Originally Posted by zalt
It is rare that GOM accidents make national news, certainly more than the day after. This one has, as USA Today has picked up on the 406MHz ELT beacon sparked a search.
Pilots slow to buy new digital emergency beacons - USATODAY.com
Before anyone else states the obvious:
Good News: that in the event of this unfortunate accident one was fitted a one person was rescued
Bad News: so few other aircraft are equipped. - As usual - well done FAA for being a proactive regulator... At least as a marine regulator the Coastguard have the smarts and the balls.
Am I right in thinking that Shell's PHI aircraft have European style Automatically Deployable ELTs (ADELTs)?
From link given, it does indicates that the aircraft is equipped with a CPI which works on 406 Mhz. It is deployable, by a small spring, if trigger it'll probably drop by the side or at most spring about 5-6 feet away... and it can also be trigger by 'G' switch.
The old, 'shoot' out ADELT works on 121.5Mhz.
But more important the thoughts and prayers goes to all that are directly affected.