Warbird Information Exchange

if 121.5 isn't monitored anymore how exactly is the FCC going to know if i'm using it or not? in the only situation where i might actually use the ELT i'm not going to be to concerned with whether or not its legal, in fact at that point i likely won't have too many concerns at all.

BTW has anyone every been part of a search for an activated ELT? I was loosely involved in 1 search about 9 yrs ago. Flight Service called my FBO with the general area (if i remember right it was only narrowed down to a 7 or 8 mile square) we did send up an aircraft who flew a search grid over that area but the aircraft was eventually found by a landowner who discovered a luscombe stuck in his grove. The pilot and pax were long deceased by then (pilot was one of those dumbasses who just have to buzz everyone they know everytime they fly)


anyway part 137 is still exempt from having ELTs so I really dont have a dog in this fight

can the existing cable for a 121.5 remote switch be used for a 406 ELT? I was asked to run a new cable (i believe it was 5 or 6 conductor shielded wire) for a customer with a seneca at his last annual. he had been told by his avionics shop that he'd have to switch back in Feb so he wanted to cable run while the aircraft was apart. depending on the aircraft this can be a bit of a pain.

Umm, most of our aircraft have 406 capability. Even our oldest L-PER units have a modest 406 capability, but with the rapid transition to the Becker unit, 406 (both air and marine) are readily locatable.

In fact, since SARSAT monitoring ended, we've had more false alarms than we did before because a plane THOUGHT they heard an ELT and reported it. From 30,000 feet, that "signal" could be anywhere within a nearly 100 mile radius, not a small area to search.

As for being part of an activated ELT search, I've been part of several now, including 2 for actual missing aircraft. Thankfully in all cases there wasn't an actual accident, simply a couple of hard landings, some Chinooks that got wet, and a few "idiots" who decided not to call anyone when they ended up going somewhere other than they intended.

A friend of mine just changed his - an E-01 for an E-04. It was a piece of cake because of his original installtion.



http://www.ackavionics.com/406%20Page.html

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"If its red or dusty - DON'T TOUCH IT!

Urban legend on the 406 capability, CAP does have that capability.

If you are only using 121.5 then CAP has to know you are missing in the first place.

Flyboyj, how did your friend do that? The E-04 units have not been certified yet and are not available.

Jim

The U-11A has an Ameri-King AK-450 ELT. I just called the company to see what it would take to switch it over to the new AK-451. I was told that the remote head would need to be changed (unplug and plug on the new one), and change the antenna. The -451 is the same size as the -450, so the tray doesn't need to be changed. All current holes are the right size, so no modifications needed. Sounds like a quick switch over.

I asked about pricing, and trade-in for the old unit. I was told a few years ago, when the -451 was being developed, that there might be a trade-in value to the old unit. Ameri-King will refund $50 if you return the old unit to them after buying an AK-451. The price from them is $829. If you buy three or more on a single order the price is discounted to $799 each. I asked if other distributors were giving the $50 trade-in. They said to ask as some are and some might not.

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Mike

And what are you going to do if the 406 mhz elt also transmits on 121.5? Many of the 406 units do. Do you have to replace that unit too?

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If God had wanted man to fly behind a flat motor, Pratt Whitney would've built one.

They have Jim - go to their site - they recieved their TSO approval. He got one, don't ask me how and has it in his airplane, 337 bought, sold and delivered.

http://www.ackavionics.com/pdf/E-04%20W ... .2.pdf.pdf

http://www.ackavionics.com/pdf/TSO_C-126_approval.pdf

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"If its red or dusty - DON'T TOUCH IT!

The big problem with all of this is the way the FCC wrote the reg. Other than the Breitling watch, ANY ELT that can transmit on 121.5 will be prohibited. So, by their reg, the only legal ELT's will be the ones that transmit capability on 406 or 406 and 243.

I'm glad that I'm a long way from having to buy ELT's.

Not time to panic yet......

It seems that the rule may be delayed:

http://www.aea.net/governmentaffairs/re ... .asp?ID=43

It also seems at the rule is not aimed at the TSO C126 units that transmit on both 121.5 and 406.

However, I think the handwriting for 121.5 only ELTs is on the wall.....I sure wouldn't buy a new one.

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Steve
www.eaglesmereairmuseum.org
www.net2nite.com