Anybody installing tri-band (406MHz) ELTs?

Peter,
I have been flying with an Artex 110-406 for the last six years. about
$2400 to install it at the time.
Michelle

Peter wrote:

I am the UK-based owner of a US registered aircraft, and to comply
with the FAR requirements for an ELT I have installed a relatively
cheap Artex dual-band ELT200 unit.

This won't be any good after 2009 because of the 243MHz phase-out, but
I had to do it because a tri-band unit required a DER approval for the
rod antenna and this was going to cost another $1000, plus another
$4000 for the installation (yes the UK is very expensive!).

OTOH the aircraft was pre-wired for the ELT 200 so installing that
cost about $800 and that includes the ELT!

Before I discovered this huge extra cost I had already bought an Artex
tri-band ELT kit ($2500) but I've now decided to not fit it and sell
it instead; Ebay possibly.

Here in Europe, an ELT is arguably of limited usefulness because of
dense population, and in the most likely scenario it will sink in the
sea, with the aircraft. I carry an handheld ELT (EPIRB) anyway.

Can anyone offer any views on whether the FAA is likely to mandate
406MHz ELT installation anytime soon? Logically, they will make it
mandatory before 2009. If they do, it might just make sense for me to
hang onto the 3-band Artex ELT.


Peter.
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