CHARTERED FLIGHT TO CARRY INTERNATIONAL TEAM TO ISS

Just two years before the International Space Station's scheduled retirement, it is expected to receive a crew of European astronauts delivered via a chartered SpaceX Crew Dragon mission.

Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, said at a March 19 press briefing that that the ESA was chartering the flight to give the agency's astronauts an experience aboard the ISS to conduct research before the spacecraft is decommissioned and deorbited in 2030. The trip by the Provided Institutional Crew is being proposed for early 2028.

The ESA expects to include international partners in the mission but has not named any potential partner nations - nor has it said how many non-ESA astronauts would be included.

Both the UAE and Australian Space Agencies' websites report that agreements were signed in recent years with the European Space Agency committing to deeper collaboration in space-exploration initiatives.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP CALLS CQ FOR AUTISM AWARENESS

Now in its fourth year, the World Autism Awareness Week special event will again carry the message that "it's OK to be different." It's a theme uniting amateurs across oceans, with callsigns that include W2A here in the US and others in participating nations such as Italy, South Africa, Russia, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Israel and West Malaysia.

This weeklong special event begins on Wednesday the 1st of April. It has gained momentum as it brings advocacy on the air for those with autism spectrum disorder - a developmental disorder seen among people of all races and nationalities.

More details about the event and its callsigns - as well as useful information about autism spectrum disorder - can be found on the QRZ.com page of W2A.

FUNDS WOULD EXPAND, UPGRADE NOAA'S WEATHER RADIO NETWORK

Lawmakers in Washington, DC, have moved ahead with their commitment to invest $100 million in improved antennas and transmitter equipment to expand coverage for the VHF weather radio service of NOAA. A bipartisan measure that authorizes the expense was passed recently by members of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

An estimated 1,030 such weather stations hold licenses to operate on 162 MHz. The antenna and transmitter additions and upgrades focus on NOAA's radio service in remote areas of the US that have a higher risk of extreme weather. Beyond VHF improvements, the bill calls for NOAA to explore options on the microwave band to further strengthen the network's ability to communicate warnings about hazardous conditions. Other language in the bill directs NOAA to explore the possibility of satellite backup or partnerships with commercial providers.

The action in Washington stands in sharp contrast to a recent announcement by the Meteorological Service of Canada - that nation's equivalent of NOAA - that it was ending Weatheradio, its own national VHF radio weather service/

The US lawmakers' measure moves next for a vote in the full House but is not yet on the calendar. The action on Capitol Hill comes almost a year after the White House announced that the administration was looking to cut NOAA's weather research centers, particularly those focused on understanding climate change.

HAMS RESPOND TO HISTORIC FLOODS IN HAWAII

Our top story takes us to Hawaii, which was slammed with two so-called "atmospheric river storms" that brought heavy rains and high winds, flooding all the state's islands and sweeping many houses off their foundations. ARES and RACES hams were activated, providing realtime ground reports for weather and field information on Oahu and Maui. ARRL Pacific Section Manager Alan KH6TU/AD6E told Newsline in an email that VHF linked repeater systems carried individual voice reports sent to EOCs. Meanwhile, federal emergency ICS-213 forms were transmitted carrying messages and incident reports over peer-to-peer Winlink via VHF or on HF.

As emergency crews cleared landslides and repaired communications and power lines, hams continued to update road and weather conditions, assisting with coordinated communications. As Newsline went to production, recovery continued after what was being called the state's worst flooding in two decades.

TAKE THE "FIVE TWO" SIMPLEX CHALLENGE

If you grab your HT, tune to 146.52 MHz and call out for a contact, you are already rising to the challenge being posed by Mike N2MAK. Mike launched a project called the Five Two Simplex Challenge at the beginning of March and it runs through to the end of April. He is hoping to focus attention on 2m FM simplex for 52 days,

Mike told Newsline in an email [quote]: "I often hear from other hams that there isn't much 2m simplex activity and they wish there was more." [endquote]

Now, he hopes, there is: He chose this commonly monitored frequency because, he said, plenty of people listen but few people call out. He doesn't expect 52 days of nonstop activity but, as a portable operator himself, he is hopeful that there are many others like him.

He intends for this to be a learning experience: Operators may get a better idea of what their stations can do and perhaps consider upgrades or changes. Depending on where they live, they may even get to experience tropospheric ducting at this time of the year.

