I was just reading a boating newsletter that stated that as of Jan 1 2007, both 121.5 and 243 MHz EPIRB's are prohibitted from use in both commercial and recreational watercraft. Boaters wanting an EPIRB must have a digital 406 MHz model. Furthermore, it stated that as of Feb 1 2009 satellite processing of 121.5 and 243 MHz distress signals will terminate. After which only 406 MHz will be satellite detected.
So what's the deal on this with regards to our airplanes? Are we all gonna be required to buy new ELT's? And how much are we gonna get soaked for those?

Eric

zero.one.victor wrote:? Are we all gonna be required to buy new ELT's? And how much are we gonna get soaked for those?

Yes. They're on the market now, so maybe look some up on Chief or Spruce for prices. It's one of those things that sucks to have to upgrade, cuz you can't play with it. It's not like a new handheld GPS or a gadgety goodie. You just stick it in and forget about it until you wad.

The reflectivity for the frequency 121.5 and 243 goes away effective 2009. At that time, all aircraft will have to have installed a 406 beacon.

By the way, these are a LOT better devices, for a lot of reasons. Read up some on the differences. If something bad did happen to you, and you have a 406 beacon, help will arrive a LOT sooner.

Also, 406 beacons, being digital, are capable of sending a GPS location to RCC as well, which could make help arrive even faster.

So, there are some very real advantages.

Right now, I believe Artex is the only company making one for small aircraft. See http://www.artex.net/me406.html for their small aircraft ELT.

This thing costs just under $1000, compared to a couple hundred for a 121.5 beacon. But, this machine also transmits on 121.5, by the way.

I'm not rushing out to buy one of these just now, but they do offer a much better response time, if activated.

MTV

Something I was wondering about is losing the ability for the fleet to monitor the elt freq. ie 121.5mhz. I know I don't have UHF receiver onboard capable of detecting a 406mhz beacon digital or otherwise. (Actually I do have a ham handheld with a general receiver but I sure don't monitor it) Right now I leave com2 on 121.5 when flying long cross country over remote areas, just in case. 121.5 will still be available for emergency com of course but beacons will be on a freq only satellites (or search and rescue I would suppose and military) will monitor? If I'm down I would just as soon have every receiver in nearly every aircraft in the US be able to listen for my beacon. New trancievers could probably be made to receive 406mhz (receive only no xmit) as a special function but how long until they replace the new fangled 720's they made us get a few years back.

Maybe there's a simple answer but I have not heard it yet. How about it you avionics guru's, what's the skinny? Maybe these things will always also transmit a beacon on 121.5 ???

Some more info here:

http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/elt.html

From the Chief website:

* Immediate search and rescue response
* Position accuracy within 3 km
* Transmitter is identified by serial number or aircraft ID
* Worldwide coverage
* 5-year battery life LiSO2/ LiMnO2
* TSO-C126,ETSO-2C126 pending, COSPAS/SARSAT approved
* Mounting holes compatible with most existing ELT housings
* Single antenna output for both frequencies.
* Designed especially for the private pilot.
* 20 years of ELT design experience results in a breakthrough in design
* A low cost solution to 406Mhz technology requirements
* 121.5 and 406 MHz
* ELT weight: 2 lbs.

The Artex ME-406 is a single output ELT. Two emergency frequencies (121.5 and 406.028 MHz) utilize the same RF output, which requires only one coax cable to connect to the new series of Artex single input antennas. The ELT automatically activates during a crash and transmits the standard swept tone on 121.5 MHz.

Every 50 seconds for 440 milliseconds the 406 MHz transmitter turns on and transmits an encoded digital message to the Cospas/Sarsat satellite system. The mounting hardware for the ME-406 Series is compatible with all previous models of Artex 406 MHz, as well as the ELT200 Series, Pointer Model 300 ELT and Narco ELT's.

I'm just kinda surprised that this is (I think) the frst I've heard about it. And the deadline is only 2 years away. Even if it is an improvement, seems like AOPA or someone woulda been squawking about it by now. Esp when the required replacement ELT is gonna cost a grand, I've seen them raise hell about AD's that cost less than that.

Eric

Zero one victor,

This process started well over ten or fifteen years ago. The North Slope Borough of Alaska was selected to evaluate a newer, more efficient emergency beacon type-an EPIRB.

During the ten year evaluation period up there, the number of "saves" due strictly to these beacons was amazing.

Before you critisize this move, you need to first understand what a "good deal" you have with a 121.5 beacon.

Let's say you crash, and your 121.5 beacon activates. If you're lucky, one of the SAR/SAT or COSPAS satellites is overhead, but you could sit there for up to an hour or so, waiting for a satellite to pass overhead and reflect your ELT signal to the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC). RCC logs the ELT hit, but does precisely NOTHING with it, due to the fact that 121.5 signals are all the same, and the false alarm rate is high. Besides, the first hit tells them the location of the ELT within a few hundred miles only.

