If you're gonna ditch, have a 406 ELT...
- Thread starter denverpilot
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Threefingeredjack
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Threefingeredjack
If you're gonna ditch, be close to land. 
But the capabilities of the new 406 units is undeniable. Sounds like a good team effort by all involved.
But the capabilities of the new 406 units is undeniable. Sounds like a good team effort by all involved.
Dan Thomas
Touchdown! Greaser!
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Dan Thomas
If the airplane sinks soon after ditching, the new ELT won't help much unless it's a much more expensive self-ejecting and floating affair. In the story above, the airplane stayed afloat long enough for the ELT to get off at least one burst, which can happen as late as 50 seconds after it's activated.
ELTs are still a rather poor method of locating a wreck. The large majority of ELT signals are bogus, and the ELT doesn't work at all in about 50% of crashes. They get smashed to flinders on rocky mountainsides, they burn, they sink, they get their antennas shoved into the dirt when the airplane goes onto its back. The 406 might be a lot better than the 121.5, since the old ELTs aren't followed by satellites anymore, but an automatic SPOT-type reporter, making location reports every few seconds, might be better, especially if accompanied by a 406.
Dan
ELTs are still a rather poor method of locating a wreck. The large majority of ELT signals are bogus, and the ELT doesn't work at all in about 50% of crashes. They get smashed to flinders on rocky mountainsides, they burn, they sink, they get their antennas shoved into the dirt when the airplane goes onto its back. The 406 might be a lot better than the 121.5, since the old ELTs aren't followed by satellites anymore, but an automatic SPOT-type reporter, making location reports every few seconds, might be better, especially if accompanied by a 406.
Dan
It is alot easier to use flight following and when the unthinkable happens, you got off a MAYDAY call and they can pinpoint your location, call the closest S&R and all you have to do is make a safe. successful emergency landing.
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