Who is responsible for supplying the PLB?

[Level Attitude]

Originally Posted by mabmac
Surely all this means that the current regulations and exemptions will be superseded on 25 August and replaced by the ANO in Note 2 which introduces a new exemption wef 25 August 2016?

Note 2 Only applies to non-EASA aircraft and there is no new exemption, they have just said the requirement will no longer be in the ANO at all.
A bonus to Chipmunk(?), etc owners.

From 00:01 hours on 26 August EASA Part-NCO applies to all EASA aircraft (no exemptions allowed) (Note 1 refers) which is the vast majority of GA aircraft.

It will not matter that the requirement is no longer in the ANO as this is not the primary relevant legal statute - Commission Regulation (EU) No. 965/2012, that backs Part-NCO, is.

[atceng]

Many thanks mabmac, so Annex vii is the EASA NCO regulation,for fixed wing 19 pages of it!
This is now the legal requirements,and there are no derogations from 25/08/2016
I'm going through it to establish initially the salients for EASA non complex NCO.

1) Equipment and docs to be carried, ELT/PLB ,clock,extinguisher,life jackets etc.
These requirements are scattered over the 19 pages.

2) Operating criteria, e.g decision heights,min met visi. etc.

I'll raise a thread on 1) if I survive.

[Pitch+Power]

It never ceases to amaze me - a simple question 'do we or don't we need a piece of equipment' - now into its 3rd page of discussion.


sadly, this seems to be a regular occurrence in the euro/uk field of aviation

[crablab]

I spoke to the CAA today (after much confusion: apparently 'administrators' don't know what the ANO is!) - from the 25th any UK registered aircraft that is not subject to Annex II (which are exempt) will require an ELT if it is 6 seats and greater, or if it is less than six seats an ELT or a PLB. The person I spoke to suggested another exemption would not be made...

I hope this clears it up a bit!

[hegemon88]

It seems it is now very difficult to get hold of them now! Backordering this one is going to be no good...

Amazon

Amazon

/h88

[sharpend]

My Fast Find is registered to my aircraft. I did so because that was what it said I should do on the tin. The registration was accepted.

[foxmoth]

It seems it is now very difficult to get hold of them now

Ordered one yesterday from these guys Marine Chandlery, Sailing Clothing & Marine Hardware
Arrived this morning and at a better price than I have seen elsewhere (£175 inc vat)

[fireflybob]

We've just ordered 2 McMurdo Fast Find PLBs from Pooleys and they arrived within a couple of days.

I just noticed the battery date on the one we have already is July 2015 although the self test is working. I did a search on YouTube but changing the battery looks a bit complex for me - does anyone know how to get the battery changed and is it cost effective to do same as opposed to buying a new unit?

[MrAverage]

It depends which type you have. Some of the early ones it's dead easy (I recently changed two at a cost of £75 each), others must be sent away to be changed and properly checked.

[robin]

Just realised that some of my contact details have changed since I first registered my PLB some years ago. How do I see what my details are currently and change, where appropriate?

[cotterpot]

Robin - you will have a copy of what you sent them?
Otherwise just download the form and resubmit it with change details.

[robin]

Cheers.

I haven't a clue what I sent them - it was so long ago, but I'll resubmit the form.

R

[martin topgun]

PLB Cost

Nice to see the aviation retailers selling the Fastfind 220 for around £230 (inc VAT) whereas the sailing retailers sell exactly the same item for around £179 (inc VAT). Just goes to show that once again they are happy to rip all of us off

[crablab]

Jeremy Pratt of AFE has ordered a load in bulk so there is a discount if you buy through him

[tb10er]

Come on, own up

OK, so who has been up without one now that the new rules kick in?

[Parson]

So how long until the first S92 is scrambled on a false call due to inadvertent use? No necessarily by the owner but if it gets nicked and falls into the wrong hands...... Cue the Daily Mail....

[TheOddOne]

OK, so who has been up without one now that the new rules kick in?

Me. In an Ikarus. Oh, hang on, I don't need one in a Microlight! I've got one in the PA28, though, tucked in the P2 seat back with the fire extinguisher, first aid kit and the docs telling me what to do in the event of a Typhoon suddenly appearing in our 9 o'clock.

This highlights the barminess of the whole situation. Who decided that it's essential kit in a PA28, but not in a C42? (must have in a Beagle Pup, but not in a Bulldog). Are we less susceptible to needing rescue in a Permit aircraft or are our lives suddenly worth less 'cos we're not flying an EASA type?

TOO

[foxmoth]

Who decided that it's essential kit in a PA28, but not in a C42?

Just shows the difference between the Eurocrats and their need to regulate and the UK.

[Whopity]

This morning I came across a school that had purchased two McMurdo Fastfind 220s from a well known aviation supplier. It appears they cannot be registered in the UK, because they are coded for Croatia!

[A and C]

As the owner of three aircraft that are leased to a flying club I find the idea of putting a PLB in each aircraft a recipe for trouble, the chances of the PLB staying in the aircraft long term are minimal and eventually someone will accidentally put it in their flight bag and the aircraft will be grounded untill it is found or a new PLB sourced.

The only real option for the commercial operator is to fit an ELT to the aircraft and make sure it is fitted some place that those renting the aircraft can't get at.

My guess is that in the long term a permanent ELT will be cheaper than replacing the PLB's that go will missing in the flying club environment.