Locator Beacons, anybody????

[mary meagher]

Pilot DAR, and the rest of you wise pilots, there is a thread live on the Worldwide section, Pacific General Aviation, entitled "Light Aircraft Missing in outback of S. Australia".

Worth a read, and mentions ELT, which I think stands for Emergency Locator Transmitter, also PLB, which may mean Personal Locator Beacon...is that correct?

Both sound very useful in the search for the two on board the small aircraft that landed safely in the boondocks, and everybody was out looking for them.

Is such equipment usually carried here in Europe? What does it cost? how would it be used? I had an impression it often sent off false alarms....but if it is a good thing to have as emergency equipment, perhaps pilots on this thread may like to know more about them....

[Mach Jump]

Hi Mary.

Yes, you are quite right in your decode of the acronyms.

An ELT is usually fitted to the aircraft and a PLB usually hangs around your neck on a lanyard. (You have to register a PLB, so they know who it is, when it's activated.)

I bought a PLB a couple of years ago (from one of the well known avionics companies you can find advertising on the back pages of most GA magazines) for a trip abroad in an SEP, and I now carry it around with me all the time.

Here's some details, and a great video about it's use.

http://www.gps.co.uk/fastfind-220-plb-406mhz/p-89-300-1280/


MJ:ok:

[piperboy84]

I bought one of these

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/pspages/spot3.php

Only problem with it so far is I have a 100% record of leaving it in the glove compartment of the car when I go flying !!!!!

[John R81]

I bought a PLB, then months later the CA mandated the fitting of an ELT to my machine because of the public transport work.


My PLB therefore redundant (creates problems if you set-off more than one in close proximity, I understand from reading N Sea AAIB report).

[RatherBeFlying]

Handy that ELTs not required in gliders, but do have a PLB.

Note that replacement battery had sat on shelf; so much less than standard 5 year life:uhoh: Did get partial refund.

Lesson: Buy new unit next time around or send to manufacturer for replacement.

PLB goes in pocket in case I have to use chute.

Livetrack24 and similar services leave breadcrumb track provided cellular coverage available - might not work in Oz outback.

[India Four Two]

Only problem with it so far is I have a 100% record of leaving it in the glove compartment of the car when I go flying !!!!!Now I feel bad, since I was the one who recommended Spot 3 to pb84! ;)

RBF,

The nice thing about the Spot 3 is that it talks directly to satellites, so cell tower coverage is not an issue - it works almost everywhere in the world - see this coverage map:
Network / Satellite (http://www.findmespot.com/en/index.php?cid=108)

Most cross-country glider pilots that I know in Canada and NZ use one, strapped to their chute harness.

I use it when I'm flying and also when I'm doing long car trips, particularly in remote areas.

[Romeo Tango]

Old type ELTs/PLBs transmitted a tone on 121.5 and generated so many false alarms that in the end they were largely ignored unless there was some other information to indicate there was a problem. These are now hardly used (maybe even illegal?).

Modern type transmit, on 406 MHz, a unique code tied to an aircraft or vessel so the authorities can ring you up first and see if you are in bed rather than swimming in the Atlantic. I believe these also transmit a tone on 121.5 so SAR can home onto you. Some also transmit a GPS position.

IMHO silly not to have a PLB when crossing water etc. The ones attached to the aircraft not so useful over water.

[rjtjrt]

If you buy a 406 PLB, it is best to get the GPS version as this will allow rescue to be dispatched in a much much faster timeframe than with a non GPS PLB in most circumstances.
The extra cost is not that great for the GPS version, and the faster rescue if you ever need to use it is likely to be worth it's weight in gold.

[Gertrude the Wombat]

IMHO silly not to have a PLB when crossing water etc. The ones attached to the aircraft not so useful over water.
If you press the red button when the fan stops there will be several agencies watching you all the way down, surely (in/near populated areas such as the channel)?

[Romeo Tango]

Unless it is high summer (and sometimes even then) you will want to get picked up fairly quickly (hours at most) to have a good chance of survival in the channel.

If you do not have a PLB this will be down to luck. A dingy (or worse a floating man in a life-jacket) is not easy to spot. Even if someone has a good radar position for you.

Of course if your ditching goes off very well and you manage to get into a dingy without getting wet and/or have proper survival clothing then you have more time to play with.

How many of us wear immersion suits to cross the channel?

A PLB is cheap insurance.

[Pilot DAR]

Both my [lanes are equipped with ELTs (121.5 for now) as required by Canadian regulation if you're going more than 25 miles from home. I will change both to the 406 type when these units respective batteries come due.

In the mean time, it is the SPOT upon which I rely. My wife and/or trusted friend can watch my progress on the computer in real time. It looks like this:

http://i1294.photobucket.com/albums/b617/jim246/SPOT%20route%20reduced_zps5uz8ueub.jpg

I have the basic version of the unit, which permits one of several preselected messages to be sent at the push of a button. There is a more advanced unit as well, with better messaging capability. For this trip, I carried a Satellite phone as well. What I like about the SPOT is that it's failure to work becomes the warning. If it stops showing my progress to the intended point, it (and I) can be found within 10 minutes of its last shown position. If my intended arrival point is unknown at departure, I can press an "I'm okay" button. The best feature is that my 12 year old daughter (and the older ones too!) can use it, so if something happens to me, she can summon help on her own.

