Ian,
I am amused by the amount of attention this topic is getting in the
Gliding Community - Gliders are an exempt category under CAR 252A
and any savings made must have been lost in the amount of time and effort
being put into the looking for the best price and arguing the point
It is also interesting to observe the uptake of PLBs by groups who do not
have to carry one by law, these include both employers who recognize their
benefit as PPE and make their use part of their OH&S policies and
recreational people like Bush Walkers and Glider Pilots :-) .
Interestingly you also mention the RAAus Community - they currently also
enjoy an exemption to CAR 252A under their relevant sections of CAO 95
BUT are giving up this exemption; I am told that a majority of their members
are more than happy with that position - you will always get those
who disagree with anything, because they can.
Searches are expensive but the real benefit is getting to the survivor of an
accident/incident quickly to save lives and avoid increased injuries due to
exposure. Digital technology also improves response times and eliminates the
tasking of assets on the 97% of activations that are false alarms. Not only
does that save money, it also means that valuable recourses that may be
required else where are not being used chasing down false alarms.
As for the rules - most of them are technically based and some are
politically based, it is an International system and there are always going
to be politics.
In my opinion if you are an Australian you are best served by being on the
Australian Register. Obviously here in Australia we look after you directly
- why deal
with a middle man - and if you are overseas and activate your beacon, the
Australian RCC will not only alert the local authorities, DFAT is also be
advised and they
will look after the diplomatic side of things for you. Its like insurance,
you buy it hoping to never have to use it.
SDF
_____
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ian Mc Phee
Sent: Sunday, 15 November 2009 10:53 PM
To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] personal locator beacons
Stuart + others
Well it is a pity we have such a law as CAR 252A (without reading it) as I
would consider all aviators should be encouraged not discouraged (high
Aussie price and a requirement to register in AUS) to carry a beacon no
matter where it is registered. If just one beacon saves an expensive search
paid for by the AUS government and that would save tens of thousands of
dollars. The only difference I can see between the USA McMurdo Fastfind
and that sold in Australia is the waterproof pouch and I do not consider
that a high priority for gliding and RAAus aircraft..
I can always remember the night Ian Jacobs went missing north of Narromine
20+ years ago. A Twin from Hazelton searched for many hours that night. If
an extra $2.20 had been spent at time of radio installation to give a press
button to light up the display of his radio so he could see the frequencies
$10K would have been saved
Ever since that every radio harness I have ever made (100 to 200 I guess)
includes a DSE japan made press switch .which lights up radio display (pin 8
in Microair and Xcom via button to +ve). I urge all that have Xcom,
Microair, Becker and Dittel next winter power up their back light for such
an emergency if they do not have it now .
I can say NOAA post you a sticker and nice letter AND it is received within
5 days of registering beacon on line.All contact numbers are recorded as
Australian numbers and can be updated on thenet at any time. Also I can say
McMurdo fastfind is a very suitable unit for glider use and this day and age
of a world market (ebay etc) I do think people should do not be discouraged
to get one based on price. I do know many yacht friends are buying same
while they are in USA and bringing them back here to register with NOAA!!.
I would say to all buy one in Australia but if not buying because of price
get one in USA for almost 1/2 the price (about$350) and if a sailor buy the
waterproof pouch.
Ian McPhee
PS
Well he informs me he had to give up his USA citizenship when he became in
"the government of a foreign power" and this fact causes him heaps of grief
at the USA border as it is not the done thing to refuse a US passport if you
are born there.
2009/11/12 Stuart & Kerri Ferguson <[email protected]>
Ian
If your friend is who I think he is, he also holds dual USA/Aust
citizenship.
I am not going to dig down into the politics; there are many people out
there carrying Distress Beacons who do not have to by law; bush walkers, 4WD
etc, many govt and private sector employers provide them as PPE for field
workers.
Then there are the activities that you are required to carry one by law, and
for example in aviation CAR 252A requires an Australian compliant beacon
that is registered with AMSA.
With the development of new equipment such as GPS trackers these types of
requiments may change in time, that will be a political argument
Stuart Ferguson
Sent from iPhone
0419 797508
On 11/11/2009, at 23:16, Ian Mc Phee <[email protected]> wrote:
A friend of mine ex USA got a McMurdo Fastfind with GPS when in USA and
registered it in USA with his local address. When he was in USA again he
got another and at the then exchange rate. cost $A363 posted to hotel in
USA. You can register same on the USA web site and you get back an email
with "We realize you live outside United States...........but we accept your
registration....." within 24 hours
Sticker comes in post 2 weeks later and remember USA have yachts in the for
corners of the world and a few Aussies means nothing to them. I gather in 22
months they send email/SMS/letter asking you to re register. So US taxpayer
is covering costs for aussies probably,$2 for posting a letter.
Ian M
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