Another hour passes, and the next satellite comes over the horizon (if you're lucky, you may be in an area where they pass every 40 minutes or so--north is better). Now, RCC has both a slightly better location by triangulation as well as the notion that maybe this is a real accident. They notify whoever is responsible for search and rescue in that area to start an ELT search. So, the CAP drives around airports in the area and listens for ELTs. Aircraft in the area are asked to monitor 121.5, etc.

Another hour passes. Now, with the third satellite pass, RCC can tell that the signal (based on triangulation) is in a fairly confined area, and not located at an airport. Now, they launch the SAR resources.

In general, they'll be there anywhere from four to five hours post crash, if you're lucky.

Now--the 406 deal:

You crash. Your 406 beacon activates. Maybe an hour passes, and the signal reflects from a satellite to RCC. RCC decodes the digital signal, which has a discrete code on it, and they look it up in their database. When you bought the thing, you registered it with RCC. RCC calls your contact phone numbers. Your wife answers the phone, and when RCC asks to speak to you, she tells them that you are flying. RCC is now on high alert, and initiates the SAR process. If you are on a flight plan, they will initiate SAR along your proposed route (you don't deviate from your planned route often do you?). In the meantime, rescue forces in the general vicinity of the first hit are put on alert status. That means a Pave Hawk helicopter in many parts of the world, Coast Guard Jayhawk, etc.

They get the second hit, and triangulation narrows the location, and they launch the Pave Hawk, with an KC-130 tanker for support. They proceed to the general area. They are on site by the time the third hit comes in, and this gives them a nearly precise location. The PJ's winch down and save your narrow ass.

Now, if you bought the "extra cost option" GPS connectivity for your new 406 beacon, on the very first hit, RCC would not only know precisely who you are, but also precisely where you are. Rescue forces would then be launched immediately.

On the North SLope, they used a very sophisticated all weather capable helicopter, and they saved a lot of those folks lives who would never have otherwise survived, like folks who got out on a chunk of ice which broke loose from shore while they were hunting.

The 406 units will come down in price. Right now, there is only one unit on the market for little airplanes. There are a bunch of handheld units available, and they are a great device if you hike the backcountry, etc. as well.

Few people realize how long it takes for ANYTHING to happen after the activation of a 121.5 beacon. I do. I like the 406 concept.

The new 406 aircraft beacons come with 121.5 transmitter as well, so other aircraft will still be able to hear them.

DF'ing a UHF signal is not the best, so searchers will also still use the 121.5 signal for DF work, probably.

I'm not rushing out to buy a 406 beacon right away for the plane, because the prices will come down soon, I believe. But, it would only take one little oops and I'd sure wish I'd dropped the coin sooner.
MTV

MTV,

Thanks for the info.

So, they will likely continue to build the elts to transmit a beacon on both freq's (121.5 and 406) That seems like the only solution.

I did notice while looking at the specs of the one and only 406 elt that it will transmit a 100mw signal for 50 hours on 121.5 and a whopping 5 watts on 406 but for only 24 hours. Not sure how many satellite passes in 24 hours but they should have a pretty good idea of the location by then.

For comparison, my 3 year old marine vhf has what they call dsc and by pressing the mayday button the unit rig will send a maritime mobile service identity string along with location if gps or loran is connected.

Aviation seems to lag other services sometimes. I would guess they want to make sure they get it right...

Mark

N6EA,

Actually, in this case, it isn't just aviation. In fact, until about two years ago, you could not legally use a 406 beacon outside Alaska, because the system was still considered experimental, or in test, or....

Anyway, originally, I think there was a proposal at one point to turn off 121.5 reflectivity THIS year, but that was extended to 2009. Not absolutely sure of that, but I seem to remember such.

It takes quite an effort to get an airplane part "blessed" by the FAA. These have to be blessed not only by the FAA, but by the FCC, and the RCC folks as well. A lot of blessings, I'd say.

MTV

The 406 MHz has been available since 1982 . They were all larger units for ships, yachts and larger aircraft (often military). The newer dual band(406 MHz and 121.5 MHz) personal models were only available in Alaska until about two years ago and are now widely available. These units are digital and send the registered information about the type of aircraft or ship, owner, contact information, home base, etc. along with the gps position, if so equipped. There is the basic unit w/o gps which the satellite captures your position via doppler technology within about 1- 3 miles. The models with gps send your position to the rescue coordination center with much more accuracy, within less than 100'. Depending on satellite coverage, your signal and position are received in 3- 90 minutes. The units simultaneously send a homing signal on 121.5 MHz for Search and Rescue. The single band 121.5 MHz (like what we have in our aircraft) units position is captured to a 5- 12 mile accuracy. The personal 406/121.5 units are widely available from $500 - $650. Not too bad for life insurance.

