Says Personal Locator Beacons Should Also Be Considered
Aero-News learned
Tuesday the International Council of Aircraft Owner and Pilot
Associations (IAOPA) has submitted comments to an International
Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) proposal to require 406 MHz
emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) on all aircraft that fly
internationally. While this issue has little relevance for pilots
who only fly within their country, the agency reports the
implications for international operations are significant.
"IAOPA has been working for years with ICAO to come to an
agreement about ELT standards," said John Sheehan, IAOPA Secretary
General of IAOPA. "Prior to November 1994, no ICAO standard
regarding carriage of ELTs existed; since then there have been
several standards adopted by ICAO."
Existing ICAO requirements specify that ELT equipment is
required on "aeroplanes operated on extended overwater flights...
and on flights over designated land areas." The proposed standard
would require that an automatic ELT be installed on all aircraft
flying internationally after July 1, 2008, regardless of flight
location.
That's a great idea...
but IAOPA has concerns about the cost and reliability of 406 MHz
ELTs.
"While the promise of improved alerting capability and
reliability of the 406 MHz ELT is initially attractive, the
efficacy of these units must be questioned," wrote Sheehan in
IAOPA's comments to the ICAO proposal. "Sarsat [search-and-rescue
satellite] statistics proudly proclaim search and rescue events
assisted by emergency locating devices, yet they neglect to include
the number of events in which either equipment or systems did not
perform satisfactorily."
IAOPA suggests a device of similar capability to ELTs -- such as
less-expensive personal locator beacons (PLB)-- should be permitted
as an alternative to the ELT requirement. The agency recommends
that "existing and proposed ELT standards be held in abeyance until
system performance requirements have been fully defined and
approved," wrote Sheehan.
In addition, IAOPA recommends that new ELT requirements for
international aircraft should not become effective until 1 February
2009, the date when Sarsat monitoring of 121.5 MHz ELTs is
scheduled to cease.
Also, small GA aircraft (less than 12,500 lbs) should either be
equipped with an ELT of any type when operated for extended
international flights over water or in areas where survival
equipment is required to be on board, or be equipped with any type
of approved ELT or PLB.
IAOPA represents the interests of AOPA affiliates in 64
countries of the world, comprising more than 470,000 GA and aerial
work pilots and aircraft operators. The Council was formed in 1962
to provide a voice for GA in world aviation forums.