NAVAIR China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, Calif.--Area residents, visitors and employees of the NAVAIR China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station now have a new radio station for emergencies and information at 1610AM. This station has been set up to alert everyone of the latest gate hours, badging and access requirements, plus road closures. This radio station will also provide information on the Sidewinder 50th Anniversary events from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.

“During the past year, there have been a number of occasions where we had to close various gates, limit access or had an unexpected road closure,” said Doris Lance, spokesperson for the Station. “Unfortunately, we didn’t have one sure way for everyone to get the information in a timely manner. This caused some traffic delays and major inconveniences.”

The base radio station has a frequency that reaches out towards Inyokern and throughout Ridgecrest. According to Force Protection Team Member Bill Lyons, it depends upon a person’s radio if they can receive information inside a building or not. “My wife couldn’t pick it up at her work,” he said, “but when I drove out by her workplace, I picked it up in the truck just fine.”

During the standard security posture, the radio station will broadcast gate hours, access limitations, and road closures during the morning hours. Any changes in access requirements, force protection conditions, etc. will be broadcast throughout the day. Everyone who works or lives in the area and needs access to the base is urged to set their radio dial to 1610AM and to check it frequently.

For information, call the Public Affairs Office at (760) 939-3511.