FOR IMMEDIATE PUBLICATION

Park Ranger Uses PLB to Signal for Help Because He Knows ELT Is Not Enough

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – NOVEMBER 2007 – On  November 3, during the opening of deer hunting season, a Husky seaplane conducting aerial hunting patrol in Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota nosed over into the water on landing.

After swimming to shore, the pilot activated his GPS Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) that he wore on his vest to ensure the Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) knew who and where he was. 

Within 30 minutes of activating his beacon, park headquarters was advised by the Rescue Coordination Center that the pilot’s satellite-detectable signal had been triggered.  The aircraft’s ELT distress signal was not received and authorities speculated that the transmission from the ELT in the plane was not evident because its antenna was pointed down toward the water.

A PLB is a satellite-signaling device of last resort, for use when all other means of self-rescue have been exhausted and where the situation is deemed to be grave and imminent, and the loss of life, limb, eyesight or valuable property will occur without assistance. All beacons must be registered following purchase. Simply go online to www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov.

ACR Electronics, Inc. (www.acrelectronics.com), part of Cobham’s Avionics and Surveillance Division, designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SARTs and safety accessories. The quality systems of this facility have been registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2000 Series Standards. Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies, ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the military since 1956.

Note to editors: The FCC has notified pilots that on February 1, 2009 the international COSPAS-SARSAT program plans to terminate satellite processing of signals from 121.5/243 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs), which most now carry onboard as emergency signaling devices.