In the not too distant past, many business jets and most jet airliners did not require an ELT.
Not anymore.
If one were to be brave enough to fly their light aircraft without a functioning and properly maintained ELT, certification action starts with a suspension of 180 days.
Get caught once again...certificate revocation.
Better have one Bubba, otherwise you is in a heap o' trouble.
A good friend of mine is deputy commander of the Civil Air Patrol in California, and when an ELT is reported, a search can be organized in thirty minutes, maximum forty five.
The CAP is very serious about finding lost/downed aircraft, and will keep looking until it is found.
They are very professional at their work.
My tax dollars at work....productively, for a change.