Mike said one of his most memorable contacts was on 2m simplex right right after a POTA activation. He told Newsline: "It was a brand new Technician who had been licensed for less than 2 weeks and it was his first ever simplex contact! You don't forget contacts like that, no matter which side of the radio you are on. Surprises like that are what can make 2m simplex contacts so special and fun." [endquote]

To see Mike's YouTube video about the event, see the link in the text version of this week's script at arnewsline.org

HURDY GURDY MUSEUM STATION BACK ON THE AIR

The sun was shining above the Hurdy Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth as Tony EI5EM and Reg Shannon, a short-wave listener, started some serious antenna work on the roof of the museum's Martello Tower.

They were installing a vertical HF antenna donated by Mike Keane, EI4-DF - a gift that has put County Dublin museum's ham radio station, EIØMAR back on the air - just in time for April’s International Marconi Day. The museum lost the use of the station after its previous antenna had been destroyed by storms. Although marked by periods of rain, installation day finally took place under clear skies, according to a report on the Irish Radio Transmitters’ website.

The tower has a celebrated role in radio history, not only because in 1902 American innovator Lee de Forest conducted experiments in wireless telegraphy, but also because it housed a Marconi receiving station that conducted ship-to-shore telegraphy experiments with HMS Monarch.

NEW INDIANA LAW PROTECTS HAM RADIO ANTENNAS, TOWERS

Starting on the 1st of July, amateur radio antennas, towers and feedlines cannot be restricted by homeowners associations in residential communities in Indiana. A new law signed by Gov. Mike Braun will afford hams such protection on any property they rent, lease or own within the association’s purview.

This is not a green light for all amateurs, however. According to the measure’s language on the Indiana General Assembly website House Bil number 1152 will only apply to homeowner’s associations that are formed or create documents containing such restrictions after June 30th, 2026.

Meanwhile, at the federal level, the Amateur Radio Emergency Preparedness Act, which would create protection nationwide, remains stalled in Washington, D.C. According to the website GovTrack.us, the bill was introduced into committee on the 6th of February where it must be considered and voted on before it can move along to either of the two main houses of Congress.

CAMBODIAN STUDENTS EXPLORE SATELLITE COMMUNICATION

The logbook of callsign XU7AMO - the Radio Club of the National Polytechnic Institute of Cambodia - once again has made contact with space. A satellite training session between the 26th of February and the 3rd of March gave 300 students a hands-on learning experience, building and utilising antenna systems, gaining an understanding of ground stations and learning to track low-earth orbit satellites. An international team joined the session to support the different activities. They included ham radio satellite technician Mikio JA3GEP and marine electronics and telecommunications systems expert Paulo F5VMJ.

The students focused on low-earth orbit satellites and had a contact with the International Space Station. This was a follow-up to last year's session when XU7AMO operated for the first time using the QO-100 satellite. Making their first contact with Antarctica, they had a question-and-answer session with DOØGVN at Neumayer III, the German research base. That QSO had been made possible after the Cambodian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission authorised the station's use of the higher frequencies needed for the transmission.

HAMVENTION ANNOUNCES AWARD WINNERS

Four influential US amateurs and a well-known club based in New York State have been chosen to receive this year's Hamvention Awards.

The Technical Achievement Award is being given to Robert Famiglio K3RF, whose six decades as a ham radio operator are followed by more than four decades of providing volunteer legal counsel and regulatory literacy to his fellow amateurs on a variety of issues. In addition to being a lawyer, Bob has used his ham and electrical-engineering background to provide technical expertise. He has previously been involved in leadership roles in the Radio Club of America and, formerly, the ARRL.

Dr. Jose “Otis” Vicens NP4G has been named Amateur of the Year. An orthodontist, he has also been involved in DXpeditions at various locations globally, including Bouvet Island. His most recent DXpedition took him to Desecheo Island where he operated as part of the KP5/NP3VI team. Otis' leadership role in emergency communication provided vital coordination during the 2017 Puerto Rico hurricanes as well as followup.

Special Achievement Award has been given to Martha Fell N3QBE and Joe Fell W3GMS for their longtime mentorship of students of all ages and interests through a program they have organized and a weekly technical net that welcomes newcomers as well as professional engineers.

Hamvention is also recognizing the Long Island CW Club as Club of the Year. Under the club's umbrella, structured online classes provide all levels of CW training - led by members - for diverse groups of students around the world.

Congratulations everyone!

FEDERAL COURT RULES AGAINST VOA LEADERSHIP

A federal court has ruled that Kari Lake's oversight of the agency responsible for Voice of America, Radio Free Europe and other shortwave news broadcast networks, was in the position illegally. Her appointment to the post, which she gave up last November, was made last July without the customary confirmation by the US Senate. Lake told the website Politico that the government intends to appeal the decision which she "strongly disagrees" with. Her brief tenure was marked by firings of staff and dismissals of contractors, withholding of funds to Radio Free Europe and Radio Free Asia and a contract with the far-right news provider, One America Network.

