Centurion wrote:


In short, if I'm a downed pilot requiring assistance, I'd much rather be
relying on an ELT/EPIRB than some boffin starring at a radar console

I wasn't thinking that ATC would notice the lost signal, but that search
and rescue would contact them when they were notified that a pilot was
missing. The trail would be there (presumably), even if the crash was
bad enough to destroy an ELT.

In our relatively flat area, we have complete radar coverage. Perhaps if
a contest official, pilot, etc could determine that the trail end could
be easily, transponder equipped pilots wouldn't need the ELT. Of course,
our relatively flat and treeless area makes searching easier anyway. I
don't recall a pilot being lost in 30 years of contest flying here
(Ephrata). Sometimes they don't call in when they are together with
their crew, but an ELT won't help with that. This situation is improving
as so many people have cell phones now.

--
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA