Internationally known pilot and sailor Loïc Pochet and Laure Delesalle rescued thanks to ACR PLB

WHO:
Internationally known pilot and sailor Loïc Pochet and Laure Delesalle
WHAT:
Rescue by Royal Danish Navy in Greenland on 7/20/07 following a crash of Pochet’s and Delessale’s Ultralight amphibious airplane near Amassalik, in a remote area on the east coast of Greenland. Pochet was flying to the EAA AirVenture show in Oshkosh, Wisconsin (July 23-29, 2007). Pochet, who suffered broken ribs and a bruised sternum, crashed on 7/17 at roughly 2208 hrs from a 4,000-foot altitude due to bad weather. Delesalle was not injured. The weather on the ground was just above freezing. He was taken to a hospital in Amassallik.

FLIGHT PLAN:
Pochet, an experienced Ultralight pilot, was to fly a well known route from France to Northern Europe then across the North Sea, stopping for fuel at Iceland, Greenland, Canada and then cross-country to Wisconsin and Oshkosh, where he hoped to raise awareness and sponsor support for his upcoming transatlantic flight attempt.

RESCUE BRIEFING:
Before the crash, Pochet gave a VHF mayday call with his last position to a UFH (Union Francaise l’Helicoptere) flying with him. The pilot of the helicopter provided SAR forces from the Royal Danish Navy with a general search area. Around 2200 hours on 7/17, Pochet also activated an ACR Personal Locator Beacon (an ACR PLB-200 model with GPS), which was donated to him from equipment sponsor Sierra Echo in France.

The beacon’s 406 MHz signal transmitted Pochet’s position and identification to overflying COSPAS-SARSAT satellites. The signal was originally received by the French MCC and then forwarded to Danish authorities. The ACR PLB also provided a constant 121.5 MHz local homing signal, which eventually led SAR teams to Pochet. Without the homing signal provided by the PLB, SAR forces would not have found Pochet as quickly.