Zenith Aircraft Builders and Flyers
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PLB - Personal Locator Beacon
Ordered the ACR SARLINK 406 GPS PLB to use while flying, hiking, driving and shopping at Costco.
I don't like adding equipment to my XL that doesn't provide any performance or safety benefit. Adding a 406 ELT would set me back at least $700 for the AMERI-KING AK-451 406 ELT. I spend significantly more time hiking, camping and traveling on empty roads and feel that a PLB is a better solution.
While flying, it will be in my fanny bag and easily accessible. Some would argue that you have to push the button to activate and in the event of a debilitating crash, there would be no signal. I'll point out that the plane Ted Steven's was in had a 406 and it did not activate after flying into a mountain.
My logic is that I will know that something is wrong with the airplane and we're going down, it's time to activate the PLB, help will be on the way even before impact. If I don't have time to activate, odds are that I won't survive, there is no rush. The final piece of the puzzle is filing a flight plan and letting others know where you are going. We do the same things on hikes into the backcountry and fill out the log at the trail head.
There are 8,760 hours in a year. A 406 ELT offers some protection for 100 hours, what about the other 8,660 hours?
Jake
I don't like adding equipment to my XL that doesn't provide any performance or safety benefit. Adding a 406 ELT would set me back at least $700 for the AMERI-KING AK-451 406 ELT. I spend significantly more time hiking, camping and traveling on empty roads and feel that a PLB is a better solution.
While flying, it will be in my fanny bag and easily accessible. Some would argue that you have to push the button to activate and in the event of a debilitating crash, there would be no signal. I'll point out that the plane Ted Steven's was in had a 406 and it did not activate after flying into a mountain.
My logic is that I will know that something is wrong with the airplane and we're going down, it's time to activate the PLB, help will be on the way even before impact. If I don't have time to activate, odds are that I won't survive, there is no rush. The final piece of the puzzle is filing a flight plan and letting others know where you are going. We do the same things on hikes into the backcountry and fill out the log at the trail head.
There are 8,760 hours in a year. A 406 ELT offers some protection for 100 hours, what about the other 8,660 hours?
Jake
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Bob McDonald on
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As an Advanced Ultralight in CAnada, I am not required to have the madatory (currently over priced) 406 ELT in my CH750 or CH601HD. I use the old style ACK E1-O1 121.5 unit and a SPOT PLB beacon set on tracking which sends my position every 10 minutes to my friends / wife on google maps. In the event of emergency it transmits directly to Trenton Search & Rescue as well as my other contacts. You could as throw it in a pack sack if you wanted to carry it hiking back country.
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Permalink Reply by Jake Reyna on
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Bob, I looked at the SPOT PLB and see the value in the tracking mode, if you don't show up, at least they know where you are without any input if you are incapacitated. At minimum, if you spend any amount of time outdoors in remote locations, some sort of PLB should be in your toolbox. Cheap insurance.
For the record, I do have a 121.5 ELT installed as required by the FAA.
Jake
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Permalink Reply by Chris Aysen on
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Jake - You make alot of sense and I agree with you. However, the FAA does not see it that way; so until the law changes you should have an ELT mounted on the aircraft.... But personally I think your idea makes more sense; I'm going to do it. That would mean I will have both (I have the old Ameri-King).
Chris
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Chris, I do have an ELT, can't pass and Inspection without one, right? I just figured why spend money to replace the ELT. We like to camp and hike and usually find spots that are very far from other people, a PLB is the best choice for our lifestyle.
Jake
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I guess I personally worry about that FAA spot inspection at some flyin I'll be attending. But make no mistake I agree with your assessment; the PLB should be in reach. My wife constantly tells me to let her know when I fly and where I'm going; a flight plan should also be part of every flight (not necessarily one filed with flight service) but telling someone on the ground what your plans are when you take off. I guess I wasted $200 a year ago for a new 121.5 model........... $700, you're right Jake; hard to swallow.
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Permalink Reply by Ken Ryan on
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Just a clarification. The ELT onboard the Otter that crashed, killing five (including former Senator Stevens) did indeed activate. Unfortunately it was torn from its connection to the outside antenna, and thus the signal was not strong enough to be picked up by passing satellites.
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Ken, thanks for the update, it seemed odd that the ELT didn't activate. I'll add that if any of the survivors had been carrying a PLB, the rescue would have been quicker. They were very lucky to have been spotted.
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Permalink Reply by Mark Ertz on
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Jake, Stick w/ your plan, it's a good plan. A couple years down the road the rules will change again and who knows the 406 gear may be cheaper if & when the globe market gets competitive again. None of these glass panels improve the view outside the cockpit for real pilots anyway. 40k dollars of instruments in a 40K dollar a/c is over the top. A comm, a txpdr, a gps, a efis, an elt, steam gauges and lights is enough! What's next, a faa diet.......
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Mark, I can't afford to spend any more money on the airplane, well maybe after I get it flying. I do like the new base Dynon, at $1,600 it seems like a better choice than adding an electric Falcon Attitude, $1,300. I consider this a piece of safety equipment for low visibility, haze, etc.
I agree with your assessment of glass panels, so does my current CFI.
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