FCC rules old 121.5 ELT no longer can be used.

[Larry]

FCC to prohibit the use of 121.5 for ELT's effective August 2010!

The FCC said its rules have been amended to "prohibit further certification, manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs" effective within 60 days.

In a footnote to the FCC rule, they said:
Although this may force some aircraft owners and operators to terminate their use of 121.5 MHz ELTs sooner than they may have anticipated when they acquired the device, and impel them to incur the cost of purchasing a 406.0-406.1 MHz ELT as a replacement, the safety benefits of imposing an immediate prohibition on continued use of 121.5 MHz ELTs outweigh the costs. We note, moreover, that the users of 121.5 MHz ELTs have been on notice of the need to transition to 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs for a long time. As explained supra, Cospas-Sarsat announced the 2009 termination of 121.5 MHz signal monitoring in 2000, and the Commission specifically raised the issue of a domestic prohibition of continued use of 121.5 MHz ELTs in the Second FNPRM, which was released in 2006.

AOPA, EAA and even the FAA were caught somewhat by surprise by the FCC rule. AEA and AOPA want time for a transistion period.

[Larry]

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2 ... 21elt.html

Above link to AOPA article about this issue.

[MikeB]

I suspect there's not even enough of the 406 units available to outfit all the GA aircraft currently using the 121 units (including mine). Another example of forcing a mandate without using common sense.

MikeB

[jc pacquin]

And.....how bout the guy who went into the woods the other day in Ohio and they pinpointed him IMMED! tracking his CELL PHONE. Big Brother knows JUST where you is!JP

[kyleb]

I suspect there's not even enough of the 406 units available to outfit all the GA aircraft currently using the 121 units (including mine). Another example of forcing a mandate without using common sense.

MikeB

You're right. There aren't enough units on the shelf to comply. There isn't anywhere near enough capacity to make the 100K plus units needed within 60 days, and there aren't enough qualified people available to install 'em anyway (and keep up with ongoing maintenance on the GA fleet).

Talk to your representative. You and several hundred thousand other pilots will be the only ones calling about this issue. There is no meaningful voting group that will be calling in opposition, so being an election year, your representative will be motivated to lend assistance. It ain't like the FCC has some overwhelming, immediate need to drive this change in this timeframe.

[DC Krog]

Well it's about time they drop this. My cell phone is by far the best ELT I own. If I can't activate my cell phone than I guess the crash was beyond survivablity. My biggest complaint is the way they will "fine" you with the new ELT's in case of an activation. I would rather call 911 myself than have the Fed's bill me for a 406 ELT activation. (What's the fine like $10,000 payable to the FCC or something obscene like that)

Too much nanny-state government. I'll call you when I need you.

[joea]

I suspect there's not even enough of the 406 units available to outfit all the GA aircraft currently using the 121 units (including mine). Another example of forcing a mandate without using common sense.

MikeB

Bingo!

As well there is no way to make enough to cover the airplanes out there with the 121.5 units by August.

Then we need to factor in the fact that the 406 units out there right now are not reliable in many cases. I know of several people who have had to send their "new improved" ELT back for repair or replacement.

This is not a good move and needs to be "adjusted" to make it more workable.

DC,

Agree with your comment on the cell phone but what if you are out of range?

We need to change the rules so that PLB's are also allowed as has been done currently at several other countries. I would look at a SPOT beacon long before one of the new 406's as I am not ready to trust my life on a non-proven technology. The SPOT works and is reliable while the 406 units simply are not.

[MikeB]

What the heck is a SPOT beacon??

Mike

[joea]

Nathan has one.

Look at his travels here: http://share.findmespot.com/shared/face ... xpGTY0YANE

More info here:

http://www.findmespot.com/en/

[Larry]

Update June 23.

The FCC rule will become effective 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. No firm date yet as to when it will be published. AOPA and others are trying to get it delayed, killed, or modified.

406 EPIRB beacons that also have 121.5 will still be good.

The frequency 121.5 will still be used for voice emergency communications, and some devices will continue to be allowed to operate on that VHF channel, including the Brietling wrist watch which has a built in ELT. Here is the exact FCC words;

(h) prohibit the certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or continued use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) other than the Breitling Emergency Watch ELT.

Sale and use of the Breitling Emergency Watch as a 121.5 MHz radiobeacon is authorized by a waiver granted by the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau’s former Public Safety and Private Wireless Division. Although we are prohibiting any continued marketing or use of standard 121.5 MHz ELTs, we will permit the continued marketing and use of the Breitling Emergency Watch.

According to a NASA web site:
1. About 30% of the 406 beacons in use today have a built in GPS to provide "location-protocol" along with the beacon ID.
2. The current 121.5 ELTs have a 98.5% false alert rate. They activate in only 12% of the crashes.
3. There are about 170,000 of the 121.5 ELT beacons in aeronautical service.
4. The FCC can levy a fine of up to $10,000 for false activation of a 406 beacon.
5. The marine (boating) industry made the switch from 121.5 to 406 as of January 1, 2007.

[Champ Dreamer]

Dumb Question: Is an ELT required in a light sport aircraft?

[Larry]

Dumb Question: Is an ELT required in a light sport aircraft?

FAR 91.207 has the requirements. If your LSA has more than one seat, you must have an ELT.

[flyingfool]

If a "false" 406 signal = up to $10,000 fine.

How does one test these new 406 beacons to determine if they even work?

I also wonder with a manually operated 406 beacon. If a person would activate the PLB just before an off field landing, but then the landing carried out "succesfully". And then shut if off immediately after not sustaining injury or need of emergency assistance, Would that be considered "false" activation?

The statistics above stating that an ELT only activates 12% of the time. It seems to me a PLB with a "panic button" (with guard to prevent accidental activation) located so the pilot can activate it manually prior to an incident would be dramatically higher successful result than the "automatic" ELT's at a measly 12%. I for one am counting on the system working. Which it does not. So a manual PLB would be far superior than the current system.

If fact a manual activation moments BEFORE an event may be more helpful. As the resultant crash could cause the antenna to be damaged or otherwise cause the beacon to no transmit. At least the authorities would have some short initial indication and location due to the prior to impact activation.

It would however have some cases of activation during successful off airport landings. And I suppose a few accidental activations here and there.

No system is foolproof or perfect.

The SPOT technology also allows family members etc to follow your progress. Something the 406 ELT's or PLB's do not allow.

I believe that Australia allows the use of portable, manual 406 PLB's or ELT's. This makes much more sense and it more cost effective as we pilots can also take these devices with us hunting, hiking, boating etc, etc making it MUCH more cost effective and useful than a silly single use permanent installation.

IMHO this same type of portable PLB should be allowable at least for small aircraft aircraft with say 6 or less occupant seats. Along with a placard so all the passengers are aware that the aircraft is not equipped with an automatic activation device. All the pilot has to do is say it is similar to onstar. You actually have to push a button to get help.

[jc pacquin]

I'm a little dense....so if you have a single seat LSA, you do NOT need an ELT? Does that mean that just one person is expendable and not worth looking for...orWHAT!? JP

[joea]

I'm a little dense....so if you have a single seat LSA, you do NOT need an ELT? Does that mean that just one person is expendable and not worth looking for...orWHAT!? JP

Believe that their feelings are that if its single seat that you can kill yourself all you want, but once there is a passenger in the mix that this is a different story.