US ELT Installation

The last time I read it, ELTs are mandatory, not
optional at all, has this changed?

'8. Required use of ELTs (RCM 26, 27, Minor)
The use of ELT's will become a mandatory requirement
for entry to all SSA competitions beginning in 2006.'


I am waiting to see the # of entries in contests
the first year this is implemented. I am especially
interested in comparing the # of 'new' contest entrants
in 2006 compared to the previous 3 years or so.

I am guessing there will be more than a 20% decrease
in total contest participants the first year glider-mounted
ELTs are required in all SSA contests. I am also guessing
that some classes/entire contests will be cancelled
from lack of participation if this rule is fully implemented
this way.

But I've been wrong before. The fact that UH is
responding to this thread makes me think that more
flexible options are being well considered. Perhaps
this rule will be morphed into a better solution.

In any case, I am heartened to see lively discussion
about this subject...

I would like to see a new poll:
Question-Are you in favor of mandatory requirement
of permanently installed impact activated ELTs in every
glider in every SSA soaring contest?

Mark

At 20:42 02 December 2005, wrote:
Part of the research on this was a poll of contest
managers and CD's
who worked during 2005.
On the subject of making mandatory 10 of 28 favored
this.
Of those saying no to mandatory, 12 said yes to making
it available by
organizer option.
6 said no to either option.
This guidance, in addition to the Poll response, was
considered in the
decision to make the option available to organizers
as a part of the
rules without requiring a waiver.
I'm not convinced all organizers will require them-
far from it. Nor do
I think they are sure to be sued since they will not
be the cause of
the accident.
That said,I sincerely hope none of them has to answer
the question 'Why
did you not require this safety device when it could
have helped save a
life?'
As a long time racer, and member of the rules committee,
I personally
can't see how to make any case for not requiring them.
That said, I am
in the minority on this and support the half way approach
as what is to
go forward.
Have one friend missing for one night and you will
understand.
As to the assertion that this has not been thought
through, this is
simply not the case. You may not agree with the result,
but I can
assure you this has been considered with great care
and in
consideration of the opinions of many.
Respectfully
UH


Mark J. Boyd

Too much "chicken little" there, Mark!

I purchased and installed an impact activated ELT in my glider for less
than $100 so I could race this past season. I doubt if the cost of an
ELT is going to make the difference between racing and not racing for
most people, especially since it is actually a potentially useful
addition to one's glider!

Let's see - $1000 for a logger, $3000 for a glide computer/vario, $750
for a PDA and software, $1500 for a nice comfortable parachute, etc...
Racing isn't cheap - in any sport!

I would think that anyone who can afford a glider and the cost of going
to a race will be able to foot the one time expense of the ELT.

Now, what we really need is FLARM in all contestants to actually try to
avoid midairs!

Kirk
66

wrote:

Too much "chicken little" there, Mark!

I purchased and installed an impact activated ELT in my glider for less
than $100 so I could race this past season.

So, tell us what model it is, where your got it, and how you dealt with
the antenna!

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Eric,

It's a Filser ELT-2, non-TSO european glider ELT. Fits over the spars
in my LS6, with the rubber ducky (and on-off switch) just behind my
headrest.

W & W lists it for $219 or so - I ordered mine from a competitor (who
doesn't seem to carry them any more) and paid half that. Lucky, I
guess, since it was listed for $200 or so.

I installed it myself on my battery tray - it happens to be the same
size as my old (and deceased) GR1000 logger, and fit in the same mount.
Its totally self contained, so no wires to fiddle with, and I don't
have carbon fiber in the fuselage to worry about.

I just arm it before takeoff and check 121.5 on my radio before and
after flight.

The point is - there are a lot of options out there - especially now
that the TSO requirement will apparently be dropped - and cost
shouldn't be a real hindrance. After all, you are adding a good piece
of safety equipment to your glider that is probably as likely to save
your life as your parachute!

Kirk
66

Eric,

I installed mine this past weekend, the antenna is located forward and
under the instrument panel glareshield, attached to the rudder pedal
bracket and installed within 20° of vertical as required by the
manual.

