Was thinking about the latest iPhone (14) feature that is supposed to send an emergency alert in the event of a driving accident. Guessing that it 1) requires cellular service, 2) might be integrated with a road map database, and 3) might alert the wrong (non-aviation) agency. Curious how it might respond to a plane crash. Obviously not a replacement for onboard ELT and PLB/ EPIRB, but any speculation what it might do for you in that event?

[edit: changed the title from PLB to ELT- maybe that's the better analogy here?]

It calls 911 so if you have service they will answer and talk to you. Now if you are unable to answer due to injury I am not sure what the protocol would be. Hopefully if it shows location off road they can call the rescue center and report it. For Alaska I would count on 406 ELT/Sat Phone/In Reach for any rescue.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213225
DENNY

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213426

It's a little vague.

I hear the 14 has SatComm capability, using the GlobalStar constellation (same as SPOT) for the obvious reason that it is lower and can be pinged easier. The aerobatic guys are already generating false alarms if the forget their phone in their pocket and pull a few g's. Software updates will take care of it. I predict ELT's, PLB's, InReach and SPOT will all end up on the scrap heap of obsolescence in favour of the iPhone.

Karmutzen wrote: I predict ELT's, PLB's, InReach and SPOT will all end up on the scrap heap of obsolescence in favour of the iPhone.

Just like point-and-shoot cameras.

Using a smartphone as a PLB-type device has a distinct advantage: you’re more likely to have it on you at all times. And you can surf BCP on it.

But I still think there is value in having dedicated-purpose devices that do one job well, and won’t be at 15% battery when you need it in an emergency like your phone will be from surfing all that BCP over LTE.

Isn’t the 14 only able to satellite text 911if you don’t have cell service ?

I traded in my 12 for the new 14 Pro yesterday at AT&T and asked if you
can trigger the emergency manually and she said No. The phone apparently
has the parameters built in to the phone and does it automatically so will wait
and see. Probably get more info from Apple and see what it may do in a crash.
I have Spot and a PEB but this would be a good backup.

Upon further research, it seems you can activate manually. When you go
to turn phone off, a emergeny SOS appears and it also has use satellite
and then it connects to nearest emergency contact and it will send your
info that you have installed previously. Sounds pretty good. we'll see.

If I didn’t have a new 13pro I’d go 14

I’d also wager the build quality on the iPhone and software is better than my spot

Pukingdawg wrote:I traded in my 12 for the new 14 Pro yesterday at AT&T and asked if you
can trigger the emergency manually and she said No.

....

When you goto turn phone off, a emergeny SOS appears and it also has use satellite
and then it connects to nearest emergency contact and it will send your
info that you have installed previously. Sounds pretty good. we'll see.

Right. She's wrong. It's just an action that's revealed when you use the standard power down button combo of volume down and right side button.

Now, what exactly it does and who it notifies is what's vague. Straight to NORAD? Phone call to podunk 911? Unsure what the SAR escalation process is, especially for something with potentially so many false positives.

Backpacking Light has a pretty decent writeup where they interview Colorado SAR, etc.

https://backpackinglight.com/apple-iphone-14-vs-garmin-inreach/

Sounds like the false positive issue isn't as much of a concern as one might think. My recollection from the Apple announcement is that they are setting up their own service for handling these iPhone satellite alarms, and manning those with folks trained at forwarding to the appropriate SAR agencies or sheriff's departments. It remains to be seen how well it all works, but Apple has some pretty deep pockets, so there's that.

Personally I wouldn't rely on this as my main signaling option, but it's a potentially cool backup.

Oregon180 wrote:Backpacking Light has a pretty decent writeup where they interview Colorado SAR, etc.

https://backpackinglight.com/apple-iphone-14-vs-garmin-inreach/

Sounds like the false positive issue isn't as much of a concern as one might think. My recollection from the Apple announcement is that they are setting up their own service for handling these iPhone satellite alarms, and manning those with folks trained at forwarding to the appropriate SAR agencies or sheriff's departments. It remains to be seen how well it all works, but Apple has some pretty deep pockets, so there's that.

Personally I wouldn't rely on this as my main signaling option, but it's a potentially cool backup.

That was my thought on their pockets and PR

I remember that article about the SPOTs that failed and had some bad hardware (as I recall)

With the money behind apple and the potential for horrific PR if some granola munching apple bro died with their iPhone in their hand after trusting it to get help when he got lost in the woods or something, I’d wager apple put the money required to make this work, resources that spot or spider tracks don’t have

I wouldn’t trust calling 911 if a rescue was time critical. I suppose most aren’t critical where minutes count, but a few years ago a pilot went down in the salt water (Knik Arm) right under the traffic pattern for Birchwood airport (Anchorage suburb). He called 911 on his cell phone, but for some reason it was routed to the area where he lived (I think it was McGrath, or some other place a few hours away). He went down with his Super Cub as response was not timely.

In contrast, many years ago, a pilot put his 180 in the water in the same area, in the winter. He had one of the old 121.5 personal ELTs in his pocket. He contacted the local Rescue Coordination Center via radio, but the rescue helicopter was returning from another mission and had to be refueled before responding. I think the pilot and passenger were in the water for something like 45 minutes and had drifted many miles from where they went down. The helicopter was able to home in on the ELT and pick them up. Happy ending.

I think I’ll stick with the aircraft’s 406 ELT, a personal 406 and my Garmin inReach. Hopefully something out of that bunch will get a good response.

Ross

Can anyone that's got a 14 post a review?

I hear it has 15 minute sat tracking, not as good as ADSB or our current 2-min trackers, but it's a start.

And what about the Sat Comms (send and receive text) anybody try that?

Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

mtv wrote:Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

You have a link?

NineThreeKilo wrote:

mtv wrote:Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

You have a link?

Here is one from Summit Cty., CO Saw it on a ski site a few days ago.

https://unofficialnetworks.com/2022/12/30/911-dispatchers-field-71-calls/

NineThreeKilo wrote:

mtv wrote:Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

You have a link?

A link to what? TV news? Nope

MTV

pburns wrote:

NineThreeKilo wrote:

mtv wrote:Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

You have a link?

Here is one from Summit Cty., CO Saw it on a ski site a few days ago.

https://unofficialnetworks.com/2022/12/30/911-dispatchers-field-71-calls/

This is a potential disaster. As the article states, these false positive calls are taking resources away from people really in need. Apple needs to pull their collective thumb out and get this fixed sooner than later.

I don’t think I want to risk my life on the Beta version in remote places.

mtv wrote:

NineThreeKilo wrote:

mtv wrote:Last nights news said these things are going off in skiers pockets at the two local ski areas, and dispatch is busy with 911 calls, and the requisite sorting process.

Sounds like it’s got a ways to go.

MTV

You have a link?

A link to what? TV news? Nope

MTV

Figured it probably was also on the web

Seems a nothing burger

https://www.macrumors.com/2022/11/30/cr ... by-skiers/


“"We will get a call in that says the owner of this Apple Watch or iPhone has either had a severe crash or they've been involved in a car accident," Summit County Dispatch Center supervisor Suzie Butterfield told KSL.”


“ Butterfield said that she does not recommend turning the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch safety features off. "We don't mind taking that call because if something really did happen, we want to be able to get to you," she said.”



I had my iPhone freak out and do that SOS thing (not a 14) dispatcher called “everything ok” “yup” “ok bye”