On Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:03:46 -0700 (PDT), Bob Kuykendall
wrote:


In a word, Spot.

the big disadvantage of the Spot device is, if I understand correctly,
that it sends out a position message every 10 minutes.
It may well happen that a message doesn't pass through the satellite
system, so the distance between fixes may reach 20 (or more) minutes.

Now, at the the speed we fly in contest, 10mins equal somewhere
between 10 and 30 km. Add to this the unpredictable deviations from
course, and I believe you get just an indication for a search circle
about 30km in radius. In rough terrain, that's quite a huge area.

My first choice is to have an ELT, and possibly add tracking
functions via a GPS-Smartphone (feat. ReliRescue or similar softwares)
or a Spot.

When many sailplanes share a competition area, Flarm traces have
proved to be extremely valuable in reconstructing a missing glider's
path. Another reason for promoting Flarm usage.

aldo cernezzi

(BTW: I've been at a contest where we all were grounded for 3
consecutive days, trying to help, driving and hiking around in the
mountains, until the rests were found. The pain for the family was
never ending. Please don't let this agony repeat itself)