Two things worth emphasis to start;
1. there is probably an exception to every "fact"---its a life/death situation and crazy shit typically happened by definition
2. I speak for no organization and I make no assertions other than my knowledge as I remember it. If you feel like you wanna sue someone---I'm getting old and I forget things.
When you trigger a 406 beacon (COSPAS/SARSAT/ELT/PLB/EPIRB) a lot of magic happens, but then it quickly drops through a secure email of sorts to a computer screen at the appropriate RCC. Thats typically where you are registered AND where you are. Ak registered ELT thats activated in Canada- AKRCC and Canada for example.
On that screen is a set of very accurate coords (or two sets and %), all of your registration data you entered, when the next satellites are going overhead/accuracy of, and a lot of other info.
Breaking down some things of interest on that page:
Coords- --If GPS aided- there is one set and they are solid (in my experience)
--If not GPS aided- there is another message with or without a short delay with 2 sets of coords and % COSPAS believes each is accurate. IE 12 34.555N 123 45.555W 50% 45 34.555N 133 45.555W 50%
One of the percentages goes up and one goes down with each pass. The LEO's use doppler shift to find the beacon, hence the 2 sets. (I'm not about to explain that via computer) That set of coords is very accurate as well and gets better with each pass. In my experience its spot on by the time you can actually get on scene anyway. Tho I can think of one exception already.
---WAG of coord accuracy: 5 meters with gps, 500 without 100% BS, just what I remember as my experiences
I will say; I have responded to beacons with no updates and flew right to it. Don't take that as a reason to not couple
to GPS. The GPS is superior for a myriad of reasons. Don't be afraid of one thats not tho.
Next the RCC figures out what is the best asset for the survivor. Maybe its the AST dude on a snow machine in Aniak, maybe its ANG. They go to the coords and pickup the survivor. Then they go to the hospital.
Some assets have 406 DF capability. Some have 121.5 DF. I have not once heard of DFing a 406 off of the 121.5. Its like firing up your old ADF when your WAAS GPS is working good. You get the coords from RCC and go there. I will say some of the best rescue assets don't even have the 121.5 DF equipment installed, so you do the math.
The next step is typically verification of distress. This kinda gives you a timeline of your options. A very common question/concern.
-If registered, phone calls are made to your contacts. Your wife says yeah, he's flying somewhere west. Verified. Now someone goes and gets you that fast. Tons of stories about silly fast on scene times.
-If not registered, we start down the amateur private detective route, inevitably taking much time I wouldn't want if I just crashed. (But maybe I'm just soft) At some point you are overdue or some other trigger and asset is asked/tasked.
-If you don't have a 406….Usually an airliner reports you and the search area is 1/2 of Alaska or larger. Over the course of days that area gets small enough to work with. Many times the battery just burns out. Waste of a lot of good peoples time and sometimes someones life. Inexcusable IMO.
121.5 use:
1. An unregistered beacon, accidentally activated on the ramp of a congested airport. Now there is no registration data to simply call the owner, and tell him to turn it off. AND there are airplanes all over. CAP is called (probably at midnight in the rain) and they go out with their 121.5 DF gear and find the damn dummy who spent all the money but didn't utilize the capability. I digress….
2. At annual you still have to comply with 91.207. The 121.5 side is used to do that in the models I have experience with.
1. Buy a 406 device. You already bought the tech via your tax dollars. As someone who has worked with it, your govt has spent a lot more money in a lot worse ways.
2. REGISTER IT. You get a response much quicker when registered. Plus, how dumb?!-- Spend the money and not utilize the capability. Sad. Secondly, save the poor CAP guy the hassle. Those guys are fantastic.
3. THANK YOU to all the guys who got on board and keep their registration current. Don't forget when you buy or sell, you gotta redo it.
I think we've pretty well got the word out, just a few holdouts, but one life lost is too many, esp when it doesn't have to happen.
I attempted to copy a screen shot. Unfortunately to clean up enough to post, there'd be nothing useful. See one at an RCC.
Uncle, I'm typed out.
Fly safe gents,
Kevin
