Which ELT to Buy

[Jekyll]

Originally Posted by SteinAir

I have the AK installed in my plane right behind the pax seat between the seat back and flap torque tube. Stein.

Stein:

You da man! I put my seats in tonight and the space behind the PAX seat is PERFECT. I'm putting mine there.

Your 2 cents is worth much more to me. Thanks.

Jekyll

[LifeofReiley]

Ah... I like words of wisdom!

With Stein's expertice and the disclosure of the location for his ELT, the AK450 is now the running in first place here. And the price is right too.

Thanks Stein!

[SteinAir]

Heck....all of this just because I was too darned lazy to fabricate an actual "shelf" somewhere else in the plane! Leave it to me to find any way possible to do something with the aboslute lowest required amount of expended energy and time (oh...and don't forget money)!

I guess sometimes my laziness & cheapness pays off

Cheers,
Stein.

BTW, now that I think about it...I may have just plagarized that idea from some other old gray beard builder...so if he/she comes forward I'll give credit where credit is due.

[gmcjetpilot]

I know it is a lot of money but it has a battery that last 5 years and if you really did crash out of sight out of mind, you have a much better chance of being found in your white plane in a snow storm, than any current 121.5/243MHZ ELT.

They cost less than $900.00 (Chief price on ME406 ) Vans has it also ( Van's ME406 price )

http://www.artex.net/documents/ME406.pdf
http://www.artex.net/whatsnewartex.html

It does not transmit lat/long but 406mhz is way better. This model also only needs one antenna, which is nice.

The advanced units have GPS interface and dual antennas. They are double or more the money.

From Van's catalog: A 406Mhz ELT is not yet required, but the 121.5/243Mhz band will not be monitored after Feb 2009. I am guessing it will be required sooner than later?

This is the final ruling: (Final Ruling )

George

PS after some research I guess the FAA as of now (politics) does not have the coconuts to mandate the change over. However that does not change the "sarsat" (search and rescue satellite) will stop monitoring for 121.5/243mhz end of 2008 early 2009. NO satellite search and rescue locating.

Here is a good article: http://www.aea.net/Pilot/PG04ELT.pdf.

For more info see http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/

So if you want to go cheap, than its OK, I guess, but consider the new stuff. I have a Artex 100-4 and it is a real piece of equip. I have had ACK (yellow) and friends have had the Ameri-king (orange). They are OK but they are a bit cheap and light duty compared to the Artex.

[Davepar]

I'm hoping the new ELTs drop in price before 2008. Once people start buying them in quantity, they've got to get cheaper.

[gmcjetpilot]

Originally Posted by Davepar

I'm hoping the new ELTs drop in price before 2008. Once people start buying them in quantity, they've got to get cheaper.

I hear you. Unless AK or ACK starts to make them I don't think the price will go down, but I have been wrong before and hope I am wrong here. I bought an almost new (used) Artex 110-4 for a great price. Its a thing of beauty; I will also have to replace it someday (2008/2009).

As far as price the handheld PLB's with 406MHZ and GPS location are about $750. They would be a nice thing to have if you plan a flight into a real remote location, (So $900 for an aircraft unit is not really that bad. )

http://www.equipped.com/terrafix_406gps_plb.htm


To bad they don't have a G switch. George

[LifeofReiley]

By 2008 there will be many suppliers for the new ELT's. I'm waiting for a while to drop that load of cash.