Handheld radio for emergency use...

All,

I have an ICOM A5 that I use for getting ATIS, clearances, calling for
fuel, etc. If I were to go down in a remote off-airport, middle of
nowhere situation (not at all unlikely here in AZ or NM) am I fooling
myself to think I could raise someone on 121.5 or the local center
frequency?

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...

I'd really love one of those 400Mhz emergency ELTs w/GPS, but they're a
bit pricey...

--Dan

On 9 Jul 2006 20:55:23 -0700, "Dan" wrote in
.com::

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...

That's my emergency plan too.

Do airliners or other aircraft routinely monitor 121.5?

Just get the local center frequencies from a Low Level chart, and
start making mayday calls.

In article .com,
"Dan" wrote:

If I were to go down in a remote off-airport, middle of
nowhere situation (not at all unlikely here in AZ or NM) am I fooling
myself to think I could raise someone on 121.5

Nope.

Do airliners or other aircraft routinely monitor 121.5?

This bugsmasher owner/pilot routinely monitors 121.5
(I often endure ELT tests)

--
Bob Noel
Looking for a sig the
lawyers will hate

I just bought some of those lithum AA batteries and have them loaded in
a spare battery pack labeled "emergency use only". I also have a note
attached with the emergency frequency for my passengers in case I am
incapacitated.

They'll last in virtually any temperature until 2021....

--Dan


Larry Dighera wrote:
On 9 Jul 2006 20:55:23 -0700, "Dan" wrote in
.com::

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...

That's my emergency plan too.

Do airliners or other aircraft routinely monitor 121.5?

Just get the local center frequencies from a Low Level chart, and
start making mayday calls.

121.5 is not dependably monitored by aircraft, but the
sector frequencies are, a mayday call on the low or high
altitude sector should raise a civilian. You can then
arrange relay or a better frequency. If you have a GPS, be
sure to give your position and number of people and any
needed supplies.

Talk to the CAP S&R and FSS in your area to find out what
they would most likely expect.


--
James H. Macklin
ATP,CFI,A&P

"Bob Noel" wrote in
message
...
| In article
.com,
| "Dan" wrote:
|
| If I were to go down in a remote off-airport, middle of
| nowhere situation (not at all unlikely here in AZ or NM)
am I fooling
| myself to think I could raise someone on 121.5
|
| Nope.
|
| Do airliners or other aircraft routinely monitor 121.5?
|
| This bugsmasher owner/pilot routinely monitors 121.5
| (I often endure ELT tests)
|
| --
| Bob Noel
| Looking for a sig the
| lawyers will hate
|

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.

Dan wrote:
I just bought some of those lithum AA batteries and have them loaded in
a spare battery pack labeled "emergency use only". I also have a note
attached with the emergency frequency for my passengers in case I am
incapacitated.

They'll last in virtually any temperature until 2021....

Even regular Alkalines will have pretty long shelf life. It's
not so bad now that I've switched from the portable GPS to the
panel mount, but I still always have a gaggle of AA's in the plane
between the batteries for the ANR headsets and a few flashlights.

On 2006-07-10, Ron Natalie wrote:
Even regular Alkalines will have pretty long shelf life.

And they have a 'use by' date just so you know how long. In emergency use, the
alkalines that have gone past their sell by date can go into a
non-critical piece of equipment (because I bet they'll still work fine)
and get replaced by fresh ones.

I don't use my handheld radio much - my current pack of alkalines has
long outlasted (the now won't-hold-a-charge) ni-cad.

--
Yes, the Reply-To email address is valid.
Oolite-Linux: an Elite tribute: http://oolite-linux.berlios.de

Larry Dighera wrote:

Just get the local center frequencies from a Low Level chart, and
start making mayday calls.


To put what Larry says another way:

If you were on a flight following, receiving VFR advisories, or at least
listening to a local ATC channel before going down, the frequency you
were using will probably be heard by SOMEBODY in the area. Near an
airport, the CTAF might even be useful to contact someome airborne.

At least that's my plan... G

I was taught to use FF or advisories whenever possible, and NOT to leave
the frequency and change to 121.5 to make an initial emergency call.
The ATC center might instruct you to change, but at least you've
immediately got their attention. Other a/c might even see you go down,
if they know to look. Even on a local flight, I'll usually at least
monitor local app/dep channels.

Dylan Smith wrote:
On 2006-07-10, Ron Natalie wrote:
Even regular Alkalines will have pretty long shelf life.

And they have a 'use by' date just so you know how long.

Only Duracells are so marked.