Jim,
The US and other participating countries will turn off COSPAS/SARSAT
monitoring of frequencies 121.5 and 243.0 next February. That is the only “real
change” that will occur; there are no “new ELT rules”
associated with this change—at least for US-registered aircraft. It is
being done to try to reduce the number of false emergency alerts they are
responding to—at least if you believe the media spin that’s been
applied. As a practical matter, many ground and airborne systems will still
monitor these frequencies, but this does not provide the same level coverage
now provided by SARSAT. There are a number of good web sites that discuss this,
starting with the NOAA site at www.sarsat.noaa.gov.
If you have access, do a Google search on SARSAT and you’ll find more
information than you can digest.
The FAA has not, at least yet, required any US-registered
aircraft to change ELT’s as a result of this loss of monitoring (while
flying in US airspace), but has encouraged aircraft owners to upgrade to 406
MHz beacons through media and public presentations. There is a “common
sense” issue here: A 406 MHz ELT will provide an increased likelihood that
you’ll be positively identified if you go down, a more accurate position
location of where you are, and an increased likelihood that the ELT itself will
work when needed—because of better design and reliability of the newer
equipment.
Bottom line: You don’t have to do/change anything if you’re
only flying in the US, BUT you’d be prudent to upgrade if you can afford
it. ARTEX sells some very nice 406 units. I’ve installed their Artex
ME406 unit in my new IV-P. This unit does not have GPS position reporting, but
they have (more costly) units that do. For me, the ME406 was the right
cost/effectiveness trade off. Others will disagree—on both sides.
Bob