I want to point out, for the second time this summer, that the
Cometition Rules Committee made this requirement- All sailplanes
participating in SSA sanctioned contests from 2006 on, will be required
to have ELT's... This is not the exact wording of the rule but you can
check out the rules for yourself. This rule was made when well over a
half of the respondents to the annual survey said they did not want
this requirement added. Go figure! And please John G. don't tell us
again how this has been a lifesaving tool at contests and how important
it is to know where the crash is for the family's sake. We have gone
years with out this and the instances where it was of any benefit, if I
remember correctly, can be counted on just a few fingers and I don't
remeber if any lives were saved.

Tom Dixon
Idaho
2cernauta2 wrote:
Don Johnstone wrote:

It should also be noted that this switch off only effects
the USA. The rest of the world could, if we felt the
need to use ELTs, continue with the old frequencies.
That's progress?

As I understand it, the old frequencies will still be listened to, in
the search of an aircraft that is known to be missing and equipped.
The difference from the current period is that an old ELT will NOT
trigger an SAR alarm by itself. Somehow the SAR services will first
have to be alerted by someone reporting a missing plane.

A friend of mine has already owned a 406MHz ELT since 2000. He's now
facing the programmed Li-ion battery renewal. He's going to spend over
400 USD (certification of the battery, and of the workshop, plus
shipping). DIY and cheaper spares not available.

Aldo Cernezzi