Friday, Apr 04, 2008 at 19:27
Mike R,
I didn't take it that you implying a 121.5 was as good as a 406.
All I was saying was if you can't afford the $500 for a 406 think twice about that decision.
What I was challenging you on was a perception that "even if no aircraft or satelite picks up your initial signal when eventually planes start searching for you, they will be able to
home in directly to your 121.5"
Sure they will eventually
home in on you but I don't agree that it's that simple from my practical experience. First of all there has to be a search area established otherwise
the pilot will be looking for a needle in a
hay stack in terms of picking up the epirb's transmission. The searches I have participated in
the pilot searches the
grid pattern provided by the RCC in
Canberra. Once the signal is picked up from my obversations
the pilot establishes the strongest signal within the direction finders arc and this can involve a bit of mucking around particularly while the signal strength is similar across the arc. For instance
the pilot might veer off left but start loosing the signal then there has to be a direction change. Once
the pilot gets closer and gets better signal strength then it starts getting easier.
What I was alluding to is that don't expect someone to be at your location within a few hours it is not as simple activating your 121.5 satelite or plane picks up the distress signal your position is immediately established search is immediately commenced helicopter/search party finds you in an hour does NOT happen with a 121.5.
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