LeadSled,

Can you PM or post some linked reports to back this up as I'm interested in following it up with our company.

Emergency locator beacon (ELB)
 

I'm truly amazed that no technology exists to eject an emergency locator beacon (E.L.B.) in the event of ditching on the high seas the device could be ejected using a similar device to a vehicle airbag,aft of the pressure bulkhead of course and the device could be on the surface, within seconds if not minutes,and preferably with solar cells to keep the transmitter active as long as possible,finally if the E.L.B had a tether to the structure of the aeroplane
once (the beacon) had surfaced the ditched aeroplane could be located fairly quickly under the waves. I know about the underwater ping type beacon,
but if there is a transmitter atop the the waves, then everybody should know about it's location within a short space of time.

ACR ELECTRONICS AquaLink® 406 GPS Personal Locator Beacon | West Marine


This is what would work in any crash with people still alive and able to move.

ELTs on a/c
 

I find it curious that the 406 EPIRB, hanging a mere 6' behind my head will automatically deploy and begin transmitting my position to any COSPAS/SARSAT equipped satellite, and in less than 45 seconds, the USCG will know where to come looking for me....like they did a few years back when a whale sunk my friends boat 800 mi. North of Oahu.

How in the hell do I get this kind of technology, that I've carried with me on 5 trips to and from Oahu...and we're still trying to figure out where the hell this plane went down?

Seriously, 30 years in aerospace, and I just don't understand this. Its freaking inexcusable.

Example ejectable ELT/CPI
 

Here's an example for the USAF C-141 original CPI, including multiple damage sensors throughout the aircraft and provision for a tape recorder for the CVR AN/URT-26 Crash Position Indicator

Other offshore industry and military examples can be found on Google.

The extra cost over ELTs made the CPI unpalatable for regulators and airlines, but that may change...with modern electronics it can be a very much smaller device using the 406Mhz technology and solid-state memory for FDR/CVR:
http://www.hr-smith.com/images/stories/503-CPI.pdf

Both types of ELTs can be on board.....Impact type that transmits on exceeding 5g impact and water activated type, that transmits on touching water.