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Tundra10
Joined: 14 Jun 2010
Posts: 102
Location: Scarborough, Ontario
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 Posted: Fri Nov 04, 2011 6:23 am Post subject: Emergency Locator Transmitters |
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For the time being, a 406MHz ELT is not yet required in Canada.
The new rules have been drafted, but they are taking quite some to
actually get passed into law. Changes are still possible.
As currently written, visiting aircraft will require a 406MHz ELT, so
when it does become law, some folks are going to be quite surprised
they are not legally permitted to fly from the lower 48 to Alaska.
The law will be effective when passed, so without a lot of warning,
406MHz ELTs will be required here.
Meanwhile ICAO rules require a commercial aircraft crossing an
international border to carry at 406MHz. I highly doubt anyone In
Canada or the USA is enforcing this.
I you choose the 121.5MHz ELT for now, as you craft your airplane,
include the necessary elements so that you merely need to swap out the
ELT and the antenna when the time comes:
Include a 4 wire plus ground shielded cable from the ELT location to
the front panel for the controlling switch.
The ELT mounting location must be strong, and must support a 100g load
in all directions. Specifically, the mount shall have a static
deflection no greater than 0.1 inches with 100 pounds of force applied
in the most flexible direction.
The antenna should be close to the ELT to minimize the length of the
RG-142 (or equivalent) cable. It should be mounted at least 30 inches
away from other antennas and the vertical stabilizer. The ground
plane should have a radius of 24 inches in each direction.
There will be a buzzer mounted very near the ELT as well.
When you consider which ELT to purchase, consider the cost of
replacing the batteries, since most of the new ELTs have 5 year
batteries.
Jeff Page
Dream Aircraft Tundra #10
| Quote: | Subject: Re: Emergency Locator Transmitters:
non-TSO cheap ones?
- Though, don't Canada, Mexico, and the Bahama require a 406 ELT to
enter their countries?
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jonlaury
Joined: 06 Nov 2006
Posts: 336
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 10:37 am Post subject: Re: Emergency Locator Transmitters |
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Great post, Jeff.
I don't know where I can get 30" away from antennas or 12 sq ft of ground plane in a Glasair, but it's always good to have a goal 
Attached is Trans Canada, Part IV, 605.38. For US operators wishing to fly in Canada, but not wishing to upgrade their US legal 121.5 ELT's, look at 605.38, (3) (c) (i) & (ii).
I read this as an OK to use a 121.5 ELT in Canada.
John
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Part VI - General Operating and Flight Rules - Transport Canada.pdf |
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Tundra10
Joined: 14 Jun 2010
Posts: 102
Location: Scarborough, Ontario
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:22 am Post subject: Re: Emergency Locator Transmitters |
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John,
What you attached is the law as it applies now. In Canada 121.5 and 406 are both permitted. Notice the date is 2002.
The proposed new regulations were published in the Canada Gazette Volume 142, No. 32 and were to take effect in 2009, provided it was passed into law. A change of government later and it still has not. When/if it does, it may/may not be the original proposal.
As originally proposed there was a transition period requiring all aircraft (except some that never required ELTs anway, like ultralights and balloons) to equip with 406. No provision was included for non-Canadian aircraft to be exempt.
What will happen is anyone's guess. Know that someday, there is a good chance that a 406 will be required to fly a US registered aircraft in Canada.
My planning suggestions were the installation requirements per my Artec ME406 Installation Manual. I thought the ground plane was pretty big too, but that's what is called for. They are happy if you run 1" strips in all directions, rather than a solid piece. Most tailcones are not that wide.
My personal recommendation is that relying on a single device to alert search and rescue is insufficient. I always file a flight plan, even if going for a 30 minute tour around the patch, since I want someone to miss me if I don't return. I carry a SPOT also.
Also, be aware of the limitations of the 406 system. While it is nice that the system broadcasts your aircraft ID, so SAR knows who they are looking for, that signal is picked up only by satellites over the equator. So in Canada, if you land on the north side of a big hill, that signal will not be received. The system will still triangulate your location, since a number of moving satellites do that.
Also, no 406 signals are broadcast for 50 seconds. This allows you to test the 121.5 signal as before with earlier ELTs. What that means, is at the first sign of engine trouble, pull out the carb heat with one hand and manually activate the 406 with the other. It will likely take more than 50 seconds to glide to earth. That way the signal will get through and they know to go looking before the antenna is broken off in the "landing".
Jeff Page
Dream Aircraft Tundra #10
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fvalarm(at)rapidnet.net
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| Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2011 11:45 am Post subject: Emergency Locator Transmitters |
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Beware too of the limitations of SPOT. It's doesn't work very well in the
mountains of BC at ground level. Probably works well at altitude (I haven't
tried it cause I let the subscription run out now). Planning for APRS.
BT
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