At 09:52 PM 15/11/2009, you wrote:
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..
The real pity is that our standards people didn't decide that a
standard that was good enough for the USA (and Canada I'll bet) with
a combined population around 15 times that of Aus/NZ was good enough
for us. We might even have just come to an arrangement with the
Americans to register them there. Nowadays does it matter where in
the world the rescue center is?
Just like we could contract all CASA functions out to the FAA. They
could call it the South West Hawaiian region and staff it with half a
dozen people. Come to think of it they must already have someone
looking after Wake Island etc.
The waterproof pouch is actually a floatation kit and is what looks
like a fairly thin pouch made of yellow neoprene wet suit fabric. It
really doesn't add subtantially to the bulk or weight of the VERY
small unit. I know because the package arrived this morning and I had
a look at mine. Those who have paid will have them shipped today. The
rest will get shipped when your money arrives.
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
Then again he could have carried a torch(flashlight). The new LED
ones are good but beware the cheapies, I've found them unreliable.
Replace the battery(ies) every year.
We all have emergency kits in our gliders DON"T WE, with space
blanket, torch, strobe, sunscreen, insect repellent, band aids etc.
Ri....ght, didn't think so.
Mike
Borgelt Instruments - manufacturers of quality soaring instruments since 1978
phone Int'l + 61 746 355784
fax Int'l + 61 746 358796
cellphone Int'l + 61 428 355784
email: [email protected]
website: www.borgeltinstruments.com
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