Dan wrote:


Obviously, I am not going to be able to talk directly to a controller,
but I am thinking I should at least be able to reach overflying
aircraft... Do airliners or other aircraft routinely monitor 121.5? I
do hear some carriers on the freq from time to time after a missed
handoff or something. Would the handheld even have enough power to
reach other aircraft? I am assuming so...

A handheld on the ground can reach aircraft at altitude pretty well.
Many people monitor 121.5 (more so than before 9/11) especially
around here. It's amazing listening at times. While now you
get to hear a lot of intercepts, before you'd occasionally come
across a lost student pilot or other genuine emergency.

Don't forget that if you are going to use it for any sort of
standby emergency use that an alkaline battery pack (and spare
cells if you use that pack) is essential. I can go into
my story of being the passenger in an instructional flight
going back mostly NORDO into Dulles one night.