Here is a link to a chart comparing 406 to 121.5 MHz ELTs

According to NOAA 121.5 MHz ELTs only function about 12% of the time when they should and the satellites only cover 2/3 of the earth at all. Taking that into account which would you rather have?

A 121.5 MHz ELT which, if it works at all, narrows down the search area to 400 sq miles and can take up to 4 hours to do so.

A 406 MHz ELT or PLB without a GPS that takes an worldwide average of 60 minutes to narrow down the location to 2.3 nm.

A 406 MHz ELT or PLB with a built in GPS which takes a worldwide average of 15 minutes to narrow down the location to 0.05 nm.

The choice was easy for me and I bought an AeroFix with a built in GPS years ago for about $800. Since then I've started a company that sells PLBs, survival kits and emergency gear for pilots. I always wear my AeroFix in a vest pocket so I am guaranteed that if I get out of the airplane the PLB will also get out. A traditional ELT does not do any good if it is part of a heap of molten metal or at the bottom of a lake so I will continue to carry my PLB even if I upgrade my ELT to a 406 MHz model.

All BCP members get a 10% discount on PLBs and other survival gear by simply using the coupon code "BCP" during checkout.

If you have questions feel free to leave me a message on this site or contact me via my website or by phone at (801)455-5271.

Rob Hunter
President
Prepared Pilot, LLC

Edited 9-8-08 to update BCP member discount information

Prepared Pilot wrote:I also send a free rescue strobe (a $21.95 value) to all customers who order a PLB! aredpilot.com]Prepared Pilot, LLC[/url]

Is this anything like the gizmo my girlfriend uses when I'm out flying?

tom

Savannah-Tom wrote:

Prepared Pilot wrote:I also send a free rescue strobe (a $21.95 value) to all customers who order a PLB! aredpilot.com]Prepared Pilot, LLC[/url]

Is this anything like the gizmo my girlfriend uses when I'm out flying?

tom

No! No! Damnit! It's the thing the aliens use to get their information from you!

tom

Everybody always brings up aliens, we know it's the rectal probing they're really worried about. Don't worry, it's not all that bad.
They give you a drink and a cigarette afterward too. So I hear....

Aren't those figures quoted by Rob on times to narrow down to which distance on first pass only? I thought with subsequent passes or triangulation the distances got narrowed down considerably? Still no debate that one should have the 406.

In my case, I am debating whether worth the extra $3,000 to put a 406 with gps in the plane, vs just a 406, especially as I am on floats. What's the odds ELT and I survive impact, but I am hurt enough that I can't activate the personal 406 gps.

But I could do both I suppose...

freestone wrote:Aren't those figures quoted by Rob on times to narrow down to which distance on first pass only? I thought with subsequent passes or triangulation the distances got narrowed down considerably? ...What's the odds ELT and I survive impact, but I am hurt enough that I can't activate the personal 406 gps.

Freestone, you are right, the numbers I quoted are for the initial pass. I am confident that you are right again and that initial search areas are reduced by further passes but I do not have any figures on how much the search area is reduced. Of course, starting in 2009 the satellites will not be of any use at all in finding a 121.5 MHz ELT. Here are some more figures from NOAA/SARSAT on initial search areas:

121.5 MHz ELT = Initial position uncertainty result in 500 sq. nm (800 sq. km) search area on average.
406 MHz with out GPS position = accuracy limits initial search area to about 25 sq. nm.

Based on my experience on mountain search and rescue teams even 25 sq. miles is too big an area to effectively search. Sometimes we never find people that years later are found only a few miles from their car.

It is certainly conceivable that you and your ELT could survive a crash but you would not be able to activate a PLB. PLBs are very easy to use even with only one hand. You simply release the antenna and press one or two buttons depending on the model. My three year old can do it but if you are unconscious it doesn't matter how easy it is.

I think I may have been a bit misunderstood.

I am absolutely convinced we need 406's in our planes.

To further the case, there is the difference in time that Mike has pointed out before a search even begins. I had read 6hours vs 1 hour notification. And that 97 percent of 121 alarms were false, and only 0.1 percent were real emergencies vs 12.5 percent of 406 signals. HUGE difference, meaning huge difference in responsiveness. plus 5 watts vs 0.5 watts.

everyone in the backcountry should upgrade, I think.

The dilema I ponder is whether I want it gps coupled given I will carry a personal gps 406 plb, given the normal 406 is $900 and the 406 gps for the plane is over $3,500.

But given the search area differentials, I am getting convinced it is worth it. Of course, the 406's also have 121.5 homing frequency as well.

But only 50% of the elts survive the serious impact!

My ELT battery is due for replacement, which of course made me think of upgrading. Like a lot of pilots I rarely file a flight plan because I don't want to be tied to it if I change my mind in mid flight. Also, flying isn't as fun when it feels like I'm on someone elses schedule.

