Everybody got a 406MHz ELT yet ?
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Everybody got a 406MHz ELT yet ?
Nag nag nag.
The 121.5MHz turnoff date is approaching (1-Feb-09) and the great annual Oz slowdown has started (as evidenced by the dramatic lack of decent television programs).
More info at ; Australian 406 MHz Distress Beacon Information
The 121.5MHz turnoff date is approaching (1-Feb-09) and the great annual Oz slowdown has started (as evidenced by the dramatic lack of decent television programs).
More info at ; Australian 406 MHz Distress Beacon Information
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In the interests of personal safety perhaps we can start a discussion on where to get the cheapest ELT's? (with moderators approval of-course) Maybe someone in the know can organise something so that when we all order one we can mention the codeword PPrune and get 20% off or something good. Am I dreaming?
The 121.5MHz turnoff date is approaching (1-Feb-09) and the great annual Oz slowdown has started (as evidenced by the dramatic lack of decent television programs).
Great Race is on & so is Survivor
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Just like cars, there are several styles of 406MHz beacons, ie ;
fixed or portable, and
with and without GPS enhancement. please stay in your box Mr. F. Binghi.
Prices vary, and the craziness with the AUD/USD exchange rate will increase prices by around 30% as compared to about 4 months ago.
There are several aviation agents in Oz, and some of the marine units are compact and suitable for personal/portable use.
The problem with the fixed units will be in getting someone to install it and test it before that deadline.
Oh., and don't forget to register your beacons' ID with AMSA.
KingRb i rest my case
fixed or portable, and
with and without GPS enhancement. please stay in your box Mr. F. Binghi.
Prices vary, and the craziness with the AUD/USD exchange rate will increase prices by around 30% as compared to about 4 months ago.
There are several aviation agents in Oz, and some of the marine units are compact and suitable for personal/portable use.
The problem with the fixed units will be in getting someone to install it and test it before that deadline.
Oh., and don't forget to register your beacons' ID with AMSA.
KingRb i rest my case
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Yes - absolutely.
I have a GME MT410G PLB which is attached to my life jacket. At the time I bought it (about twelve months ago) it was the smallest, lightest 406 beacon with an inbuilt GPS.
Fixed ELT's in floatplanes are as useless as the proverbial.
I have a GME MT410G PLB which is attached to my life jacket. At the time I bought it (about twelve months ago) it was the smallest, lightest 406 beacon with an inbuilt GPS.
Fixed ELT's in floatplanes are as useless as the proverbial.
There are at least two Australian manufacturers of good 406 beacons so the AUD/USD exchange rate may not affect the price unduly.
Worth spending the extra dollars to get units incorporating GPS.
Worth spending the extra dollars to get units incorporating GPS.
I've got the GME PLB with GPS, was around $600. I'm told it meets aviation requirements for mandatory carriage, and in any case next outback flight I'll carry the big one out of the boat as well.
Two important points.
Please, please disable your old EPIRB before getting rid of it! By "disable" I mean kill it, cut it in half, remove the battery and do your best to destroy the circuit board. Idiots will still play with these things if given the chance.
Secondly, register your new EPIRB on the AMSA website, even if it's a small PLB. The website allows you to add multiple primary and secondary uses for the EPIRB such as aircraft, boat and automobile. They will send you a nice little sticker to apply to your PLB to prove it's registered.
If it's not registered, your chances of a prompt and appropriate response if it's triggered are not that good.
Two important points.
Please, please disable your old EPIRB before getting rid of it! By "disable" I mean kill it, cut it in half, remove the battery and do your best to destroy the circuit board. Idiots will still play with these things if given the chance.
Secondly, register your new EPIRB on the AMSA website, even if it's a small PLB. The website allows you to add multiple primary and secondary uses for the EPIRB such as aircraft, boat and automobile. They will send you a nice little sticker to apply to your PLB to prove it's registered.
If it's not registered, your chances of a prompt and appropriate response if it's triggered are not that good.
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I've got two. A fixed Kannad Compact in my Remos LSA and a handheld Kannad XS-3 in my yacht. As mentioned, it's been illegal to fly without one in NZ since 30th June
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The GME is excellent and I believe the KTI (non-gps) is about to launch followed by the KTI with GPS that should market around GME price. Both are Australian.
The ACR from the USA (made for Oz) are also great.
I understand AMSA have a large backlog of registrations and it is best done yourself on their site.
The ACR from the USA (made for Oz) are also great.
I understand AMSA have a large backlog of registrations and it is best done yourself on their site.
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Yes James, agree, do it yourself.
