"We put in a six zone paging system using the iDR-4 as the heart of the system," explained Paul Svenson, co-owner of Bluewater Audio. "We also put in a remote controller - the PL-3 - at two locations, duplicating each other; there's one by the door and one by baggage handling."
Based on the same technology as the Allen & Heath iDR-8 system, iDR-4 is a 4 input / 4 output digital processor, with additional 2 input / 2 output dual-function monitor channels. The iDR-4 offers system expansion through its compatibility with the full range of iDR accessories. The paging system has to be intelligible and 100% percent reliable, as Svenson pointed out: "Passengers are walking in and out with military aircraft flying in and out on a constant basis. The ability for somebody to page the flight line and people who are standing outside becomes a life and death situation. That's why we put in the best gear that we could, things that, in the past, we have proven are reliable. This is the first installation we have done with the iDR, but we're very happy with the way it's performing."
Svenson knows from experience just how loud it can get out on the flight line. "We took a measurement one day just for fun. We were a block away from the flight line, sitting inside a car with the door closed, and we were hitting 106dB when a jet took off. They're flying F-14s off that flight line, so situations like this are really critical."
The Flight Line Passenger Terminal is what is known in military parlance as an Aerial Point of Embarkation (EPOE). Similar to a civilian airport terminal, it incorporates seating areas; information and check-in counters; offices for flight operations personnel; toilets; plus security facilities, including an anti-hijacking system. The new terminal meets the EPOE requirement for the facility to be able to process up to 500 personnel for departure.
Svenson continued: "We put a CD player in there for music playback and a paging mic at both locations. They can stand in the big waiting room and have the ability to page any of the zones. Plus, they have all-page and the ability to mute the music. Using Allen & Heath's PL-3 remote panel, they have the ability to hit the zone that they want to page, click the mic, and go. The installation has been trouble free, we put it in, got it wired up, and now it's on 24 hours a day and has been working for months. We're very, very happy with it."
The paging system additionally incorporates Atlas Sound ceiling speakers in the offices and Community high-volume speakers both inside and outside the building. Power is supplied by two QSC CX Series 70V power amps, with a Tascam CD500 acting as the music source.
The APOE opened in summer of 2004. According to a statement released by MCAS Mirarmar, a 50,000sqft cargo staging area has been completed along with the new check-in facility. The area will be used for storage and maintenance of war reserve mobilization materials in support of processing the expeditionary forces during significant airlift operations.
(Sarah Rushton-Read)
