True enough, but this ignores that the 121.5 / 243 Mhz units are scheduled
to go to a "no response" status from the COPAS / SARSAT in less than 3
years - - replaced by 406 Mhz units.

Of course the 121.5 Mhz signal will still be useful for search and rescue to
home in on - - if they get notified somehow.

"T o d d P a t t i s t" wrote in message
...
wrote:

If you bale out, you might be a long way from the glider wreckage and
remain undiscovered if rescuers only have a fix on the glider wreckage.


With respect to the 121.5 and 243 MHz units, the signal
can't be localized all that well. My conclusion was that
the search area for an ELT at the pilot and the search area
for an ELT at the plane are going to be indistinguishable in
almost all cases. If I'm far from the plane, then I've
parachuted out, and at least the deployed chute will help me
be spotted. I then considered that the mounted ELT carries
a much heavier battery supply and a better antenna, so it
could be heard and tracked more easily. Finally, I
considered the fact that I had to be conscious to activate
the personal, whereas the mounted unit was self activated in
the crash.

My conclusion was to go with the mounted ELT. It was harder
to install, but seemed much more likely to be useful.

--
T o d d P a t t i s t - "WH" Ventus C
(Remove DONTSPAMME from address to email reply.)