I bought my aircraft ELT back in March from a high profile local agent. They said they would register it for me and I filled out a form they faxed to me and sent back. When I registered my boat PLB, myself, in October I casually mentioned that they will see I have two. They replied saying they could only see one. Seems the aircraft one was never registered. Lesson, do it yourself online!
I bought my aircraft ELT back in March from a high profile local agent. They said they would register it for me and I filled out a form they faxed to me and sent back. When I registered my boat PLB, myself, in October I casually mentioned that they will see I have two. They replied saying they could only see one. Seems the aircraft one was never registered. Lesson, do it yourself online!
I forgot to add DO NOT BUY AN EPIRB FROM OVERSEAS your EPIRB has a hard coded hexadecimal identifier that identifies what country maintains the database entry for that unit. There is therefore endless opportunities for screw ups if you try and buy one overseas that is coded for sale and fitting in some other country.
I haven't tried to register an EPIRB coded for sale in America over here, but I'm told it won't happen.
I haven't tried to register an EPIRB coded for sale in America over here, but I'm told it won't happen.
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Sunfish, I do agree with
and I will admit to some anxiety when I bought an Artex ME406 fixed-unit directly from the USA.. Everything turned-out fine. (probably because I kept reminding Southeast Aerospace in all of my emails, that the unit was going to Oz. )
You can decode the beacon-ID at Decode your beacon ID
(Australia is ITU country-code 503)
There is therefore endless opportunities for screw ups if you try and buy one overseas that is coded for sale and fitting in some other country.
)You can decode the beacon-ID at Decode your beacon ID
(Australia is ITU country-code 503)
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Definitely register it yourself and check that it is registered CORRECTLY.
AMSA entered my hex id incorrectly in their database as well as the email address.
First I knew there was a problem was when I received the mail notification - I had unwittingly been using an unregisted beacon for nearly a month. If I hadn't physically checked the numbers on the EPIRB against the letter I would probably still be none the wiser.
AMSA entered my hex id incorrectly in their database as well as the email address.
First I knew there was a problem was when I received the mail notification - I had unwittingly been using an unregisted beacon for nearly a month. If I hadn't physically checked the numbers on the EPIRB against the letter I would probably still be none the wiser.
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I second that, make sure your details are on their system all right.
I faxed them the registration papers the day I bought mine, and then went off on a tour around the country, assuming they'd know who and what to look for if the thing went off.. a few months later, I found out that that registration had never made it onto their system..
Having seen a few system implementations in a past life, I would speculate that they 'misplaced' some records when moving to the new web based registration system, but that's just my cynical nerd self speaking
and probably not at all what happened 
I faxed them the registration papers the day I bought mine, and then went off on a tour around the country, assuming they'd know who and what to look for if the thing went off.. a few months later, I found out that that registration had never made it onto their system..
Having seen a few system implementations in a past life, I would speculate that they 'misplaced' some records when moving to the new web based registration system, but that's just my cynical nerd self speaking
and probably not at all what happened
Beacon Rego..??
Well, Well, Well...........
In light of the comments here regarding rego - or lack thereof - I rang the AMSA Centre to check on my EPIRB rego as part of a 'Safety Audit'.
NO RECORD!!
Beacon purchased 13.12.2006 (GME MT400)
Rego form filled in at point of purchase, AND by self at home, then FAXED to AMSA and also POSTED as hard copy by 'snail mail' on 15.12.2006, as a 'backup'....
Rang them today to verify records....NIL RECORD HELD!
The very nice lady did reaffirm that in the event of receiving a signal, any signal, they would still have come looking......I would hope so.
I just thought it would be nice for them and all concerned to know WHO / WHAT they were looking for....
Faxed the form in again today and rang to confirm receipt. YES, they have it.
Their confirming email to follow.
Tel no. to ring - Beacon Rego Number - 1800 406 406 (Original...)
PHEW!! GOOD LUCK.
In light of the comments here regarding rego - or lack thereof - I rang the AMSA Centre to check on my EPIRB rego as part of a 'Safety Audit'.
NO RECORD!!
Beacon purchased 13.12.2006 (GME MT400)
Rego form filled in at point of purchase, AND by self at home, then FAXED to AMSA and also POSTED as hard copy by 'snail mail' on 15.12.2006, as a 'backup'....
Rang them today to verify records....NIL RECORD HELD!
The very nice lady did reaffirm that in the event of receiving a signal, any signal, they would still have come looking......I would hope so.
I just thought it would be nice for them and all concerned to know WHO / WHAT they were looking for....
Faxed the form in again today and rang to confirm receipt. YES, they have it.
Their confirming email to follow.
Tel no. to ring - Beacon Rego Number - 1800 406 406 (Original...)
PHEW!! GOOD LUCK.