I've seen the gps equiped 406 personal devices for about $550, so I would hope equivalent aviation units will be available for about that eventually.

For phone service (somebody mentioned sat phone) I bought a Motorola bag phone from Goodwill and have found it will cover most places you can't begin to get a signal with the small digital phones. Basic service with no minutes is only $13 per month. I always carry it in the plane, and when we go into the desert in our van.

tom

Just looked in my newest Chief catalog (2007 #32):
Artex ME-406 ELT (406/121.5) $895 with 110-773 whip antenna,$1374 with 110-338 rod antenna.
Artex G406-4 (406/121.5/243) $1825,
plus optional ELT --> GPS interface $1358
total $3183 for combo

Eric

This is the authoritative site for EPIRBs, ELTs and PLBs. http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/

You might want to check out: http://www.equipped.org/plb_legal.htm

Much of the data here is about a year old but much of it is worth it.

A portable 406 PLB with GPS is less than $800.

A good thing about something like the ACR unit, is you can attach it to your belt or vest and it will go with you out of the airplane. In case you happen to ditch or sink your floatplane you ELT will not be on the bottom of the lake or ocean or if you are mobile you can go to a better transmitting location than where the ball of aircraft parts ends up.

I know the FAA wants a installed unit, but having a portable unit makes a bunch of sense, especially until 2009 when we have to bite the bullet and install one.

TD

Here's one for $550 and free batteries for life.

http://www.pacificcoastavionics.com/det ... ND%5FPLUS/

tom

just curious where I can find the info about the FAA requiring us to install the new beacon. I have been discussing this topic with another list and an AI stated that the FAA has not stated that we will have to replace our second and third generation ELT's, just that the satallite reflectivity will go away makeing our old ELT's not very usefull.

Jon

I hadn't heard any talk about it either, that's why the boating notice took me by surprise. I don'[t think we'll have to remove our current ELT's, but I'll bet that we will be required to install a new 406'er.
After this discussion, I agree that it sounds like the 406 sat thing is a better mousetrap. I just don't likke the price tag that goes with it. The personal unit Tom posted about looks like a good deal. You can wear it on your belt or wherever, so it's always with you.I wonder if there will be an exemption for airplane-mounted 406 ELT if the pilot has a personal one? Probably not....

Couple of years ago, when the PLB's first came available, I ordered one for my trip to Alaska. Of course, it was the only thing that was backordered, so I had to leave without it. On the way up, I was able to identify thousands of spots where my problems would be just beginning if I could, through some astounding improvement in my piloting abilty, get my body on the ground in one piece in the event of a "problem". There were 500 mile stretches of this:



My wingspan is less than the height of ONE of those trees down there. Nobody lives down there and, usually, nobody goes there because they don't have to. It would sure be nice to be able to tell folks exactly where you are.

My PLB came to me in Alaska, so the trip back was more comfortable. In fact, I WORE the PLB most of the way back. Why? Well, unlike the ELT, there is no impact trigger on the PLB. You have to physically press a button to start it and also deploy the built in antenna yourself. If you can't do that, there's probably not much of a hurry for folks to get out there. Anyway, I figured I would stand a chance if my left leg wasn't too far away and it made me feel better. The non-GPS unit I got (cheap bastard) has an input for an external GPS feed. I always have a handheld backup GPS, so hooking up the cable is not much harder than the other two steps. The trick, I guess, would be to start squawking before impact as long as you are convinced that you are soon gonna be walking in God's most beautiful wilderness.

YB

I bought an Airtex ME 406 when they first came out. I knew of the advantages and wanted one. I paid $900 plus for it but I think they are around $800 now. You want the whip antenna not the rod type if you get one.

I don't know that every airplane will be required to get a new ELT by 2009, it is just that the satellites will quite monitoring the 121.5 frequency then.

In December of 2006 I went on an aerial search for an ELT after Montana Aeronautics called and said they had one going off in my district. We searched and pinned it down to a private airstrip with a hangar. My observer knew the owner and we got him on the radio. To make the story short it turned out that his new John Deere piece of logging equipment had a problem and the JD technician was uploading some data from the machine to his office through a satellite connection. You guessed it, that upload was sending out a signal on 121.5.

The false alarms on 121.5 waste a lot of time and money and cause big delays when it is a real emegency. Before anything happens the folks that monitor 121.5 satellite hits wait until they get two consecutive hits before taking real notice. That could be two hours before the first phone call is made.

I'm all in favor of 406 ELT's. I also carry a 406 PLB.

Jr.CubBuilder wrote:Wow, YB that's a nice picture. I hope I get to fly up there someday.

Ditto. WOW.