AMSA Search Rescue

Every distress situation is different and without knowing what the pilot was thinking, it is not possible to give a definite answer as to whether an Emergency Locator Transmitter or Personal Locator Beacon should have been activated. In a distress situation, two-way communication is the most effective means of alerting distress. If two-way communications are not available, then a distress beacon should be activated in situations of grave and imminent danger. This equates to when a pilot is facing a life threatening situation. This is a personal decision that is different for everybody. A pilot in an incident like this needs to make these decisions when in the air and after landing. When in the air, a beacon can be activated if the pilot feels he or she is in grave and imminent danger. Facing a forced landing would be a reason to feel in grave and imminent danger. In a forced landing situation, when the pilot is also unsure of their position, lost or has deviated from the planned or notified flight route, this would elevate the level of concern and a decision to activate their ELT or PLB would certainly be wise so that search and rescue response will focus on the correct location. After landing, there are various factors to consider. Was the flight overdue? Would a search and rescue response be underway? What will others be doing as a result of not turning up or not reporting in as expected? Activating a beacon would provide valuable information to search and rescue authorities, especially if the landing site is a distance from the expected final location for the flight. Also, the pilot would need to consider how long it will take to walk to reach a farmhouse to ring authorities. For more information about when and how to use your beacon visit: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/activation/ AMSA Media

Every distress situation is different and without knowing what the pilot was thinking, it is not possible to give a definite answer as to whether an Emergency Locator Transmitter or Personal Locator Beacon should have been activated. In a distress situation, two-way communication is the most effective means of alerting distress. If two-way communications are not available, then a distress beacon should be activated in situations of grave and imminent danger. This equates to when a pilot is facing a life threatening situation. This is a personal decision that is different for everybody. A pilot in an incident like this needs to make these decisions when in the air and after landing. When in the air, a beacon can be activated if the pilot feels he or she is in grave and imminent danger. Facing a forced landing would be a reason to feel in grave and imminent danger. In a forced landing situation, when the pilot is also unsure of their position, lost or has deviated from the planned or notified flight route, this would elevate the level of concern and a decision to activate their ELT or PLB would certainly be wise so that search and rescue response will focus on the correct location. After landing, there are various factors to consider. Was the flight overdue? Would a search and rescue response be underway? What will others be doing as a result of not turning up or not reporting in as expected? Activating a beacon would provide valuable information to search and rescue authorities, especially if the landing site is a distance from the expected final location for the flight. Also, the pilot would need to consider how long it will take to walk to reach a farmhouse to ring authorities. For more information about when and how to use your beacon visit: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/activation/ AMSA Media

Every distress situation is different and without knowing what the pilot was thinking, it is not possible to give a definite answer as to whether an Emergency Locator Transmitter or Personal Locator Beacon should have been activated. In a distress situation, two-way communication is the most effective means of alerting distress. If two-way communications are not available, then a distress beacon should be activated in situations of grave and imminent danger. This equates to when a pilot is facing a life threatening situation. This is a personal decision that is different for everybody. A pilot in an incident like this needs to make these decisions when in the air and after landing. When in the air, a beacon can be activated if the pilot feels he or she is in grave and imminent danger. Facing a forced landing would be a reason to feel in grave and imminent danger. In a forced landing situation, when the pilot is also unsure of their position, lost or has deviated from the planned or notified flight route, this would elevate the level of concern and a decision to activate their ELT or PLB would certainly be wise so that search and rescue response will focus on the correct location. After landing, there are various factors to consider. Was the flight overdue? Would a search and rescue response be underway? What will others be doing as a result of not turning up or not reporting in as expected? Activating a beacon would provide valuable information to search and rescue authorities, especially if the landing site is a distance from the expected final location for the flight. Also, the pilot would need to consider how long it will take to walk to reach a farmhouse to ring authorities. For more information about when and how to use your beacon visit: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/activation/ AMSA Media