Sarasota firm to install Lake Wales Airport AWOS system

Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. President Daniel Lester announces that the firm has been awarded a contract to install the new Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) at the Lake Wales Airport in south central Florida. The airport is one of the most active destination and departure points in this rapidly growing part of Florida. Airport operations are dependent on a constant and reliable source of weather updates – particularly in an area where rapidly changing weather conditions are a fact of life. The new AWOS system being installed by SECS includes sensors which measure, collect and disseminate continuing weather data. The system is designed to assist meteorologists, pilots and flight dispatchers with information needed to plan flight routes, landing and take off schedules. While AWOS does not predict weather, the system’s sensors continually monitor and measure wind speeds and directions, temperature, dew points visibility, cloud formations and elevations, precipitation and barometric pressure. This vital information is then relayed to weather forecast stations for integration with other data including computer models, satellite photos and radar images. It is then made available for wireless, satellite and land line communications which can be accessed by airports and other off-site users. Says Lester, “We are proud to be part of creating the design and installation of a system that is essential to the safe and efficient operation of important airports such as the Lake Wales facility.” Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. is a general contractor specializing in design, engineering, construction and maintenance of wireless communication facilities. Headquartered in Sarasota, Fla. since 1990, the firm has become a leader in the communications construction industry.

SECS completes educational TV upgrades

An extensive upgrade of So. Carolina educational TV stations has been completed by Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. (SECS). Improvements include tower structural modifications and enhancements that will permit the five stations to expand educational television, radio and closed circuit communication systems capabilities. Upgraded services included are enhanced and expanded TV, radio, satellite and Internet capabilities serving more than 2,000 schools, colleges, businesses and government agencies. The five towers range from 598 ft. to 1123 ft. in height and presented a considerable challenge to highly skilled SECS tower technician teams. The upgraded sites include WHEH, Greenwood; WRJA, Sumter; WNSE, Rock Hill, WRET, Spartanburg and WHMC, Conway. The State’s educational TV network is dedicated to the advancement of educational programs, culture and the arts as well as citizenship. Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. is a general contractor specializing in design, engineering, construction and maintenance of wireless communication facilities. Headquartered in Sarasota, Fla. since 1990, the firm has become a leader in the communications construction industry, building and modifying many hundreds of communications sites throughout the southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean.

NOAA notifies SECS of intent to renew contract

President Daniel G. Lester of Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. (SECS) has been notified by the National Oceanic and Administration of the agency’s intent to renew its service contract with the Sarasota based firm. The contract involves technical evaluation and support services for "life-cycle maintenance and catastrophic recovery" of radar towers essential to the national NOAA weather radio network. Since the weather radar towers are relied upon to carry on through storms, extreme temperatures and corrosive environments, they need to withstand a witch’s brew of potential problems — atmospheric corrosion, damaged structural components and tower substructure, and even fasteners loosened by alternating exposure to extreme heat and cold. Any of these can result in the system’s failure to carry out its lifesaving functions. It must therefore rely on the meticulous attention of a firm specializing in this vital maintenance operation. SECS is one of but a few national firms with the depth of experience and expertise needed. Says Lester, "We are proud to have earned NOAA’s confidence and to be a part of supporting the continued operation of this vital service." Among services performed for NOAA are detailed inspection, structural verfication and entire cleaning of frame structures towering some 75 meters (246 ft.) into the air. The towers, stairs and supporting structures are then coated with a specially formulated zinc/epoxy coating and must pass rigorous tests before being accepted as satisfactory. "While our primary focus has been the design, assembly and erection of radar and similar towers and systems used in a wide range of industrial applications, maintenance becomes every bit as important. That’s why we have kept highly trained crews available on a continual basis and almost on a moment’s notice to fulfill these obligations," adds Lester.

Southeastern Communication Service, Inc. employees recently attended the “ComTrain Tower Climbing Safety and Rescue” course held at the SECS Sarasota Florida facility. The classroom training took place on 16 March 2006 and field exercises were held 17 March on the company training tower. This class was instructed by recent ComTrain Instructor graduate Nick Artemik. Students were instructed on several critical skills, including: Hazard Analysis, Personal Protective Equipment, Personal Fall Arrest Systems, Safe Climbing Techniques and Injured Climber Rescue. Safety is the major objective at SECS and all students and employees are required to adhere to the training curriculum. SECS conducts a “Safety Stand Down” every six months, at which time all employees receive additional training including: Safe Driving, Safe Rigging Technique, Job Safety Analysis, connector classes, quality assurance and other subjects of current need.