Archive for October, 2009
Surviving the Aftermath of an Emergency Landing
While commercial planes are subject to rigorous safety inspections and constant structural scrutiny, the same cannot necessarily be said for small, private planes. Amateur pilots and hobbyists aren’t always master mechanics, nor do they always perform the routine maintenance required to fly a plane with absolute confidence. Whether it’s because of unavoidable equipment malfunctions or human negligence, small aircraft can suffer unexpected problems.
In the unlikely and unfortunate event that your plane ever goes down or that you’re forced to crash-land in a remote location, it’s best to be prepared. Since you won’t have your pick of the precise location where the plane lands, there’s no way to guarantee that you’ll have access to the facilities we take for granted every day. By keeping a personal survival kit in the cockpit of the plane, you increase your odds of surviving the aftermath of a crash or emergency landing.
Flying into Mexico now requires a 406MHz emergency locator transmitter to be installed in an aircraft. The Mexican government required the use 406 MHz as of July 2009. There is a lot of very remote and rugged terrain all over Mexico and the use of the new ELTs will ensure that an aircraft will be found if it goes down over Mexico. 406 MHz is far advanced from that of the old 121.5 MHz. The advantages are so many that the Mexican government decided (along with ICAO) to implement the use of 406 MHz over the entire country.
Personal locator beacons used for hunting trips by adventure companies. Many companies that offer hunting and fishing trips to remote locations are using personal locator beacons as an added safety feature for customers. For many people, a hunting or fishing trip into the wilderness can be an excursion enjoyed only once or a few times in a lifetime. If anything were to go wrong, the only way to contact someone is with the use of a very expensive satellite phone or a personal locator beacon (PLB). A PLB can be carried for years without any cost at all. If needed, it can be counted on to work because it floats and is waterproof. The satellite phones are expensive (to buy and operate) and not very durable. This is why many adventure and outdoor companies rely on the personal locator beacon for added safety of their employees and customers.
Expect the Unexpected When You’re off the Beaten Path
Earlier this week, a freak landslide wreaked havoc in the eastern part of the Washington State’s Cascade Mountains. According to estimates from emergency response workers, more than 1,500 people were forced from their homes or trapped in the area overnight. Geologists and seismologists hadn’t anticipated the rock slide is making State Route 410 completely impassable for the next several months.
Events like this just go to show that campers and rural residents can never be too careful. When you’re far away from medical facilities and other bastions of civilization, it’s important to have a lifeline. Personal locator beacons act as a link to the authorities and to those who can help you out of a jam. Even if you never need to use the beacon, it’s better to have peace of mind knowing you’re in constant contact.
Personal locator beacons are saving lives everyday worldwide. The COSPAS/SARSAT system of globally tracking 406MHz signals via satellites is proving to be a real life saving system. The system uses an array of satellites launched and monitored by Canada, the United States, France, and Russia to monitor and distress signal by a personal locator beacon (personal), emergency locator transmitter (aircraft), or an EPIRB (boat). This signal is immediately detected anywhere on the planet and transmitted to the nearest rescue facility. Personal locator beacons are very small and are being used everyday for saving the lives of boaters, pilots, hiker, campers, hunters, etc…
Survival kits are recommended by state and federal emergency services because of their life saving potential. A simple survival kit can be just enough to get a person or family through an unexpected natural disaster or terrorist action. When normal means of getting help are cut off for a few hours or a few days, the contents of a survival kit can be enough to save someone’s life or get them through a tough situation a little easier. Food, shelter, and emergency medical supplies are just the basics of a kit and can absolutely essential in an emergency. Don’t get caught off guard when the unexpected happens. Prepare yourself with a well prepared survival kit.
A pilot was saved when his Artex ME406 emergency locator transmitter alerted rescues services to his location. Flying at low altitude for survey work, there was no time to get a radio signal out before preparing for an immediate off airport landing. The pilot executed a great forced landing in the wilderness north west of Anchorage, but was unable to contact anyone via radio due to the remoteness of location. He manually activated his Artex ME406 emergency locator transmitter and was found with a rescue aircraft within two hours.
Ameri-King emergency locator transmitters are one of the best selling units on the market for general aviation. The AK-450 and AK-451 (121.5 and 406 MHz) are standard equipment installed at the factory for many general aviation aircraft. The units also retrofit many aircraft with other models of ELTs. Most of the time the previous wiring and mounting brackets can be used to greatly reduce the installation cost. With a great warranty and reputation as an industry leader, the Ameri-King emergency locator transmitter line is great choice for general aviation.
An elderly woman uses her GME Accusat personal locator beacon as an added aid when hiking away from home. Many elderly people stay in shape by walking or hiking on trails that are not always travelled heavily by many people or with cell phone signal coverage. If something were to happen, the only way to alert rescue services is by means a personal locator beacon. Carrying one of these PLBs is a great way to know you are not alone if you encounter a life threatening situation even on a local exercise hike.
Equip your airplane with a survival kit and be safe. A simple survival kit can literally mean the difference between life and death if you are found in a perilous situation far from immediate help. Food, shelter, drinking water, and medical supplies are just some of the essentials that can keep you alive or at least make a bad situation a lot more tolerable until help arrives. Survival kits can be purchased for one to four people and even more. They can last for years and are light weight so they can be carried at all times in an airplane with very little weight penalty.