stillworkin
New Contributor
As most of you know, the big switch to digital is coming in Feb. The switch isn't just for tvs. Its gonna affect any ELT's that are not 406 registered. Being in search and rescue for the Air Force, we are the ONLY agency that monitors all ELT transmissions in the lower 48. Come Feb 1, 2009, the satellites will stop monitoring the emergency frequency, just 406 digital signals. So, if something were to happen, we won't know about it. With the old system, it can be about 10-12 miles off. If you have a 406, its as accurate as 1 meter and off about 2 miles.
Some have heard that a fine might be associated if we contact you to silence the ELT. Not true. There are no FAA regs in place at this time that demands payment if an ELT is found registered to you, and the military doesn't charge. The only way you could be at fault is if we asked you to silence it, you refused, and another accident happened near you aircraft. Thats only through a civil suit filed by the party of the victim.
And don't forget to close out your flight plan. It can be a hassle to try and find planes at 2am when lots of the airports are closed. Then, when the pilot is located, turns out he forgot to close.
If you are a hiker or like to go camping and have a PLB. Don't activate it to see if it works. Because they do. Satellites track the signal when they are turned on. We call alot of people during the Xmas time because they get one, activate it to see if it works, and then forget to turn it off. From what I hear, a bill could be sent to you if it is known that you set it off purposely and you or anybody around you are not in any kind of danger. It may be nice to see a blackhawk helicopter come to your camp site and ask if you're ok, but the bill you might get can change that real fast. And those guys don't operate on 4 dollar gas.
Just letting you know. Enjoy.
Some have heard that a fine might be associated if we contact you to silence the ELT. Not true. There are no FAA regs in place at this time that demands payment if an ELT is found registered to you, and the military doesn't charge. The only way you could be at fault is if we asked you to silence it, you refused, and another accident happened near you aircraft. Thats only through a civil suit filed by the party of the victim.
And don't forget to close out your flight plan. It can be a hassle to try and find planes at 2am when lots of the airports are closed. Then, when the pilot is located, turns out he forgot to close.
If you are a hiker or like to go camping and have a PLB. Don't activate it to see if it works. Because they do. Satellites track the signal when they are turned on. We call alot of people during the Xmas time because they get one, activate it to see if it works, and then forget to turn it off. From what I hear, a bill could be sent to you if it is known that you set it off purposely and you or anybody around you are not in any kind of danger. It may be nice to see a blackhawk helicopter come to your camp site and ask if you're ok, but the bill you might get can change that real fast. And those guys don't operate on 4 dollar gas.
Just letting you know. Enjoy.
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