And any month. Plus: eleventh-hour MOSAIC comments, pilots on the tube, and an opportunity to air your grievances about the shortage of designated pilot examiners.
Alternates: Eleventh-hour MOSAIC comments and pilots taking over TV.
Say Mayday: The moment doubt starts to creep in.
🛩️ Estimated time en route: 4 minutes
What you should know about ELTs
Beeyoo! Beeyoo! Beeyoo!
Do you know what that sound means in your cockpit? It’s from an activated Emergency Locator Transmitter, either yours or someone else’s. Unless the signal emanates from an ELT being tested (only allowed during the first five minutes of each hour), it means that, at best, someone just experienced a really hard landing. At worst, someone had an accident and needs assistance.
The cry of the ELT provides notice that something happened and allows ground-based stations to determine the position of the distress call. You probably already knew that, but there is still a lot of partial and outdated information floating around in the aviation community.
Here are important up-to-date facts you need to know about ELTs.
1. ELTs are automatically triggered when they detect a significant G force, such as during an accident, but can also be activated manually.
2. ELTs that only transmit on Guard, 121.5 MHz, and 243 MHz are now considered antiquated because the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network can’t detect their signals. So, users must rely on overflying aircraft that are within range of the crash site and listening to 121.5 MHz.
Old ELTs such as these are still legalto have in your airplane, but new ELTs of this type may no longer be sold as of 2019, per FCC regulations.
3. New ELTs that you can acquire today transmit on 406 MHz, which the satellite network can detect and use to determine your location within 100 meters. If you get a 406 MHz ELT, you must register it on the NOAA website.
Per an FAA study, 406 MHz ELTs dramatically reduce the false alert impact on search and rescue resources, have a higher accident survivability success rate, and decrease the time to reach accident victims by an average of six hours.
If your aircraft still has the old-style ELT, consider the purchase of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), a handheld 406 transmitter that can be activated manually.
Suppose you are flying cross country, monitoring 121.5, and you hear an activated ELT. What should you do?
💬 The alphabet groups entered the chat on MOSAIC right at the eleventh hour before the NPRM's comment period ended on Monday. A response submitted by EAA and cosigned by AOPA, NBAA, and NATA supported the proposal but encouraged refinement and expansion in key areas. Per FLYING, those requests include:
"Removal of exclusions on aircraft class, expanding from the currently limited list of airplanes, gliders, powered parachutes, weight-shift control, and lighter-than-air, to add rotorcraft and powered lift and allow for new classes as technology advances
Removal of the maximum takeoff weight of 1,320 pounds for land-based aircraft (1,430 for water-based aircraft)
Raising the maximum level flight VH speed from 120 to 250 kcas
Allowing for alternative powerplants, controllable pitch props, and retractable landing gear
Raising the maximum stall speed VS1 from 45 to 54 kcas—in fact, the consortium would like to see a speed raised to 58 kcas or as high as 61 kcas
Raising the maximum seating capacity from two to four seats, with the allowance for sport pilots to have up to three passengers"
📺 Pilots on the tube: On the heels of last week's Miss America Pageant, which saw U.S. Air Force 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh, a private pilot and USAF trainee pilot, take home the top prize, two new pilot-centric shows could be coming soon to a channel or streaming service near you.
The first two episodes of Masters of the Air, a limited series on Apple TV+, are available to stream today. Produced by the same team behind Band of Brothers and The Pacific (Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Gary Goetzman), the series follows the airmen of the 100th Bomb Group as they risk their lives flying over the battlefields of World War II.
A new docuseries, Airborne Firefighters, gives a behind-the-scenes look at the pilots who power the aerial operations unit of Cal Fire. No official air date has been set, but you can follow the production on the show's YouTube channel.
🏈 Are you ready for some f...light restrictions? The Super Bowl kicks off on February 11, but the FAA's safety plan for Las Vegas airspace is well underway. If you're planning to fly in or around Sin City the week of the big game, review the agency's guidance and keep your eyes peeled for TFR information three to five days before kickoff.
It's time to spill the tea
What's more important to your success in flight training, your flight instructor or your flight school?
How useful is a flight simulator in training?
How many flight instructors did you fly with last year?
The FAA says that while pilots typically don't hesitate to declare emergencies when faced with distress conditions — such as fire, mechanical failure, or structural damage — some of us are reluctant to report a need when we encounter situations that may not be immediately perilous but are headed there in a hurry if we don't take action. Why the radio silence?
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