Another option which is less expensive and a pretty short antenna is to use the AV-100 antenna (I think this is correct). It is only about 13" long and less than $200.

Two RV's. They are both under the fiberglass empennage fairing. The transmission range may not be quite as good as on top of the fuselage, but in my opinion ELT's are so unreliable that compromising a little on the range is ok.

Question
 

If it isn't required for the AWC, why would the DAR imply that I couldn't get the AWC without a proper, legal installation?

No answer necessary, the FAA is run regionally...

Because your DAR is making up his own rules - I seriously doubt if the FAA inspectors have anything to do with it (unless you are actually having an FAA inspector do your AWC instead of the DAR).

I'm always suspicious of DAR's that make up their own rules.....

yeah, but
 

Got to use someone to get that certificate...

On my RV-10
 

I mounted mine tucked right into the B pillar on the right side. (That's the vertical part of the canopy right behind the door and in front of the rear window.)

Rubber Ducky
 

I mounted a rubber ducky antenna under the canopy right at the edge of the deck just behind the rear passenger seat in my -8. A trimmed piece of aluminum angle has it oriented vertically.

Don

ELT antenna Under the empennage fairing
 

I mounted mine under the empennage fairing on my RV-8. During the special airworthiness inspection, the FAA-actual inspector said "nice installation - that fits well". Then, a year later during paint, the paint shop somehow set off the ELT. I received a call from SAR saying the ELT was active. The airplane was inside a hangar with the fairing installed.

Thus, in my practical experience, the location is satisfactory for a special airworthiness certificate and signal transmission is adequate.

unless...
 

What if you flip over in the accident? Then the antenna would be shadowed by the empennage...




Sorry, couldn't resist...:rolleyes:

When I converted from a 121.5 MHz ELT to the ACK EO4 403 MHz ELT I had to move my antenna from under the vertical stabilizer to on top of the fuselage just behind the rear cargo panel. Why? It wouldn?t otherwise pass its internal system check. It kept giving an error code beep.

In its current location it works fine and doesn?t appear to impact airspeed and doesn?t look bad either. Follow the instructions, you won?t be disappointed. As far as will it work if you?re upside down - well, the antenna is very flexible.