AUSTRALIAN HAMS CHALLENGE HIGHER FEES ON STATE LANDS

Amateurs in New South Wales are troubled by what they believe are prohibitive fee hikes recently put in place for access to Crown Land.

Calling the situation “unsustainable” for amateur repeaters and other equipment installed there, the president of the Goulburn & Southern Highlands Amateur Radio Society has written a letter to ham clubs around the state, urging members to contact their members of Parliament.

In his open letter to the clubs, Pete Chatwin, VK2PET, the radio society’s president, noted that new or continued access to elevated Crown Land sites for repeaters and towers could cost clubs as much as AU$20,000 per annum. Pete said that hams need to substantiate their own clubs’ financial hardship by forwarding examples to Steph Cooke, member for Cootamundra and Shadow Minister for Crown Lands.

Pete wrote: [quote] “It is important that we provide genuine, practical examples of how these costs are affecting clubs across NSW.” [Endquote] He said that groups in rural areas as well as those providing emergency communications and training, rely on robust functioning networks that include these sites.

WRTC NOT PERMITTING NATIONAL FLAGS, SYMBOLS

Spectators and participants can expect to see plenty of things at the World Radiosport Team Championship event in the UK this coming July. There will be antennas, rigs, cables, microphones and keys -- and plenty of spectators to cheer on the hams using them.

What will not be evident anywhere are any emblems, flags or other symbols of national identity. The Organising Committee of WRTC 2026 has reaffirmed the approach that was used during the WRTC event held in 2023 in Bologna, Italy. That means that, as before, this year's teams will avoid national symbols of any kind. This is especially significant because it is consistent with the competition's qualification process which identifies all participants by qualification area and not by their DXCC.

Like the Olympics, the WRTC is held every four years with different host countries each time. They have included Brazil, Finland, Germany, Russia, Slovenia and, in the US, San Francisco, Boston and Seattle.

RESTRICTIONS TO IMPACT KANTON ISLAND DXPEDITIONS

The Rebel DX Group’s plan to operate as T31TTT this month from Kanton Island in central Kiribati could well be the last for amateur radio for a long time, according to a report from organisers on the website DX-World.

Dom, 3D2USU, said that the nation’s fishery and environmental officials have put in place a full array of costs affecting visitors. He said that these new permit fees and other requirements will impose a great financial burden on teams. DXpeditioners will need to provide accommodation, food and transportation for four government officials who will need to be present on any future visits to Kanton.

He says that in simple terms future Kanton Island DXpeditions will cost about 200,000 US dollars which makes T31 prohibitive.

The obstacles are not unlike some of the restrictions the same group of operators face for its hoped-for trip to Conway Reef 3D2/C. Since Rebel DX’s 2024 operation there in May 2024 as 3D2CCC, Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries has begun moving toward declaring it a restricted-access zone. The group announced in January that, with those plans in mind, the hams are accelerating their plans for an activation there.

Meanwhile, the DXpeditioners are hoping to get to Kanton Island and be on the air sometime around March 25th.

A TOWERING RESCUE FROM HOT AIR BALLOON

A hot-air balloon, with two passengers aboard, was blown into a cell phone tower standing 925 feet, or more than 280 meters, high in Longview, a city east of Dallas, Texas. The crash on February 28th left the two passengers dangling near the top of the tower as the balloon became entangled in its guying cables.

Emergency crews from police and fire departments responded. As rescuers climbed using several ropes, they battled the same strong winds that had led to the crash, working for more than an hour to free the passengers in what was deemed [quote] "a rare, high-risk operation." [endquote] They were brought down safely.

The scene in Texas was reminiscent of an incident in Albuquerque, New Mexico in 2024 when a hot-air balloon crashed into the tower of radio station KKOB-AM. The three passengers on board that balloon were also rescued safely.

DX INDIA FOUNDATION MAKES NEW TRY ON ARNALA ISLAND

Heavy rainstorms last year cancelled the plans of the DX India Foundation to activate Arnala Island. The island, one of India's most coveted sites in the IOTA programme, carries the designation of AS-169. Sarath, VU2RS, announced recently on the DX World website that he is hoping to bring a three-day activation there starting on the 1st of May. There has been no amateur radio activity on the island since 2006.

A successful activation would not only fulfill one of the relatively new foundation's objectives - to activate rare IOTAs - it would also put Arnala Island in the logs of eager chasers everywhere.

