Editorial
This is the first edition of On Aire, Leeds RAYNET's new newsletter. It is being sent to all paid-up members of the Group. It would be strange to start a publication without saying what I, as editor, expect it to be.
The first and perhaps most surprising thing to say is that I do not expect the newsletter to last very long. In a world where people tend to talk their products up, this may seem a rather strange thing to say. The reason is simply that I intend the newsletter to serve a specific purpose which will have been fulfilled (or not!) within eighteen months. Leeds RAYNET is starting to take Year 2000 problems (also known as the Millenium Bug issue) rather seriously. Several of us have started planning in case we are called out at the end of 1999 or the start of 2000. A lot of good ideas are floating around in the Group and I think it is worth distributing these to all members. A publication seems suitable - conversations get forgotten but paper can be referred back to. Issues will also go on our web site (address on the front cover).
The Year 2000 (or Y2K) Problem refers to the possibility that some computer systems will mis-behave with serious consequences around the start of the year 2000. I will give no more explanation than that, as others have already written reams about it. Some of you have seen the edition of the Home Office's publication Civil Protection devoted to the problem. I shall distribute spare copies to those who have not received it, but probably with the second edition of On Aire. Even if you're not interested in computers, I do suggest that you make a real attempt to read it. The bottom line is that the problems could generate incidents where RAYNET might get called out. When you read (page 13, Northumbria Police) that all Police leave is cancelled for a fortnight either side of the year turn, you realise that it is a matter to be taken seriously.
It is tempting to say "great, this is what we have prepared and trained for, if anything happens we can show the authorities that we can cope". But can we? If Y2K strikes, it will present problems we have not met before. To give just one example: if an aircraft crashed on Leeds, we could normally call on nearby RAYNET groups to help. But, as Graham G0SCV pointed out, all RAYNET groups will be hit at the same time by Y2K, so we cannot rely on assistance from our neighbours. We need to think radically and innovatively, or we could be as ill-prepared as anyone else.
This newsletter is intended primarily for Leeds RAYNET preparations for Year 2000 problems, but there is no reason why it should be exclusively that. If you have some other RAYNET material, write it up - I can probably find space for it. I suggest that you talk to me before putting pen to paper.
I intend to produce six issues of this newsletter. The idea is to produce it approximately quarterly. That means that the Issue 5 will be just before the dreaded date, timed to distribute last-minute information. Issue 6 will be produced sometime after the year turn, and will be a de-briefing on what happened and what lessons were learnt. Realistically, there may not be enough material for all these issues. If so, they will simply appear late or not at all; I am not going to invent material to fill a gap. They will also normally be stapled sheaves of paper, not bound as this one.
I only intend to produce these six editions. Maybe someone will wish to take it over then and continue it as a general Leeds RAYNET newsletter. By Spring 2000 it should be clear whether there is a need for it.
So that is the plan. The hope is that the newsletter will improve our chances of success. There will be problems we have not met before, so we should not assume we can cope. It is said that someone once asked Einstein what weapons he thought the Third World War would be fought with. He replied that he didn't know, but if there was one then the Fourth World War would be fought with bows and arrows. If we don't get our act together by the fifth edition of this newsletter, the sixth one might be written with a quill pen.
Chris Trayner G4OKW (Editor)
Back to the On Aire Issue 1 index.
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