HGFA Skysailor Magazine

SKY SAILOR 27 May | June 2018 ➲➲ Spot Messenger requires a clear view of the sky. ➲➲ Delorme Inreach requires a clear view of the sky and is thought to have better reception than Spot Messenger in Australia. ➲➲ PLB /EPIRB requires a clear view of the sky, uses search and rescue satellites and will transmit for long periods – rugged. All satellite devices take approximately a minute to warm up before transmitting. This is because when they are first activated, the internal GPS needs to download satellite location/timing tables to obtain an accurate fix, which can take at least a minute. Spot/Delorme will already be powered up to provide tracking information so it may send an SOS message immediately. However, PLBs are only powered up when the SOS button is activated. Not all satellite systems will have a satellite in the sky when the SOS button is pressed, therefore it may take an hour or two for a satellite to orbit overhead and receive the SOS message. Some work is being done to develop trackers that use the 4G mobile networks, which can likely provide greater coverage than 3G. Conclusion If you are looking for the cheapest option, then a PLB has the least initial and no ongoing service costs. To get the best functionality from the unit, the user needs to ensure the registration information held by AMSA is up to date. PLBs do not provide any indication that the SOS message has been received. However, they use a satellite system dedicated to search and rescue. Spot and Delorme do provide extra functionality. These include tracking functions with web pages indicating location and track, and also the ability for two-way communication. However, this extra functionality comes at a price: including a higher initial purchase price and on-going service fees. The overall take home message is: No matter which system you chose to use, it will take at least 50 minutes for a rescue response from police. So, once the SOS button is pressed, the pilot needs to focus on survivability, (i.e., first aid, protection from exposure, safety and so forth). Safe flying. References: https://www.amsa.gov.au/ https://www.flymaster.net/tracker https://au.findmespot.com/en/ http://www.alwaysinreach.com.au/why-inreach http://cospas-sarsat.int/en/ http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/about/index.asp