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  #11  
Old 08-12-2008, 03:40 PM
Yukon Yukon is offline
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: Phoenix, Az
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I think having a GPS enabled, satellite tracked ELT will save many lives and
many dollars in search and rescue. When I fly through the vastness of the Canadian Rockies, it's going to be a good feeling knowing I have one of these on board.
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  #12  
Old 08-12-2008, 04:06 PM
DickDe DickDe is offline
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 201
Default Canadian 406 Mhz ELT

NavCanada at EAA said the PLB's do not qualify in Canada even if they are the 406 mhz variety because there is no G switch and require manual activation. A pilot may forget or be incapacitated in event of an true emergency if a PLB is relied upon. They want a self activating G switch.

My question is why can the PLB's use a small battery which I assume is of reasonable cost since the entire unit is fairly reasonable when a fixed aviation unit costs just under $1000 for a bargain basement unit with very expensive batteries. They told me that cheap D cell batteries like some of the 121.5 ELT's use are too weak and would require a bushel of them to power a 406 MHZ. unit. Does this mean a PLB with a toggle switch and a weight to trigger it ala EBC 102A ELT is all that's required since the PLB's seem to have the battery problem solved.

BTW my EBC 102A was bought for $90 when the US first came out with the ELT rule some 35 years ago and that same unit resides in my Cessna 170 today & still functions. I am afraid the US will adapt Canada's rules sometime in the future while we just recently got our battery feature under control by utilizing D cells like the AmeriKing in my RV6.

Dick DeCramer
RV6 N500DD 300hrs
N9007A '49 C170 for sale.
Northfield, MN
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  #13  
Old 08-12-2008, 04:55 PM
John_RV4 John_RV4 is offline
 
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: New Hampshire
Posts: 250
Default backwards....

I still think the whole idea is backwards. You don't want to start transmitting when the plane crashes. Even the best activation device may not work or the antenae may be severed. Reasonable idea in 1950 when nothing better was available.

The solution is right in front of us. It's Spot or something like it. You transmit continuously and if something "bad" happens, you will stop transmitting. Where the little dots stop is where to start looking. You're within 60 seconds of the last dot.


John
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  #14  
Old 08-12-2008, 05:06 PM
Yukon Yukon is offline
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Location: Phoenix, Az
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Default Good video on 406 Mhz

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...64612048144244
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  #15  
Old 08-12-2008, 05:31 PM
Dakbuster Dakbuster is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tauranga New Zealand
Posts: 26
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I know this doesn?t affect you guys in the States but they have made it compulsory in New Zealand from July 1 of this year. We now have lots of aircraft that can?t fly more than 10 miles from their home airport

These things are a good revenue collecting item for governments who need to extract every possible cent from its community. If one of these things goes off when it is not an emergency they have all your current details to send the bill

My main gripe with these is we have had several accidents with these units fitted all with the same result. A helicopter (One of the latest Eurocopters with all the whistles and bells) flew into the side of a hill. The government agencies searched for over two weeks and did not find it.
The family of the occupants continued searching after the official search had ceased. They eventually found the aircraft. The official searchers had flown over it several times. The 406 was found amongst the wreckage working its little heart out but alas the Ariel had been broken off.

So one would have to wonder how good these things really are


Bruce
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  #16  
Old 08-12-2008, 05:43 PM
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ScottSchmidt ScottSchmidt is offline
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Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Salt Lake City, Utah
Posts: 1,158
Default 406 ELT - Cheap Solutions?

When I was at Johnson Creek there was a guest speaker from the Idaho Aeronautics Division that discussed how few people have converted their aircraft to the new system and it looks like most will not be converted anytime soon due to cost. I liked his thoughts though, he mentioned that a flight plan can even be a phone call to a friend mentioning where they are going.

For me, APRS or SPOT is a much better solution than either an onboard ELT or PLB and I wish they would allow some of these solutions that are more affordable. Just think if Steve Fossett had a SPOT in track mode on his last flight. Since Fossett's ELT didn't go off, a 406 may not have as well but APRS or SPOT would at least show his last position.
Of course the issue with SPOT is that it is only good if you keep the batteries fresh and turn it on.

I would like to upgrade my ELT and this guest speaker felt there were some cheap solutions coming out soon. Is anyone aware of a $100 - $200 solution in the near future?
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Scott Schmidt
Salt Lake City, UT

RV-10 N104XP (1280 Hours)
RV-12 N321UT (Sold)
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  #17  
Old 08-12-2008, 06:54 PM
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rv6ejguy rv6ejguy is offline
 
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Calgary, Canada
Posts: 5,766
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Broken antennas and G switches that don't lead the causes that will continue to make these new devices only a bit better than the old. Something switched on manually when would be better in most cases other than CFIT.
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Ross Farnham, Calgary, Alberta
Turbo Subaru EJ22, SDS EFI, Marcotte M-300, IVO, Shorai- RV6A C-GVZX flying from CYBW since 2003- 441.0 hrs. on the Hobbs,
RV10 95% built- Sold 2016
http://www.sdsefi.com/aircraft.html
http://sdsefi.com/cpi2.htm


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  #18  
Old 08-12-2008, 07:39 PM
Dakbuster Dakbuster is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Tauranga New Zealand
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I am very interested in the alternatives especially if they are considerably cheaper. It seems to me to be an opening for a company that develops these to come up with the general aviation requirements. (cheap , reliable, and work when we need it)
I am not flying yet 90% complete90% to go but the money needed to purchase this 406 (just in case I need it ) could be spent on a good quality GPS.(which would be used every Flight)



Bruce
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  #19  
Old 08-12-2008, 11:27 PM
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Ron Lee Ron Lee is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 3,275
Default APRS

Bruce, check out the APRS tracking forum.
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