Gday,
I am looking for a handheld GPS for use in assistance with search and rescue type operations.
Does anyone know if there are handhelds about that can be programmed with coordinates of an area to search, etc.?
If not, is the best way to do it to spend some time and program in a heap of coordinates in the form of a search pattern?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers
Any handheld GPS is useful for a walking or motor vehicle search but not for a search from an aircraft.
Talk to your local Aviation Search and Rescue centre to get some advice about the the conduct of air searches, the pilot and crew qualifications and especially the type of GPS unit that is AUTHORISED and PERMANENTLY INSTALLED in your aircraft.
I also doubt that any SARO would send you out on a search with just a handheld GPS, unless of course you are the only resource available, and then only after ensuring that you know how to NAVIGATE WITHOUT THE GPS. They don't want to start a search for you as well.
Unqualified, do-gooder pilots jumping into their unsuitably equipped aircraft and thoughtlessly flying off into the sunset to "go and find" their fellow missing aviator, often find death occurring a bit quicker than their loved ones expected.
