Posts Tagged ‘406 MHz ELT’
AOPA recommends 406MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters
The Airciraft Owners and Pilots Association recommends its members upgrade if possible to the new 406MHz emergency locator transmitter. The new ELT is far advanced and has a much higher possibility of being picked up by emergency services if it is activated. There is very little chance of the old 121.5 MHz ELT being noticed by emergency services if it is set off in a crash, therefor AOPA and many other aviation organizations reccommend switching to the new 406 ELT. NEW 406 emergency locator transmitters have 50 times the transmission power of old ELTs and can work much better in temperature extremes. They are also far more reliable in a crash situation.
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.
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 emergency locator transmitter that you use in your aircraft will be dependant on the type of craft you are flying and how far you are planning on traveling. Before you takeoff, it is important to do some research and determine which system is needed for your expedition. All of the latest models are now equipped with GPS devices.
Not only is GPS convenient, but it also makes the units more effective than ever. If you are purchasing a new transmitter, look for a 406 ELT. These devices are equipped with Cospas/Sarsat technology and utilize the latest GPS equipment.
Upgrade to Reliable Locator Technology
As a pilot, you’re probably aware that most U.S. civil aircraft are required to carry emergency beacons. In the past, planes were generally equipped with 121.5 MHz transmitters, but these have largely fallen out of use – and for good reason. In order for another aviator to pick up a distress signal from a plane in range, he would have to be listening to that particular frequency at just the right moment.
These days, satellites associated with Search and Rescue Satellite-aided Tracking are mostly responsible for picking up distress signals. Since these satellites stopped monitoring the 121.5 MHz frequency in February of this year, newer-generation emergency locator transmitters are especially critical. They operate at 406 MHz and can be picked up easily via satellite. When it’s your safety at stake, why trust old technology?