By Howard Deevers
On a recent Private Pilot check ride, the examiner asked the student pilot, “How do you turn on your ELT?” The student struggled to answer that question, since there was no remote switch for the ELT in the plane used for the check ride. The question came during the flight portion of the test, and not during the oral part of the test.
Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) are required and covered in the FAR 91.207. A more interesting read about the ELT is in the A I M section 6-2-4. Here is some history: the ELT became a requirement in 1972 after two Congressmen went missing in Alaska in a small aircraft, and they were never found.
Early ELT units transmitted on 121.5 and 243 MHz. Like anything electronic, improvements in construction and operations were made over the years. Satellite monitoring became a part of the system. However, the 'false alarms' still outnumbered the actual emergencies by about 98 percent. In 2009 satellite monitoring of the analog 121.5 and 243 MHz was discontinued. A newer ELT that will fit into the same space in your airplane, now transmits on 406 MHz in a digital format. That permits search and rescue providers to have more information on the airplane and on the owner, and response to a crash is much faster than before.
The “Legal Loophole” is that you can continue to use your old 121.5 ELT as long as it works and is tested each year according to regulations. However, you can not buy or repair a 121.5 ELT, should it not meet the requirements, and you will be required to replace it with the newer 406 MHz unit, and register the information with NOAA. Your A & P should be able to explain all of this at the Annual on your airplane.
Instructors do not spend much time on the ELT during training. Other than telling the student where the ELT is located, and what antenna it is connected to, and that it will go off when you crash. If there is a remote activation switch available to the pilot, it will be pointed out by the instructor, and the student will be told, “Do not touch that except in an emergency.” End of lesson! Since the ELT is not a panel mounted instrument, and other than that remote switch, if installed, it is out of site and out of mind ....until you really need it!
Even many of the older 121.5 ELT units would do much more for you than just send out that strange sounding signal, that we hope someone would pick up and find us. They could be used as a transmitter and some even had connectors for headsets. Take it out of the airplane and use it to help rescue find you. But those features of little value if you don't know where it is, how to get it out of the plane, and how to use it.
Back to the question from the DPE, the response should be, “Before I make an off airport landing, or after I make an off airport landing?” If there is no remote activation switch in reach of the pilot, then the ELT must be located, accessed, and activated by a manual switch built into the unit. You might need tools to get at the unit. That ELT could save your life.
The ELT is required by 91.207 (be sure to read that), but there are many more personal locators on the market from various manufacturers. Many pilots will carry one of those as well. Boaters and hikers will carry one of these personal locators as well. These devices are moderately priced, small and easy to carry and use, and will give you extra insurance of being found, if you ever need it.
Airplanes are wonderful transportation machines for us. Being prepared is more important if we are traveling in or over remote areas. A survival course might be a good idea before traveling in remote areas also.
Your ARIZONA PILOTS ASSOCIATION offers free safety seminars in person and on line at various locations throughout the state. Be sure to check the web site for locations and times near you. And, don't forget to “bring your wingman.”