You asked about SPOT, Linda.
First some background. The current ELT system is being turned off
in so far as sattelite tracking is concerned. The 121.5 MHz
frequency will still be gaurded by control towers and passing air
liners, so one's ELT may be picked up if needed. Sattelite rescue is
being changed to 406 MHz, and the beacons will have codes in them
linking Search And Rescue to the owner. This allows a phone call to
the registered owner instead of a search launch. The change is being
made because 406 is more accurate and most signals from the 121.5
ELT's have been false alarms.
As with all new equipment, Personal Locator Beacons (PLB's)are
expensive. They are mandated for the mountain climbers on Mt. Hood
and other places - the Ski Patrol and county sheriff's office are
tired of clumping around in the snow. They are rented for climbs
from your local ourdoor supplier.
Now, just because the sattelites won't pick one's ELT up does not
mean they can be left out of your airplane! They are still very much
required by the FAR's.
There have been several articles in the EAA press, and this was the
subject of an IA seminar I attended last week. The feeling is keep
the ELT and buy a PLB - probably the way I'd go.
As for SPOT, the technology is probably sound. I don't know about
the company. If they are not able to continue business, like so many
of the companies of the "dot-com boom" just a while back, they could
go out of business when you need them most!
"Never buy Release 0.01" ... old tech saying.
Percy in NM, USA
