Important note for aircraft owners - 406 ELTs

[Bruce]

I received my 406MHZ ELT kit for my aircraft yesterday, however I noticed a safety issue that all aircraft owners should be aware of.
Most of the new ELTs do not ship with an alternative portable antenna - these must be odered separately (and they are expensive too)
The concern is that in the event of an accident in remote terrain, survivors would be unable to leave the wreckage should circumstances require it. the NZ AIP states that survivors should awlways take the ELT with them should they have to move, and although the beacon mount brackets are designed with this in mind, without the antenna they are useless. The portable antenna can also be used should the external antenna be damaged (as happened in the Raglan helicopter crash) Without the portable antenna your survival options are reduced.
People who have had thier ELTs professionally installed may be unaware whether a portable antenna is provided or not, so I would encourage anyone purchasing a new ELT to specify that a portable antenna is provided as well. Pass the word around - I have contacted CAA in this regard. Although legally in compliance, it is worth making the effort to stack the cards in your favour, the NZ environment takes no prisoners.

[corsair67]

Bruce, that is a ridiculous situation. You'd think that all ELTs would come with a portable antenna as stock standard, but I guess they can make more money out of them by having it as an optional extra.

Next it'll be "batteries not included"!

[flyjoe180]

Good safety point there Bruce, I will pass that on to some owners I know. Cheers.

[Bruce]

According to scuttlebutt I picked up in Tauranga today, the situation regarding the absense of portable antennas has already arisen in the crash of ZK-KID in the Ureweras. Aparently the surviving student walked out of the bush taking the nice new ELT with him, but as it had no portable antenna no signal was received anywhere and it was only good fortune that enabled him to safely walk out. This is bound to be noted in the accident report when it comes out.
The Owner / CFI of the outfit where I do my flying wasnt aware that the antenna didnt come with the ELT kiits, so when he upgrades the beacons in his fleet, he says that he will definitely specify portable antennas.
Hopefully the CAA will make them mandatory, and the suppliers can adjust thier pricing downward as demand increases..... yeah right.

[philip]

Is everyone legal?