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Thread : ELT and Lights
Started at 3rd-April-2011 02:14 AM by tedjgordon
Visit at http://forum.xopa.org/showthread.php?t=99
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Author : tedjgordon
Date : 3rd-April-2011 02:14 AM
Thread Title : ELT and Lights
My annual was successfully completed today, but my mechanic raised two questions I could not answer immediately. First he asked where is the authority to omit the ELT? I said ELT's are optional on gliders and the Ximango is a glider. He said show me in the FARs. The section on ELTs mentions several exclusions from the need to carry an ELT, but gliders are not on the list. Do gliders have a special FAA exclusion letter? Second he said if your aircraft has an engine, glider or not, it may need lights. I told him gliders don't need them or fly at night. Further neither the ELT nor lights are on the equipment list in my POH.
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Author : John Lawton
Date : 3rd-April-2011 01:41 PM
Thread Title : Night VFR and ELT's
The night VFR thing is found in Note 10 on the Type Certificate (http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_Guidance_Library/rgMakeModel.nsf/0/39dd91915a0f47ca8625772d0044f614/$FILE/TG00004AT.pdf) and was added in March of 2010 (I think). Maybe Chuck can opine with the exact date. This only applies to AMT200s with proper options:
NOTE 10 Night visual flight rule (VFR) operation is only authorized for the AMT-200S Optional Version. To conduct
this kind of operation, it is mandatory that these motorgliders have the specified required equipment
installed and all instruments (airspeed indicator, altimeter, magnetic compass, variometer, slip and skid
indicator, tachometer, fuel quantity indicator, oil temperature indicator, oil pressure indicator, cylinder head
temperature indicator, manifold pressure manometer) and radio navigation equipment must have
illuminating devices.
My understanding is this also only applies to appropriately rated pilots. IOW, you need to be a minimum of Private Single Engine Land rated to fly at night if the airplane is so equipped.
As far as ELT's go, the 121.5 Mhz satellite monitoring system was turned off in 2009. So, it won't do much good to have one of those on board unless you crash right next to someone monitoring 121.5 Mhz. There is no requirement to upgrade to a 406 Mhz beacon according to the AOPA:
AOPA Online: Regulatory Brief -- Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) (http://www.aopa.org/whatsnew/regulatory/elt.html)
Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)
ELTs are emergency transmitters that are carried aboard most general aviation aircraft in the U.S. In the event of an aircraft accident, these devices are designed to transmit a distress signal on 121.5, 243.0-megahertz frequencies (and for newer ELTs, on 406 MHz). Currently, ELTs are required to be installed in almost all U.S.-registered civil aircraft, including general aviation aircraft, as a result of a congressional mandate. The mandate resulted from the 1972 loss of U.S. Representative Hale Boggs and Nick Begich in Alaska after their aircraft crashed and was never found.
When ELTs were mandated in 1973, most GA aircraft were equipped with an ELT that transmits on the 121.5 MHz frequency, the designated international distress frequency. The original ELTs were manufactured to the specifications of an FAA technical standard order (TSO-C91) and have an activation rate of less than 25 percent in actual crashes and a 97 percent false-alarm rate. In 1985, a new TSO-C91A ELT was developed, which substantially reduces or eliminates many problems with the earlier model. The TSO-C91A provides improved performance and reliability (with an activation rate of 73 percent in actual crashes) at a reasonable cost to users ($200-$500 including installation). Since then, an even more advanced model of ELT has been developed ó the C126 ELT (406 MHz). This newest model activates 81-83 percent of the time and transmits a more accurate and near-instantaneous emergency signal by utilizing digital technology. This digital 406-MHz ELT also allows search and rescue personnel to have vital information specific to you and your aircraft. These ELTs are more expensive, however, with the current cost around $1,000 or more per unit, not including installation.
ELTs were originally intended for use on the 121.5-MHz frequency to alert air traffic control and aircraft monitoring the frequency. In 1982 a satellite-based monitoring system was implemented (COSPAS-SARSAT) to provide a better receiving source for these signals. As of February 1, 2009, the international COSPAS-SARSAT (http://www.cospas-sarsat.org/) satellite system will discontinue satellite-based monitoring of the 121.5/243-MHz frequencies, in part because of a high number of false signals attributed with these frequencies. While there's no requirement in the United States to replace the first- and second-generation 121.5-MHz ELTs, after this date, 121.5/243-MHz distress signals transmitted from ELTs operating on the lower frequency will only be detected by ground-based receivers such as local airport facilities and air traffic control facilities or by overflying aircraft. It is important to note that after 2009, existing 121.5-MHz ELTs, although still legal from the FAA's perspective, will provide extremely limited assistance if an aircraft crashes, especially in a remote location.
My AIM manual is at the hangar. I haven't found the specific FAR that deals with gliders and ELT's, but I'll keep looking. FWIW, I removed my 121.5 Mhz ELT back in March of 2009.
John Lawton
Whitwell, TN (TN89)
Ximango #135
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Author : tedjgordon
Date : 4th-April-2011 05:52 PM
You are amazing. Thanks. I have asked SSA the same questions and if they send me anything I'll forward it to you.
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