Offshore training flights were conducted to familiarize observers with the plane, 

 navigational equipment, and survey mechanics. 



Survey Subunits 



Four offshore survey subunits were established in the vicinity of the following 

 locations: Brownsville, Texas (STEX); Corpus Christi, Texas (NTEX); Tampa Bay, Florida 

 (NFLA); and Naples, Florida (SFLA). Map 1 shows the approximate locations of the 

 subunits; the precise subunit boundaries are listed in Table 1. Subunit deliniation was not 

 restricted to specific bathymetric limits because of the extreme mobility of marine 

 organisms, and the paucity of existing information precluded determination of definite 

 depth correlates for marine mammals, birds, and turtles. Provision was made, however, 

 for surveying subunits to depths exceeding 200 m and, in some areas, to much greater 

 depths. Subunits were positioned so as to provide coverage on the eastern and western 

 extremes of the Gulf of Mexico. The total area encompassed by the four survey subunits 

 was 98,568 km 2 . 



Survey Dates 



Dedicated aerial surveys were conducted from August to December 1979. Surveys 

 were conducted during 5 to 10 August at the Florida subunits and in Texas from 20 to 25 

 August. No delays due to inclement weather were encountered in August. During the 

 November/December flights, numerous cold fronts from the north created foul surveying 

 conditions in the Gulf of Mexico, and flights were delayed considerably. During this 

 period the Florida subunits were surveyed from 4 to 17 November, and the Texas subunits 

 surveyed between 19 November and 4 December. Table 2 lists a detailed breakdown of 

 survey dates. 



Personnel at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) 

 Weather Service at Corpus Christi International Airport, Texas, informed us that 

 inclement weather we encountered in the Gulf of Mexico during November/December 

 was typical of the winter months. Future surveys should be scheduled accordingly. 



Aircraft and Equipment 



Aero-Marine Survey, Inc., a company with experience in marine survey work, was 

 contracted for the tenure of the Pilot Study. The Cessna 337 Skymaster, used to fly the 

 surveys, was equipped with extended-range fuel tanks, STOL kit for slow flight, TDL 711 

 Loran C radio navigation, surface and weather radar, radar altimeter, and an infrared 

 radiometer for monitoring sea surface temperatures. The additional fuel capacity 

 enabled the plane to carry 2 hours of extra fuel for emergency use. A voice-actuated 

 intercom system was used during the November surveys, but not in August. The use of 

 this equipment greatly facilitated data transfer from observers to the recorder. 



Safety equipment aboard the plane consisted of a self-inflating life raft with 

 attached radio beacon, Mae West style life preservers, and an emergency first aid kit. 



Vertical photographs were taken with a built-in Hasselblad MK-70 camera with 

 70-mm wide angle lens. A 35-mm SLR camera with 200-mm telephoto lens was used for 

 oblique photos. 



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