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There was a recent article last month in AOPA
magazine (I think).
The interesting part was that CAP does not
have and will not have
for quite some time locator equipment in all
their aircraft. This would imply
you would want GPS location as the sat can
locate you to a smaller area than
121.5 but it is still big in rugged terrain.
Of course you have to crash where you get good GPS
reception on the ground. You probably also
want to hedge you bet with a dual
unit 121.5 and 406.
The independent libertarian streak in most
pilots would say that if I do not
survive to set off my personal locator then I
don't care if they find me.
A acquaintance of mine in the Search and
Rescue business counters that
by asserting that nearly every pilots family
has enough pull in Wasington
to get millions spent of a search for their
loved ones partially consumed (by bears)
remains.
It was a good article though for real
information.
David Lowry
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, October 01, 2008 7:54
PM
Subject: [LML] Re: New ELT
Jim Scales wrote in part: I
have not seen any reference to the new ELT rules that go into effect next
year.
Evidently, our current equipment will no longer work (
or perhaps even be legal) as of Feb 1, 2009.
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
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