Well written, Tommy. Dan C
On Jun 23, 2010, at 5:40 PM, JThomas Terry wrote: > > After a couple of days, there doesn’t seem to be much new information on the > supposed banning of 121.5 ELTs in August. The FCC, as far as I know at this > time, has not denied the alleged ban, but they have not admitted it either. > Either way, I really do not think it can be done quite as quickly as the > first reports indicated. Given the lack of comment by the FCC, I feel that > they are up to something. With that in mind, I wrote the following letter to > the FCC. I’m sure it isn’t perfect but feel free to use it as is or as food > for thought to write your own. > > Tommy > > N93929 > > > > > > > > Chairman Julius Genachowski > > Federal Communications Commission > > 445 12th Street SW > > Washington, DC 20554 > > > > Sir: > > Recent reports concerning the FCC’s decision to prohibit use of Emergency > Locator Transmitters on 121.5 MHz are alarming. We all know that these ELTs > are not tremendously dependable or accurate and I do not think anyone will > argue that the potential of the 406 MHz Elts promises to be far superior. > However, the reports being circulated, and to my knowledge not denied by your > agency, are indicating a very short time for the retirement of the 121.5 > ELTs. Sir, this is not practical in many aspects: > > 1. Production and delivery. > > Can the manufacturers of the 406 ELTs produce 100,000 units in time to meet > the rumored retirement date of August? > > 2. Installation. > > Given the down turn in general aviation maintenance facilities; can 100,000 > units be installed by the retirement date? > > 3. Cost. > > Currently an ELT operating on 121.5 MHz can be bought for as little as > $200.00. However, the cheapest 406 MHz ELT I have personally been able to > locate will cost approximately $800.00 by the time it is delivered and > another $200 for installation. This is a minimum cost of $1000.00 for each > and every general aviation aircraft in the country. This will mean an outlay > of approximately $100000000.00 (One Hundred Million Dollars) from a segment > of our economy that is already struggling if not dying. If so, to what or > who’s benefit? > > 4. Triple frequency units. > > In recent years there have been many triple frequency units sold and > installed. These units operate on 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz, and 406 MHz. Does > this new regulation ban those new units because they transmit on 121.5? > > 5. Search equipment. > > Who will be responsible for re-equipping all search aircraft and ground teams > with new radio signal direction finding equipment? > > 6. Reliability. > > Even with all of its short comings and problems 121.5 or some other ground > based and ground searched signal must be maintained. As good as the > satellite systems are; there are times and places where the satellites just > cannot be “seen.” > > Even when the 121.5MHz ELT’s were being monitored by satellite, many signals > were reported by other aircraft that were later or never heard by the > satellites. > > On the subject of cost: Does the FCC plan on issuing vouchers for the > replacement units, similar to those issued for television converters boxes? > That is only logical since this change will apparently be mandated without > any concern for those it affects. Personally, I would be willing to meet > half way as my ELT is not new and I would eventually have to replace it > anyhow. > > > > All things considered, from my perspective and probably that of about 600,000 > others; this new proposal is extremely short-sighted and it is clear your > commission has not thought this new regulation completely through. Please do > not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions concerning my comments. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Copies: > > Hon. Henry Cuellar, U.S. House of Representatives > > Mr. Craig Fuller, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association > > Mr. Tom Poberezny, Experimental Aircraft Association > > Mr. Skip Carden, Ercoupe Owners Club > > Commissioner Michael J. Copps > > Commissioner Robert McDowell > > Commissioner Mignon Clyburn > > Commissioner Meredith Attwell Baker > > > > >
