CT4ME
Cleared for Takeoff
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I have a few questions:
1.) If this was in the airplane (high wing) would it be able to transmit to the iridium satellite?
2.) Is it legal to have this device transmitting from the airplane while in flight?
3.) Their cheapest plan charges for tracking points ($0.10/each). Is that something that a person manually initiates so the cost can be managed?
The cheapest plan is probably around $150/yr. If it can reach the satellite while en-route it could be a awesome alternative to a VFR flight plan and compliment FF for redundancy.
I could also see my brother using it for his big portage into Canada fishing trips where he doesn't get cell service.
I have a few questions:
1.) If this was in the airplane (high wing) would it be able to transmit to the iridium satellite?
In a high wing if you have a fancy back window you can put it there otherwise I typically tuck it on the right side of the windscreen.
The tracking plan, even the least expensive would be a waste. I'd rather buy a PLB.
So, If you don't need the LIVE tracking feature or TEXT messaging, you are better served, IMHO, with a PLB. Way less costly (Just Purchase Price) and not dependent on a private company to process the notifications, should you be in distress.
I've given this serious thought the past few weeks, as I'm flying VFR cross country in June. I thought it would bee cool for the family to track my progress. However, cost wise, at least for me, it doesn't make sense. All flying after that will be local of shorter cross country flights, where my iPhone will be sufficient. The tracking plan, even the least expensive would be a waste. I'd rather buy a PLB.
So, If you don't need the LIVE tracking feature or TEXT messaging, you are better served, IMHO, with a PLB. Way less costly (Just Purchase Price) and not dependent on a private company to process the notifications, should you be in distress.
But what If you are incapacitated? This will have a track of your flight to within 10 minutes (say 22 mile radius in our case). But I suspect it will update again once stationary so lets say within 100's of feet.
And the ability to text in flight at any level is something I didn't think of. When I fly to my parents the toughest part to arrange is when they should pick us up. Is it worth $300 a year for this...probably not.
Yup. I hang mine on the microphone hook on the left side of the wind screen. No issues after 20K or so miles.
From the look of that map, what are you bringing back and forth from south america. Just pulling your leg
Whale oil for the antique lamp trade.
In a way, doesn't this come down to how injured the pilot and passengers are after an emergency landing or worse.
If you are awake and alert you can use the PLB and maybe even get cell service. You're more likely to have a PLB. And more likely that it works since its a one time purchase. No monthly unpaid bill preventing you from using it (although I bet the SOS feature works on the inReach even if the bill isn't paid).
But what If you are incapacitated? This will have a track of your flight to within 10 minutes (say 22 mile radius in our case). But I suspect it will update again once stationary so lets say within 100's of feet. Since you are incapacitated you won't be pressing the SOS button (on either device). So it then comes down to someone reporting you overdue. Let's say it takes 8hrs for friends or family to report you overdue. At least they could give the emergency services a location 22 miles and probably within 100ft. With a PLB only you might not be found for days.
I'm not saying one is better than the other. Obviously one is better than none. Interesting either way! And the ability to text in flight at any level is something I didn't think of. When I fly to my parents the toughest part to arrange is when they should pick us up. If we can get flight following they can track on flight aware. But that may not be possible. I have tried texting from the air but it sometimes doesn't go through until we landed. Is it worth $300 a year for this...probably not. I guess two planes could communicate this way as well.
There are many scenarios, one being, you escape, but the ELT in the plane was damaged or destroyed. Now what to do? Deploy your PLB! If you know you are headed for an off field landing, I would hope I have the wits about me to deploy both the in aircraft ELT and my personal PLB before I ditch or attempt an off field landing. I couldn't care less at that point about texting.
PLBs are great. But remember that you could also hit the SOS button on your InReach before attempting that landing and, if things worked out fine, then the texting would be a valuable service to tell SAR that you don't need very expensive resources to be deployed to rescue you.
Whether it's worth the cost or not is a value judgement that will differ between people, but as I've previously written, I've been really happy to have that feature at my disposal. If I was forced to carry only one device, there is no question that it would be an InReach rather than an ELT or PLB. Fortunately, I don't have to make that choice.
PLBs are great. But remember that you could also hit the SOS button on your InReach before attempting that landing and, if things worked out fine, then the texting would be a valuable service to tell SAR that you don't need very expensive resources to be deployed to rescue you.
Whether it's worth the cost or not is a value judgement that will differ between people, but as I've previously written, I've been really happy to have that feature at my disposal. If I was forced to carry only one device, there is no question that it would be an InReach rather than an ELT or PLB. Fortunately, I don't have to make that choice.
We would like to think SAR works like that, but when you call, they will send assets per THEIR protocols, not what we tell them or think we need. It’s just the way the system works. I base that on experience and my employment choice the past 40 yrs.
I found a comparison of 121.5 and 406 beacons. I don't see any data on failure-to-activate rates, but the false alarm rate for 121.5 beacons is MUCH higher. Also, I think that a 406 beacon is required to have a switch installed on the aircraft panel, which can be used to manually activate it on the way down....The ELT seems an expensive device considering how often it fails to operate effectively when needed. Have not seen any data that shows the 406 is any better in that respect than the old 121.5s....
I found a comparison of 121.5 and 406 beacons. I don't see any data on failure-to-activate rates, but the false alarm rate for 121.5 beacons is MUCH higher. Also, I think that a 406 beacon is required to have a switch installed on the aircraft panel, which can be used to manually activate it on the way down.
http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/406vs121.pdf
That's really surprising. So walk me through it.
o My engine fails
o I activate my PLB, because I'm in nasty mountains and am very likely to be incapacitate when I hit the trees or rocks
o I manage to glide to a nearby airstrip, which happens to be Johnson Creek where there is a phone, but is also a really long way from where SAR resources are located
o I call someone (NOAA?) and report that everything is fine
In that case the chopper is still gonna be deployed? Ambulance? Fire? Police? Park guards? My call to NOAA changes nothing in the response?
That's really surprising. So walk me through it.
o My engine fails
o I activate my PLB, because I'm in nasty mountains and am very likely to be incapacitate when I hit the trees or rocks
o I manage to glide to a nearby airstrip, which happens to be Johnson Creek where there is a phone, but is also a really long way from where SAR resources are located
o I call someone (NOAA?) and report that everything is fine
In that case the chopper is still gonna be deployed? Ambulance? Fire? Police? Park guards? My call to NOAA changes nothing in the response?
Unfortunately that scenario is extremely unlikely. If you're flying back there and you have to make a forced landing you're going to need help. I have had pretty good luck with Verizon in the Idaho backcountry so have just gone with the plb option...
Immediate cancellation should not be a problem, as in a false alarm. Most agencies will act with an abundance of caution and dispatch a first responder. Request the fire department and tell them it’s a trash can fire and they need only send an engine. Well, you will get an engine, ladder truck and possibly in some places an ambulance.
I haven't once had coverage in the places I fly into there (Frank Church, Nez Perce, Bitterroot, etc...).
But, yeah, of course it's a long shot example. It was meant to clarify things, not to guess that the odds of surviving unscathed in the mountains there were particularly high.