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FINAL ROAR FROM THE ATLANTIC CHALLENGE

Last year Icom (UK) Ltd aided British adventurer David Hempleman-Adams in his successful crossing of the Atlantic in an open basket balloon. The company supplied a wide range of specialist radio communication equipment that was instrumental in the success of his adventure, the first man to cross the Atlantic in an open wicker-basket balloon. David (below, left) met Ian Lockyer (Marketing Manager) (below, right) from Icom (UK) Ltd to say thank you and to explain just how important Icom's products really were to this record breaking crossing.

This was David's third attempt at a solo crossing of the Atlantic in a traditional open wicker basket. In 2002, David had to land in Connecticut due to technical problems. In early 2003 the atrocious weather conditions in the Eastern United States caused such a delay that by the time David was airborne the winds were too slow to allow an Atlantic crossing without running out of fuel. This time however David Hempleman-Adams landed the Uniq Atlantic Challenger safely in a field in Hambleton, North East of Blackpool. Although the balloon landed in a hedge David was able to calmly climb out of the basket. David had endured sleep deprivation, fear and cold in the 5’ X 7’ open-wicker basket for four days after launching from New Brunswick, Canada on September 26.

David admits he was ‘shaking with fear’ the night before landing, when he reported to the Flight Control Centre at around 1800hrs GMT that two massive bangs shook his balloon violently causing it to drop several hundred feet. A very frightened Hempleman-Adams later learned that the scary incident was in fact caused by Concorde’s sonic boom. Asked why he chose to have a third attempt at the Challenge David said, 'When Uniq Foods offered sponsorship I simply had to have another go this year'. When asked about the perils of travelling in an open wicker basket he responded 'I really wanted to attempt to cross the Atlantic in a low-budget, low-tech, old world spirit of the Jules Verne era - although of course this presents a much greater challenge than doing it in a modern Kevlar gondola'.

David took a wide selection of Icom radio equipment with him. The Challenge used two HF IC-78 commercial transceivers (which were used as the main operating transceivers between the balloon and the control room in Bath). David also took an IC-A200 VHF fixed airband transceiver as well as the IC-A3E and IC-A22E VHF handheld airband transceivers. David also had an IC-M1EuroV waterproof marine handheld as backup just in case he had to ditch into the sea. Other equipment that Icom UK supplied included antennas, power supplies and battery case. Only minor modifications were needed to the equipment that David took. For the IC-78 in the balloon, a flexible wire was placed outside the balloon to act as an antenna for the radio. The IC-78 at headquarters in Bath required a power supply and an AH-710 broadband folded dipole provided wide frequency coverage. Asked as to the equipment’s use,

David said, ’The IC-A200 VHF fixed avionic radio was used closer to land and for talking to helicopters. It was used all the way up through the United States and back into Europe. HF was there for emergency communications and the Handhelds came in really useful over Ireland for talking to the media! The avionic handhelds were really intended as support to the IC-A200. I use them in my everyday flying anyway, they are like a trusted watch.’David said, ’The thing about expeditions is that you have got to learn from experience. This means you have always got to look for the best: the best team; the best control room; the best weatherman; and the best equipment. I have used other radios but I have always found myself going back to Icom. I wouldn't use anything else now because my life depends on it.’

He added, 'We would never have been able to complete the challenge without Icom. With the high level of security in the United States and the air corridor on the eastern seaboard being one of the busiest airspaces in the world, the American Air Traffic Controllers needed to speak to us and know our location. If you think of a balloon as an aircraft, particularly one the size of a skyscraper, the need for clear communication and navigation is paramount.'

David said, 'this has to be one of the highlights of my life although I vow never to attempt it again. As it was my third go at this attempt, it feels that a great weight has been lifted off my shoulders. The challenge started to really aggravate me - the more I tried the more I wanted to do it, so when I failed it really got under my skin.

He added, 'Such was my desire to be successful that when an air traffic controller in Ireland had told me that I had crossed the Atlantic I became very emotional. That really choked me up and I have never had that feeling before on anything I have done. I feared I would have to land in the sea as my fuel had run out, but strong winds carried me over Blackpool and into a field where the hedges eventually stopped the balloon. About 200 residents, plus emergency services, welcome me back to earth with applause. They came running from all over the place it was just amazing. The people were so delightful, it just felt nice to be English! The owner of the field did not know what was going on, he looked so baffled.

Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager at Icom (UK) Ltd said,’ Icom are really proud of our involvement with this record breaking achievement. It has truly been a heroic feat and a great personal battle against all the elements.’

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk