As in past years, the prevalance of fog in the Grand Banks area 

 hampered the effectiveness and systematic scheduling of ice reconnais- 

 sance flights. Weather reports from shipj^ing and weather forecasts 

 made by the U.S. Navy Fleet Weather Central at Argentia were ex- 

 tremely helpful in avoiding scheduling of flights during periods of low- 

 visibility in the search areas. When periods of low visibility continued 

 for a number of days and it appeared, due to previous observed ice 

 conditions, that a dangerous situation might develoj) in the steamer 

 tracks, ice reconnaissance flights were flown depending solely on radar 

 to detect, targets. 



Flight statistics for the season are presented in table 2, Aerial Ice 

 Reconnaissance Statistics — 1966 Season. 



Table 2. Aerial Ice reconnaissance statistics — 1966 season 



1 Ratio (XlOO) of area actually searched visually to area planned to be searched. 



COMMUNICATIONS 



The ice reports collected from ships, aircraft, and ice observation 

 agencies were plotted, analyzed, and during periods when aerial ice 

 reconnaissance flights were not made, ice conditions were forecast for 

 the forthcoming 1'2-hour period. This analyzed and forecast informa- 

 tion was used to prepare the ice advisory broadcasts and bulletins, the 

 primary means of disseminating ice information to shipping. 



From 1 March 1966 to 28 April 1966, ice information was broadcast 

 twice daily to shipping by U.S. Coast Guard radio station (NIK) at 

 0048 G.m."t. and 1248 G.m.t. simultaneously on 155, 5320, 8502, and 

 12,880.5 kcs. Each broadcast was preceded by a general call on 500 

 kcs. with instructions to shift to the above operating frequencies. A 

 2-minute period of test signals transmitted on the operating frequen- 

 cies facilitated receiver tuning. Each broadcast was transmitted twice, 

 once at 15 words per minute and once at 25 words per minute. Pre- 

 scribed radio silent periods were observed. Ice bulletins were also sent 

 via teletype to the U.S. Navy Oceanographic Office, Washington, D.C., 

 for further dissemination by twice daily broadcasts by U.S. Navy Radio 

 Washington (NSS) on the regular "Hydro" broadcasts, for inclusion 

 of a daily ice chartlet in the daily memoranchims, and tVir a weekly 

 ice chartlet. Ice bulletins were also sent via teletype to the Canadian 



