bahama flier
New member
I was required to install a new 406 ELT in my aircraft because it is the law for international flights. My old ELT one was giving me trouble with false activation anyway.
I purchased the new 406 ELT installed it, and purchased a new 406 PLB (portable hand held), and attached it to my raft. All is well I thought.
The wife and I were flying over Freeport Bahamas when I heard a noise in my radio, could not identify the source, but just in case I called Miami to see if my 406 ELT was activated. I was told , IT WAS activated.
I advised my location, destination, and please advise all concerned, I was in no danger and would report back when I landed. Reply was OK.
My wife, courageously crawled over seats and cargo to the ELT to turn it off, she did, crawled back to her front seat but the unit was still going off, so she went back on her slow journey to the ELT and checked to see that it was off, it was, so she disconnected the antenna. This was no easy task getting to the back of the plane and back to the front, over much cargo in a Cherokee Six.
We landed and I had a telephone handed to me from the Bahamas tower in Nassau, next I had a call from the Bahamas search and rescue, then a call from NOAA to verify it was my unit. I had to take the unit out of my aircraft and read back the ser number of my unit to satisfy them, I did then I got a call from the US Coast Guard, crap....
Got home to our apartment, a knock on the door, to call another Bahamian rescue unit, I did, went to take a nap I was tired..my cell phone rings and it is a Commander from the US Air Force, advising me my unit was still transmitting, even with no antenna and turned off,,, and Ordered TO MAKE IT SILENT. I PROMPTLY TOOK OUT THE BATTERIES.
With all the problems with a false activation, I feel secure that should I need help, someone out there is waiting to help.
The old ELT only transmit a radio signal to anyone that might be listening, but the 406 goes to the Satellite and many agency's monitors it.
If you fly, get the new 406 and a portable PLB to take with you. just me...
I purchased the new 406 ELT installed it, and purchased a new 406 PLB (portable hand held), and attached it to my raft. All is well I thought.
The wife and I were flying over Freeport Bahamas when I heard a noise in my radio, could not identify the source, but just in case I called Miami to see if my 406 ELT was activated. I was told , IT WAS activated.
I advised my location, destination, and please advise all concerned, I was in no danger and would report back when I landed. Reply was OK.
My wife, courageously crawled over seats and cargo to the ELT to turn it off, she did, crawled back to her front seat but the unit was still going off, so she went back on her slow journey to the ELT and checked to see that it was off, it was, so she disconnected the antenna. This was no easy task getting to the back of the plane and back to the front, over much cargo in a Cherokee Six.
We landed and I had a telephone handed to me from the Bahamas tower in Nassau, next I had a call from the Bahamas search and rescue, then a call from NOAA to verify it was my unit. I had to take the unit out of my aircraft and read back the ser number of my unit to satisfy them, I did then I got a call from the US Coast Guard, crap....
Got home to our apartment, a knock on the door, to call another Bahamian rescue unit, I did, went to take a nap I was tired..my cell phone rings and it is a Commander from the US Air Force, advising me my unit was still transmitting, even with no antenna and turned off,,, and Ordered TO MAKE IT SILENT. I PROMPTLY TOOK OUT THE BATTERIES.
With all the problems with a false activation, I feel secure that should I need help, someone out there is waiting to help.
The old ELT only transmit a radio signal to anyone that might be listening, but the 406 goes to the Satellite and many agency's monitors it.
If you fly, get the new 406 and a portable PLB to take with you. just me...