Archive for the ‘Emergency Locator Transmitter’ Category
If you haven’t purchased an aviation ELT in the past few years, you’re definitely behind the times. At the beginning of 2009, the switch was officially made from 121.5 to 406 MHz transmissions. This means that many older ELT units are quite antiquated and may very well be worthless in the event of a crash.
Luckily, new ELT units are relatively inexpensive and most operate on both the 121.5 and 406 MHz frequencies. So even if you venture to a region where 121.5 MHz is still in use, you’ll be covered. An ELT can save your life in the event of a crash, and there is really no excuse for having one with you every time you take off.
With the economy in the tank and the Fed showing signs of doubt about the recovery, we’re all looking to save money. But when you’re searching for bargains, it’s important to know when to cut corners. Opting for the generic brand cereal probably isn’t too risky, but when it comes to your ELT, you want a trusted product from a quality manufacturer. One of the most highly touted units on the market today is the Artex ME406.
This single-output ELT transmits signals on both the 121.5 and 406 MHz frequencies, ensuring the authorities can locate you quickly and easily in the event of an emergency. In the event of a crash, the ELT automatically activates, so even if you’re injured and can’t reach the unit, you can rest assured it’s doing its job. And with a five-year battery life, you won’t have to worry about the Artex ME406 going out on you.
The Goddard Space Flight center has stated that pilots flying over water should have a personal locator beacon in addition to a 406MHz ELT on the aircraft. If the ELT signals the location of the crash site on water, it will not continue to do so submerged and if the occupants are in a raft or floating in the water they could be miles from where tha airplane went down in the water. A personal locator beacon can transmit the same information the emergency locator transmitter can. There are even PLBs that are waterproof and can float in water if droppped.
For nearly 40 years, Artex has been an industry leader in the development and proliferation of ELT devices. The company started by creating magnesium batteries for ELT units, quickly developing into a thriving international corporation. Over the years, Artex has steadily gained certifications allowing them to work on a variety of ELT models.
Since 1990, Artex has been manufacturing its own line of ELTs, which includes models operating on every utilized frequency. Now Artex is leading the way in new ELT technologies, incorporating longitude and latitude measurements and making the lightest, most affordable units on the market today. Many Artex ELTs can operate on multiple frequencies, eliminating the need to update your technology constantly.
ACK Emergency Locator Transmitter Approval Coming Soon!
The new ACK E-04 emergency locator transmitter is at the final stage of getting approval from authorities so it can be sold. The E-04 is the cheapest emergency locator transmitter available. In some cases, it is half the cost of other makes of ELTs. The ACK E-04 is a kit that comes complete with everything needed for installation. ELT, remote switch, buzzer, mounting hardware, coax cable, remote wiring, antenna. This is sure to be a HUGE seller as soon as it is approved.
The Kannad XS-4 personal locator beacon is on sale until the end of July. One of the cheapest (in price) personal locator beacons just got a little cheaper. The XS-4 is one of the smallest and lightest PLBs available. McMurdo teamed up with Kannad to produce this very small and cheap personal locator beacon so it has the technology of a very good company who has been making PLBs and EPIRBs for a very long time and has good reputation of making high quality products.
The FCC’s proposed ban on the certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or continued use of 121.5 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters is not yet registered has not been submitted to the Federal Register for publication, therefore, the 60-day clock for implementation of the rule has not begun. The benefits of 406MHz far exceed the old 121.5MHz emergency locator transmitters so many organizations including the AOPA and EAA encourage owners and aircraft operators to switch to the new 406MHz emergency locator transmitters if at all possible even though it is not, as of yet, legally required.
ELT Helps Rescuers Locate Downed Aviators
In this blog we often talk about the importance of aviation safety and carrying an ELT at all times, but most of us have never been in a situation where we actually need to make use of our AK-451. A recent crash in Rocky Mountain National Park, however, highlights the importance of keeping an ELT onboard at all times.
A man and his daughter were flying in the park when their plane crashed last Thursday and came to rest against a tree. They built a couple of signal fires, but what really saved them was their ELT; the beacon transmitted two signals to local authorities on Thursday afternoon, resulting in concentrated searches. Thanks to the signal fires and the transmission from the beacon, there was a speedy and successful recovery of the plane’s passengers.
A personal locator beacon saves the life of a fisherman adrift at sea. For two days, a fisherman off the Pacific Northwest coast, was drifting when the engine on his boat failed. Repeated attempts to signal other boats or the Coast Guard via the boat’s radio failed. After trying to get the motor to start and trying to reach rescue services via the radio for two days, the fisherman’s personal locator beacon was activated and soon a helicopter and Coast Guard ship were dispatched. Within an hour and a half the helicopter was on scene and 5 hours later a Coast Guard ship was able to tow the boat to the coast for repair. A personal locator beacon will work anywhere on the face of the planet because it uses a worldwide array of satellites to detect the signal almost instantly. With GPS, the satellites know the exact location of the PLB.
Canada is reportedly ready to sign a regulation that will require most aircraft operating in Canadian airspace to have 406 MHz ELTs. The rule will apply to foreign-registered aircraft, and those not equipped will not be allowed to enter Canadian airspace. There will likely be a three-year grace period before Canadian private aircraft have to be in compliance, but it’s not clear when the regulation will be applied to aircraft flying into Canada from other countries. Now is the time to get your 406MHz emergency locator transmitter to be in compliance when the regulation goes into effect.