ELT/PLB

One summer, while flying over the largest wilderness in the lower 48 states, I heard a radio call: “Mayday, Mayday, Mayday. White Cessna… [broken and inaudible transmission].” I heard just enough to understand something bad was happening, but not where. I repeatedly tried to hail the aircraft to get them to repeat their location, to […]

Flying light airplanes can easily take you outside of cellphone range, especially for pilots who fly in backcountry environments. A forced landing, even if successful, could leave you out of touch and with no good way to call for assistance. That can be deadly if the pilot or a passenger is injured. As part of […]

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a rule prohibiting the certification, manufacture, importation and sale of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) that operate only on 121.5 MHz last week. Similar rulemaking was issued in 2010, but at the request of the FAA and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA), the Commission stayed the amendment prohibiting […]

The 411 On 406s Mr Nelson’s description of the ELT technology, be it 121.5 or 406, is fairly accurate. The application of this technology in the real world is not quite up to par. The ELT as we know it is based on antiquated 1950’s concepts with numerous single points of failure incorporated in the […]

Most aircraft owners and operators are keenly aware of the rapidly approaching deadline to comply with the federal mandate on ADS-B installations. However, there is an additional aircraft technology wave upon us that also offers potentially significant advancements in aviation safety. This involves new digital 406 MHz emergency locator transmitters and since this new technology […]

NOAA’s Search and Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking (SARSAT) division is taking steps to promote the registration and testing of 406 MHz emergency location devices with a special awareness day. #406DAY18 was held Friday, April 6. In addition to government organizations, the awareness push is being supported by device manufacturers and partner groups across aviation, boating […]

Now that BendixKing’s KSN770 retrofit navigator is certified and shipping, it’s a worthy alternative to models from Garmin and Avidyne — while priced thousands less. But many buyers are unfamiliar with the KSN770’s multi-function capabilities, its feature set, and its flight-planning capabilities. Aviation Consumer magazine editor Larry Anglisano put the KSN770 — and the company’s […]

406 MHz distress beacons are again gaining market popularity, and ACR Artex brought its new ELT1000 ELT to AirVenture 2014, along with a personal beacon that’s budget-priced. In this AVweb Product Minute video, Artex’s Mikele D’Arcangelo provides an overview. view on YouTube

The Aircraft Electronics Association opened in 57th annual convention in Nashville this week with good news: Avionics sales for 2013 were up 6.9% in 2013 over the previous year. In this video interview, AEA’s Paula Derks says about 23 new products will be introduced in Nashville. view on YouTube

Letter of the Week:100UL Should Be Cheaper than 100LL Regarding Shell’s announcement that it has created an unleaded 100-octane aviation fuel: Once in production, and without knowing the ingredients, this should actually be lower in cost than 100LL for several reasons, some of which are: Larry Wheelock I’d hoped a 100UL fuel would cost less […]