For the same reason I rarely use flight following unless I'm in a busy area... which pretty much means if I fall out of the sky there is going to be a quick mayday on 121.5 to give the heads-up and then

Bottom line is it's up to me to execute a proper emergency landing, then have the proper items and training to survive a few days on the ground. That said, I'm going to upgrade to a 406. Any price is cheap compared to the stress my family is going to experience if I don't come back from a flight and there's no good way to find me.

Come to think of it, maybe I'll get a 406 for my wife on valentines day

One thing I've noticed about the Artex 406 ELT's is that the five year lithium battery costs over $300.00

Is the FAA still gonna make us replace this (very expensive) battery every two years, or are they going two allow the stated five year life? Even with a five year life the replacement price is still *way* more expensive than a two year battery.

I am not going to loose any sleep or even think about this. The feds say it is not a requirement so my money and my 121.5 stays the same. The elt manufacture will reep big off this jive.

Glad to see you on board, Rob! I wondered if this post would get your attention... hehehe.

I bought a 406 PLB from PreparedPilot.com last year. The peace of mind while carrying my young family on board is worth every penny. I keep it within arm's easy reach, and if I find myself in a situation requiring an emergency landing, I will activate it right after I have established best glide and picked my landing site... That is if all goes as planned.

M

Strata Rocketeer wrote:One thing I've noticed about the Artex 406 ELT's is that the five year lithium battery costs over $300.00

Is the FAA still gonna make us replace this (very expensive) battery every two years, or are they going two allow the stated five year life? Even with a five year life the replacement price is still *way* more expensive than a two year battery.

I don't think the FAR's say to replace batt's every two years. They probably say to replace at expiration date. The battery mfr's are the ones who stamp those 2 year (plus a little) exp dates on their products.
Yup, just checked the FAR's: 91.207(c)(2) blah blah when 50% of their useful life has expired ... blah blah ... expiration date for replacing the battery must be legibly marked ... blah blah

Eric

Just purchased an ACR 406 PLB with a built-in GPS from Prepared Pilot. Hopefully, it will remain an unused tool that we carry in the bird for personal insurance purposes. It is comforting to know that we have another way of communicating should the need arise. We also plan to carry it in our vehicles as we spend time in the back country.

Prepared Pilot wrote:
The 3 PLBs I carry with their respective discounts are:

MicroFix with GPS $649.99 - $50.00 BCP discount = $599.99
AeroFix with GPS $549.99 - $30.00 BCP discount = $519.99
AeroFix without GPS $449.99 - $20.00 BCP discount = $429.99

Also I send a free rescue strobe (a $21.95 value) to all customers who order any PLB from Prepared Pilot. The strobe helps rescuers spot you once they get in the area.

My costs for PLBs just went down and I am able to pass on the savings so I edited my post above to reflect the new lower prices including a discount on the new MicroFix PLB.


Rob Hunter
President
Prepared Pilot, LLC

zero.one.victor wrote:Everybody always brings up aliens, we know it's the rectal probing they're really worried about. Don't worry, it's not all that bad.
They give you a drink and a cigarette afterward too. So I hear....

Wow, smoke and a drink after, that's better than the IRS!

Hey Rob - I stuck a link on my EAA Chapter's web site to your site because it looked like there was a lot of stuff there my guys might be interested in.

http://www.eaa839.com/index.htm

It is under the Aviation Links button. Hope you don't mind.

I saw that this topic hadn't been one in a while but I read a little bit ago about how the COPA and the AOPA thinks ELT's should be voluntary here:

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/ELTIssueDownToTheWireInCanada_198624-1.html

Personally I think it should be the pilots choose of what kind of safety equipment he want and how much he wants to pay for it.

What do you all think?

If they make it mandatory over a reasonable period of time, the marketplace would probably bring the prices down.

I did hear a guy from the local CAP say they want the 121.5 ELTs to remain because they can track them once they have the area identified. I know there are CAP guys on the site who can comment on this.

Like any change, a bridge is needed. For now, I carry a SPOT. May not work in a crash, but the tracking would narrow my position by a ten minute or less window of distance.

mauleace wrote:Like any change, a bridge is needed.

It appears at least some people in the FAA agree with you. A FAA office in Alaska recently ordered several AeroFix and MicroFix 406 MHz PLBs from me.

They paid more for them than any of you would. By entering the coupon code "BCP" at www.preparedpilot.com you can get the same PLB for 10% less!

mauleace,

The new 406 beacons also incorporate a pinger, operating on 121.5, so they can still be tracked aurally. This is not true of the PLBs, though.

As to "bridge process", remember, this is not nor has it ever been an FAA initiative. ELT's were mandated by Congress, and the change to 406 was mandated by Congress, NOT the FAA.

The FAA, when forced to implement something that wasn't their idea in the first place, drags their feet, and trys to ignore the subject to the extent possible.

SO, I doubt you'll see any "bridge" process.

And, you can still get the Micro Fix PLB's cheaper--Puget Sound Lifeboat supply.

MTV