Which PLB?

On Friday, April 4, 2014 11:59:22 AM UTC-4, Brian wrote:

I recently heard 2nd hand of someone inadvertently setting their PLB off in a rather high performance airplane.

The ARC ResQLink has a 'mechanical safety interlock'. You have to unclip and rotate the spring antenna before you can physically push the distress button.

In article ,
Brian wrote:

The question came up be cause I recently heard 2nd hand of someone
inadvertently setting their PLB off in a rather high performance
airplane. I was wonder what this looks like to the SAR folks. If it is
30 minutes in between GPS fixes then in this case they probably would
have been 75 miles apart.

SAR folks deal with moving beacons all the time. I'm not in CAP
any more and was out before 406+GPS beacons became available, but
I've chased moving planes and UPS trucks (remove the batteries
before sending an ELT/EPIRB in for repair) many times. Even with
a GPS position, there is still a 121.5 signal the SAR folks can
DF.

Even at 30 minute update intervals for GPS position, it is likely
that there will be multiple updates between the time the first
signal goes out and the SAR resources get on station for the search.
That will give them an idea of direction/heading to search.

The UPS trucks are one of the harder things to track since the
roofs are plasic, but the sides are metal. The satellites can get
a good singal, but from ground level the signal is blocked.

John
--
John Clear - http://www.clear-prop.org/

On Friday, April 4, 2014 8:59:22 AM UTC-7, Brian wrote:
Thanks Darryl,



I don't current have a PLB, but have been looking at them. Hence the reason for the post. So I don't yet have a manual to read, and don't know what is common between units, so reading one manual might not apply to other units.



The question came up be cause I recently heard 2nd hand of someone inadvertently setting their PLB off in a rather high performance airplane. I was wonder what this looks like to the SAR folks. If it is 30 minutes in between GPS fixes then in this case they probably would have been 75 miles apart.



But the main reason I asked is so that I could understand what happens if it is intentionally set off and then the unit is moved by hiking out for example.



Thanks again



Brian

It takes some effort to set off a PLB. False activation is usually not a problem. And if you do stupidly push a button. You can immediately turn it off (the ~ 1 minute delay to first transmission is partially there to allow that... but it also allows getting a GPS Fix if possible). And if possible contact the rescue coordination center if you think the PLB has been set off accidentally. And if it has then your listed contacts may have been called by them. The USAF (not NOAA, not the Coast Guard) manages rescue coordination for inland rescue in the United States. http://www.1af.acc.af.mil/units/afrc...tact/index.asp

All the product manuals are online. Read them. I'd tend to give a lot of credit to the product with better documentation (I suspect ACR wins there).

The how frequently does the GPS update is a kind of geek question that is nice to know buy in practice PLBs tend to work very well, SAR *will* find you if the thing is able to transmit and is not damaged.

And with stories about chasing delivery vans, there have been a few glider trailers chased down with ELTs accidentally tripped off in the past. Presumably mostly with fiberglass or wood trailer tops.