ADJUSTMENTS TO AUSTRALIA BAND PLAN RECOMMENDATIONS

The Wireless Institute of Australia's Technical Advisory Committee has fine-tuned its recommendations for changes to the amateur radio band plan after reviewing more than three dozen submissions. It is now recommending that the emergency communications channel on 40m be aligned with IARU Region 3 on 7.110 MHz, that the SSB portion of the 6m band be widened and that 1.87 MHz and 3.686 MHz be chosen as the AM centres of activity for 160m and 80m.

The committee's full document, which reaffirms its other original proposals and clarifies use of the FM Analogue ATV band, has been published online. Visit the consultation webpage using the link provided in the text version of this week's newscast at arnewsline.org

CANADA ENDING NATIONWIDE WEATHERADIO SERVICE

Canada's national weather centre is ending its Weatheradio service which has been available on VHF since 1976. In a decision driven by budget priorities and what the agency called declining usage, the forecasts are going silent on the 16th of March. Officials are instead encouraging the use of a free mobile app or an interactive weather map on their website.

Upgraded in 2004 to accommodate digitally encoded signals, the nationwide system has provided local and regional forecasts in English and French. The reports have been transmitted on the same frequencies used in the US by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Weather Radio, in the 162 MHz frequency range

Amateur radio operator Michael Iszak VE3HA, who is also a radiocommunications consultant. told the Toronto Sun that he was concerned about the weather service's demise. He told the newspaper: [quote] “These stations are often used by people who travel to areas where there is no cell service, it’s invaluable for getting updated weather forecasts." [endquote]

HAMS IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT NATIONAL HURRICANE CONFERENCE

Amateur radio workshops at the National Hurricane Conference will include presentations by such leaders from the ham community as Rob Macedo, KD1CY of the VoIP Hurricane Net, Josh Johnston, KE5MHV, ARRL Director of Emergency Management, Julio Ripoll, WD4R, Assistant Coordinator at WX4NHC, and Bobby Graves, KB5HAV, Net Manager of the Hurricane Watch Net.

Graves gave Newsline a preview of a new program he will be presenting, built around the theme “Impact.” While Category 5 hurricanes may get more attention from the media, some tropical storms may make a greater real-world impact than bigger weather events. For amateur radio operators, one report can make a difference… can make an impact. As Graves said, “Your reports matter.”

With Julio Ripoll scheduled to step down this year, he may be introducing his successor at WX4NHC during the workshops as well.

If you can’t attend in person, the forum will be live-streamed on the Hurricane Watch Net YouTube Channel.

STUDENT QSO WITH ANTARCTICA PART OF FAMILY SPACE DAY

All eyes will be on the project known as futureGEO to be presented at Bochum Observatory’s Bochum Space Day to be hosted by AMSAT-DL. The programme is taking place on 28th March in conjunction with Germany's Space Day and Day of Astronomy. Much anticipation surrounds the proposed geostationary amateur radio payload, which is to succeed the QO-100 satellite, providing access for Europe and parts of North America.

All ears, however, will be on the scheduled contact to be made between students and the Neumayer-III research station, DPØGVN, in Antarctica. The observatory's director, Thilo Elsner, DJ5YM, will lead that activity.

Youngsters and their families are also being invited to participate in a full day of activities organised by the European Space Education Resource Office of the European Space Agency. ESERO Germany was established at Bochum in 2018.

FCC REPORTS TO CONGRESS ON 6TH YEAR OF PIRATE ACT

Since Congress enacted the PIRATE Act - an acronym for Preventing Illegal Radio Abuse Through Enforcement - the Federal Communications Commission has been responsible for reporting its annual activities with the enhanced power it was given through the January 2020 legislation. Its most recent report covers the government's fiscal year for 2025, which ran from the 1st of October 2024 through to the 30th of September 2025.

According to the report, the FCC issued 28 notices to property owners or managers for permitting illegal broadcasts from their premises. Seventeen of those were directly related to one of the so-called "pirate sweeps" the FCC conducts concentrating on five markets found to have the most pirate stations.

In the same period, the FCC went directly after the radio operators themselves, issuing six forfeiture orders and 10 notices of apparent liability for forfeiture. Separately, it entered into three consent decree agreements with radio pirates. Each agreement contained a 20-year compliance plan.

It is not known what the total monetary penalties will ultimately be for any of the violations issued, even though the amounts specified in the original PIRATE Act have increased over the years. Adjusted for inflation, the penalties now carry a maximum of $122,661 in US dollars per day - and a US dollar maximum of $2,453,218.

Although the FCC is responsible for these enforcement actions, the agency does not collect the amounts. That task is given to the US Department of Justice.