handheld aviation radio for backpacker?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe it is manditory for the
high-flyers to monitor 121.5. I have a friend that works in a tower
and the odd time when I pay him a visit you'll hear the high-flyer
transmit on 121.5 by mistake.

-dr


wrote:
I've got a friend of mine who is going backpacking in Alaska for a
couple of weeks. He has expressed an interest in borrowing my handheld
aviation radio to use in an emergency so that they can "flag down" an
overflying aircraft.

I don't mind lending the radio, but I don't think the radio affords
then very much protection. In order for it to "work," there would have
to be an aircraft overflying their area *and* it would have to be low
enough for the handheld signal to reach it *and* it would have to be
monitoring 121.5 or otherwise be on the same frequency. (I guess I
could find him an ARTCC frequency map for the area in which he'd be
hiking.) Maybe in Alaska monitoring guard is s.o.p., but where I'm from
(NorCal) it doesn't happen as much as it should.

Is there really any reasonable chance that this would be valuable to my
friend?

I have suggested they get a personal 406MHz ELT, but they are about
$600 for a regular unit, and $700 for one that also incorporates a GPS.
Are these things available for rent?

Also, can one rent an Iridium phone reasonably? That seems like it
would be more useful for this purpose.

Anyone have thoughts?

thanks,
-- dave j
-- jacobowitz73 --at-- yahoo --dot-- com

PS -- I know it's also illegal to operate an airband radio for a
nonaviation purpose, but I figure I should not be too worried about
that, if they really intend to use it in for an emergency only.

So if I go down in the Sea of Cortez (like that Mooney a few years
back) and activate this thing, I should expect the Mexican coast guard
to arrive in a few hours?

--Dan


Ron A. wrote:
It is supposed to be worldwide, sharing between US and Russian satellites.
I understand satellite phones are not completely worldwide.

Since it is a 406 mHz beacon, once you fill out the registration on the NOAA
website, they know who you are and what phone numbers to call. I even added
the N numbers of the planes I usually fly. You can update it at any time if
you lend it to a friend. For instance, I could send it with my father when
he goes fishing in Canada.

The GPS models give location to within 100 meters within 5 minutes or so.
For less than $500, I can't imagine why someone wouldn't buy the GPS models.
We just had a Baron go down near my home airport and it took 3 hours to find
him even though he was conscious in a corn field and was talking to Center,
he couldn't walk out though. I keep mine accessible when I fly now. I
usually just put it in my headset bag after I take my headset out.

It only weighs 13 oz. and is useful even if you had to ditch in water, it is
buoyant but works better with the antenna out of the water. It reduces the
time to rescue even if you are somewhere it can't get a good view of the
sky. The NOAA website has some good information. It is such an advantage
over the useless ones in the airplane. I just wish they had a "G" sensor on
them, that would be nice.



"Dan" wrote in message
ups.com...
Will the PLB monitoring agency coordinate a rescue worldwide (i.e. say,
Mexico or the Caribbean) or only within the US? Will other countries'
SAR facilities be informed?

--Dan

I haven't read any stories of rescue forces ignoring people for laughs.

If you are hours away from other people using normal transportation, then a
reasonable person would assume it would take a rescue some time to get
there. At least they know where and who you are. Personally, I would carry
equipment with me to survive a time until rescue. The 406 mHz GPS beacons
are just a big bonus.

Ron



"Dan" wrote in message
ps.com...
So if I go down in the Sea of Cortez (like that Mooney a few years
back) and activate this thing, I should expect the Mexican coast guard
to arrive in a few hours?

I have suggested they get a personal 406MHz ELT, but they are about
$600 for a regular unit, and $700 for one that also incorporates a GPS.
Are these things available for rent?


Yep, that's what he needs. I think I've read about rentals somewhere, but
can't remember.

--
Thomas Borchert (EDDH)

Many remote areas of Alaska have a single frequency that all
low-altitude aircraft monitor. You might check the charts for wherever
your friend will be backpacking. I've spent time in Wrangell-St Elias
NP (where everyone monitors 122.9) and was able to use my handheld to
prevent a "rescue" when I was overdue back from a trip but didn't need
assistance. Priceless.



wrote:
I've got a friend of mine who is going backpacking in Alaska for a
couple of weeks. He has expressed an interest in borrowing my handheld
aviation radio to use in an emergency so that they can "flag down" an
overflying aircraft.

I don't mind lending the radio, but I don't think the radio affords
then very much protection. In order for it to "work," there would have
to be an aircraft overflying their area *and* it would have to be low
enough for the handheld signal to reach it *and* it would have to be
monitoring 121.5 or otherwise be on the same frequency. (I guess I
could find him an ARTCC frequency map for the area in which he'd be
hiking.) Maybe in Alaska monitoring guard is s.o.p., but where I'm from
(NorCal) it doesn't happen as much as it should.

Is there really any reasonable chance that this would be valuable to my
friend?

I have suggested they get a personal 406MHz ELT, but they are about
$600 for a regular unit, and $700 for one that also incorporates a GPS.
Are these things available for rent?

Also, can one rent an Iridium phone reasonably? That seems like it
would be more useful for this purpose.

Anyone have thoughts?

thanks,
-- dave j
-- jacobowitz73 --at-- yahoo --dot-- com

PS -- I know it's also illegal to operate an airband radio for a
nonaviation purpose, but I figure I should not be too worried about
that, if they really intend to use it in for an emergency only.