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-   -   Plb vs elt as an option legally ? With poll (https://vansairforce.net/community/showthread.php?t=169960)

roadrunner20 03-28-2019 05:40 PM

Other than my ELT, I carry a FastFind PLB(406mhz) and a recently acquired Garmin Inreach Mini.

RickWoodall 03-29-2019 05:45 AM

safety
 
I have a 8 year old 121 elt that is being swapped out this year for a 406. That is required in Canada this year and for $500 seems a pretty wise spend.

I have run a spot for years and loved it..kind of. When it worked it was great so family could follow and the buttons allowed you to text a pile of people easy that you were safe at each stop. BUT... it seems to drop a lot so over the last few years many trip we had people concerned as no tracks for 30 minutes and had similar issues with following friends spots. Very concerning if used for safety tool. Also some stories of not good response when activated. Costs have gone way up from the days they gave out spots at kosh and you just pay the annual fees. Cancelled that and got a 406 PLB in the mail for this season.

Also adding ads b this year so 406 elt 406 plb, and ads b tracking....if they still cant find me with all that gear.... that is ok.

Jpm757 03-29-2019 07:00 AM

Note: As of Jan 2019 the FAA has prohibited the sale of 121.5 mhz ELT's.

Snowflake 03-29-2019 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickWoodall (Post 1335190)
I have a 8 year old 121 elt that is being swapped out this year for a 406. That is required in Canada this year and for $500 seems a pretty wise spend.

Um... Do you have a reference for that requirement? I don't recall any legislation changing.

Turbo69bird 03-29-2019 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jpm757 (Post 1335205)
Note: As of Jan 2019 the FAA has prohibited the sale of 121.5 mhz ELT's.



Idk I just know that ack still shows it as a special order item in the literature on the 406 version for $125.00 it?s kind of funny the way it reads it?s like here?s our 406 but by the way you can still buy a 121.5 for waaayyyy less.

Jpm757 03-29-2019 08:36 AM

In 2019, the manufacture, importation, or sale of 121.5 MHz ELTs became prohibited in the United States per an FCC final rule, but the new rule does not prohibit aircraft operators from continuing to use 121.5-MHz ELTs now installed in aircraft, nor does it cut off the availability of batteries or other replacement parts.

Radioflyer 03-30-2019 12:05 PM

Curiously, the regs on ELT requirements (91.207) specifically mention

"...attached to the airplane an approved personal type...or automatic type... emergency locator transmitter..."

I've always wondered if that was a reference to some a PLB that had been approved at some time. I've asked some manufacturers, but have been unable to identify such an approved device. My point in bringing this up is to explore the possibility that PLB language is already in the regs.

There has been so much advance in miniature, inexpensive, and capable 406 mHz PLB's, that the ELT requirement could (should) be well served with PLBs. Just as current ELTs are mounted somewhat "permanently" on the airframe (in the cockpit in my case) a PLB can be so mounted. Then there could be a G-switch in such mounting that the PLB could simply connect to. In case of a crash, the PLB has a chance for self activation or the pilot (hopefully) can manually activate at some point.

RickWoodall 03-30-2019 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Snowflake (Post 1335211)
Um... Do you have a reference for that requirement? I don't recall any legislation changing.


I have been swamped in non flying things the last year but i was sure we had to have them replaced by year end. After your post I went to transport canada to see. Must have been my error. I do most of my flying in sw ontario and a lot in US. I had a list of must do upgrades this summer fall and ads b and 406 where "must do's" i had noted. Maybe i just am hearing voices again. Haha. Anyway doing both and should be good in US and Canada going forward after those.

Turbo69bird 03-31-2019 08:08 AM

[quote=RickWoodall;1335190]I have a 8 year old 121 elt that is being swapped out this year for a 406. That is required in Canada this year and for $500 seems a pretty wise spend.

Just can?t see what a bigger heavier elt product should be more than the smaller lighter more advanced PLb.

Simple answer is because it?s required , anything required brings a premium cause you?ve got to buy it!

The weight savings is the most important thing to me, personally. Most planes go down because of due starvation or being over weight. Either way lighter helps the problem. If I bring most of my friends up I can bring 10 gallons or less of fuel. Every lb I can get out of that bird is a plus.
.

Snowflake 03-31-2019 09:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Radioflyer (Post 1335526)
Curiously, the regs on ELT requirements (91.207) specifically mention

"...attached to the airplane an approved personal type...or automatic type... emergency locator transmitter..."

...

There has been so much advance in miniature, inexpensive, and capable 406 mHz PLB's, that the ELT requirement could (should) be well served with PLBs. Just as current ELTs are mounted somewhat "permanently" on the airframe (in the cockpit in my case) a PLB can be so mounted. Then there could be a G-switch in such mounting that the PLB could simply connect to. In case of a crash, the PLB has a chance for self activation or the pilot (hopefully) can manually activate at some point.

Once it's mounted to the airplane, it's no different than any other locator though... In a crash, it could be under the plane, destroyed by impact, etc. etc. and even if it activates it'll never get a signal out. The value in the PLB is that if the occupant can extricate themselves from the twisted wreckage, and the PLB is in his pocket, they can pull it out and activate it under a clear sky.

A G-switch would be very susceptible to impacts from non-life-threatening events... Hitting the canopy edge while getting in/out of the airplane could give it a 10G shock, for example. Dropping a tablet on it in flight could do the same.


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