Comments on: Thoughts on emergency locator transmitters

With aviator Steve Fossett still missing, blogger Peter Glaskowsky examines the use of emergency locator transmitters for aircraft.

[salsaman100]

Aircraft ELT's and Continuous Tracking

We already have transponders (radar tracking devices) with altitude encoding, and the availability of filing flight plans with the FAA. Don't need big brother in the cockpit anymore than we already have. Also, there are many older aircraft without electrical systems and do not have a way to power equipment with continuous electrical requirements. Might work better as a voluntary system and not a requirement.

What happens when I stop for lunch, park the airplane some place that blocks the satellite signal (hangar, tree, buildings), and search and rescue is sent out? Continuous tracking may not be the answer.

[Peter N. Glaskowsky]

Just to be clear

I wouldn't want the system to act solely on the basis of a loss of signal.

Anyway, if the previous readings declined smoothly to 0 AGL and 3 knots, it's probably reasonable to suppose that the pilot survived whatever happened next. :-)

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[willie61]

A nice idea.....but...

Steve uses some clear logic about incorporation of new ELT tech, but a little clairfaction here..Current ELTs of which are being used on Steve's A/C are self contained/battery powered units with 3 settings OFF/ ON/ AUTO. The AUTO setting responds to a "G" shock (or crash) to start transmitting on 2 feq's (one military / one civi). These units can also be quickly pulled out of the A/C to be set to ON to send a signal.
The problem with the issue of new tech goes back to the nature of aviation certification itself- a very long process which cannot; and often in cases should not, respond as quickly as other tech based businesses with the latest -greatest idea. The system does need to be changed, and frankly those of us who have been directly effected by the industry often pull our hair out with the stupid nature of a gov run system.
Also the idea of adding components (the UPS idea) violates a basic idea of system engineering - the more components in a system, the more expensive and the more likely it will fail.

GPS systems have become a wonder for all of us and have a big role to play here as a potential solution; but just as with the major airlines, until people are killed or harmed , there is often a push back on spending money on a solution.

The certification process with the FAA is often the problem here; that and equally the issue expressing opinions while not knowing the said industry. We are all guilty of such flaws. Often the devil is in the details.