 2015. The DXpedition call will be announced later. Navassa Island is currently ranked #2 on
   the DX Magazine's "Most Wanted List".
     The Navassa Island DXpedition Team leader is Bob Allphin, K4UEE, and he has assembled an extraordinary team of DXpeditioners with the know-how to plan, implement and activate the rarest of the rare DX entities.
The team includes AA7JV, HA7RY, K0IR, K4UEE, K5AC, K9CT, N2TU, N4GRN, NA5U,
   NM1Y, VE7CT, W0GJ, W6IZT, and WB9Z.
     INDEXA is the first DXpedition support group to announce financial support for this DXpedition. This support is possible because of your membership in INDEXA and the many prior donations. Interestingly, over half of the DXpedition team is made up of INDEXA officers, directors and members. INDEXA has provided support that is over and above what is customary; so if you would like to help replenish our reserves you might  consider an additional contribution via the web page
   www.indexa.org.
     This DXpedition should provide many of you with an all-time new DXCC entity as well as new band/mode countries for various ARRL, CQ and IOTA awards.
     Regards,
      Gary Dixon, K4MQG   - INDEXA President
      John Scott, K8YC    - VP-Newsletter Editor
      Dick Williams, W3OA - Secretary-Treasurer"
(OPDX 1186)