AmeriKing, $206 including shipping from Paul Remde.

See details he www.jimphoenix.com

Jim

Eric Greenwell wrote:
wrote:

Too much "chicken little" there, Mark!

I purchased and installed an impact activated ELT in my glider for less
than $100 so I could race this past season.

So, tell us what model it is, where your got it, and how you dealt with
the antenna!

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Hi Jim,

Thanks for doing such an excellent job of documenting your ELT installation.
That is a valuable resource for glider pilots! Excellent!

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"jphoenix" wrote in message
ups.com...
Eric,

I installed mine this past weekend, the antenna is located forward and
under the instrument panel glareshield, attached to the rudder pedal
bracket and installed within 20° of vertical as required by the
manual.

AmeriKing, $206 including shipping from Paul Remde.

See details he www.jimphoenix.com

Jim

Eric Greenwell wrote:
wrote:

Too much "chicken little" there, Mark!

I purchased and installed an impact activated ELT in my glider for less
than $100 so I could race this past season.

So, tell us what model it is, where your got it, and how you dealt with
the antenna!

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

jphoenix wrote:
Eric,

I installed mine this past weekend, the antenna is located forward and
under the instrument panel glareshield, attached to the rudder pedal
bracket and installed within 20° of vertical as required by the
manual.

AmeriKing, $206 including shipping from Paul Remde.

See details he www.jimphoenix.com

That looks like a good installation, though I'd be concerned the antenna
would be damaged by in crash. It's still better than no ELT, but the
front of the cockpit is more likely to be significantly damaged than the
rear of the cockpit. Perhaps a rubber ducky mounted on a top corner of
the seat back would survive better, though it might not have the output
power of the longer whip.


--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

Jim's web site on his ELT installation is very informative, and he
brings up a good point about testing the function of your ELT, whether
it's required by "FAR" or not. Here's another good reason TO test.

Several years back, I installed an AmeriKing ELT in my 1-26. When my
A&P/IA and I went to test it, nothing happened. We found that the
battery label on the bottom case was mislabeled, so the batteries did
not form a continuous chain, ergo, no electricity was supplied to the
unit, not it banged or switched on. When we turnd the base around, it
worked fine. So we "corrected" the label on the case and it's checked
out fine every year when we exercise it, need to or not. And I DO hope
that those are the ONLY times that my ELT sees use.

And this should serve as a word to those wise enough to install the
AmeriKing units (or those from ANY manufacturer). Since batteries are
cheap, I try to replace them at each annual, including the remote
switch battery (a pesky 2/3 A cell, though available at Radio Shack).
The six D cells get used in any number of flashlights or toys over the
year, they've still got most of their charge from sitting in the glider
unused.

Fly safe,

-Pete

jphoenix wrote:
Eric,

I installed mine this past weekend, the antenna is located forward and
under the instrument panel glareshield, attached to the rudder pedal
bracket and installed within 20° of vertical as required by the
manual.

AmeriKing, $206 including shipping from Paul Remde.

See details he www.jimphoenix.com

Hi All,

One option that I have not seen discussed is using the voice
communication antenna already installed in most gliders for both the
comm radio and ELT.

It would seem that a directional coupler could be installed in the
existing RF cable that would direct the ELT transmission to the
communication antenna without going to the comm radio input receiver.

Presumably, if one is hurt severely enough, then voice communications
would be of little value and the ELT transmission would be paramount.

As always, thoughts and feedback appreciated.

mhr

"mhr" wrote in message
oups.com:

Hi All,

One option that I have not seen discussed is using the voice
communication antenna already installed in most gliders for both the
comm radio and ELT.

It would seem that a directional coupler could be installed in the
existing RF cable that would direct the ELT transmission to the
communication antenna without going to the comm radio input receiver.

Presumably, if one is hurt severely enough, then voice communications
would be of little value and the ELT transmission would be paramount.

As always, thoughts and feedback appreciated.

mhr



One downside of this is that most of the comm antennae are in the tail.
Frequently the empennage separates from the rest of the fuselage in an
accident. and even in a fair number of ground loops. I think nearer to
the ELT would be better.



Larry

"01" USA