[Romeo Tango]

Yes, I have used Spot. It worked across Europe, central Asia, the Russian far east, USA/Canada and North Atlantic (as advertised in their coverage maps).

The advantages of a 406 MHz PLB is that is is connected directly to international SAR, it works anywhere on the planet, sometimes the authorities insist you have one and it provides terminal guidance for SAR, often the most difficult bit.

Spot needs to be put somewhere where it sees the sky, something that you will forget and leave behind as your aircraft sinks underneath you. Though your daughter will shortly know you are in trouble.

I suppose both are a good idea.

I usually have as PLB attached to me when flying over sea/difficult terrain.

[9 lives]

Spot needs to be put somewhere where it sees the sky, something that you will forget and leave behind as your aircraft sinks underneath you.

The key to the SPOT, is that although it can be used to alert by pushing a button (no G switch), it's true value is the absence of a transmission, when the observer watching over you expects to see one. If it sinks to the bottom with the plane, it has done its job, as it left a mark on the computer of the observer, within the preceding ten minutes.

If an ELT or PLB sinks to the bottom, it is truly useless. But, yes, they both have their place...

[rjtjrt]

I have always been a little suspicious of relying on Spot as it sometimes misses a position send to the satellite, or even more than one.
Not sure if Spidertracks is better or not.
My Spot unit is set at 5 minute updates (it is the later version that can do more than 10 minutely).
The other issue is unless someone following your progress on Spot on a computer, no one will know you have stopped moving till you are missed in some other way(eg overdue at destination). You could fix this if you are crashed but not totally disabled by injuries buy pressing the SOS button on Spot, if it has a clear view of sky.
Not sure if PLB is better at getting signal out if limited view of sky (ie tree canopy).
So I carry Spot and 406PLB(GPS).
I realise nothing is perfect and Spot or Spidetracks have a valuable place in the defences, but so does 406PLB.

[Genghis the Engineer]

A PLB lives in my headset bag, except on trips over known hazardous terrain when it's in my flying suit breast pocket. Yes, a modern model - battery checked every few months.

I've no idea what proportion of pilots do the same - I suspect many on long / hazardous terrain trips, relatively few the rest of the time.

G

[astir 8]

Gliding around/over the Cairngorms - I have a PLB attached to my parachute harness. Same applies to the club gliders.

Conditions can get quite hostile in the Cairngorms

[airwave45]

I also fly gliders over the Scottish mountains carrying a De Lorme In Reach.
Monthly paid subscription.
Pings my position every 10 minutes via sat and can be used to send / receive SMS/Text messages via sat.
Rechargeable battery so no issues with shelf life.

We fly over areas we know not to have mobile signals, when these trackers are so cheap you'd be silly not to use one.

[The Old Fat One]

The eternal priorities of survival (in order of priority)...

1. Protection.
2. LOCATION.
3. Water.
4. Food.

Over-riding all...

The Will to Survive (some have it, some don't)

TOFO, your friendly CSRO

[Jonzarno]

Both my [lanes are equipped with ELTs (121.5 for now) as required by Canadian regulation if you're going more than 25 miles from home. I will change both to the 406 type when these units respective batteries come due.



I thought 121.5 isn't actively monitored for ELT signals any more? Do I have that wrong?

[RatherBeFlying]

The PLBs transmit 406 for the satellite and 121.5 for close in location.

I suspect the 406 ELTs work the same way.

[Stitchbitch]

There is a choice of 406 PLBs on the market, some are more expensive than others, but, why wouldn't you have one onboard with you? If you're in the UK come along to the GA sea survival conference at Teeside airport in April.

[Flying_Anorak]

Perhaps a dumb question, but are the PLBs you can source thru marine suppliers exactly the same as those from well known aviation suppliers? There seems to be quite a difference in price for what I assume is the same unit.

Thanks.

[Stitchbitch]

Mostly, do a search for ACR ResQLink and McMurdo Max G, these will serve you well. Max G is 'midlife' now, but used by the UK MOD and the ACR is new, smaller and a very similar offering. Boat chandleries don't seem to put a 'scene tax' on items quite like Pilot shops. :ok:

[Fly4Business]

The global distress system is all the same, so you may choose PLB from hiking or yachting the same as the same devices with an aviation sticker on it.

One thing to remember with PLB is - register it. And there the trouble may begin, as some countries do not allow personal beacons, but only devices connected to a certain plane/ship/whatsoever. If you live in one of these countries, other countries will agree to serve you and take your registration!

[Stitchbitch]

As F4B said, some countries will expect you to have an ELT fitted instead, this is I'm led to believe, quite common in Europe, where one rule is okay in the UK and frowned upon in say, Spain. Minefield!

[Fly4Business]

If I remember correctly, there was a stream in the EU cacophony to get a common agreement for all ELA1 EASA-reg aircraft to be allowed to carry PLB only in all of Europe, but I admit, I did not follow up whether it was ever passed.

When I was renting aircraft all over Europe, I got almost nuts on the crackbrained spectrum of regulations related to the issue and ended in buying a mobile ELT. Luckily a mobile ELT can be registered to person in the UK register, don't ask what you encounter when asking this in some other countries ...