Personal Locator Beacon - Still Relevant?

A

AA5Bman

Line Up and Wait
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
821
Display Name
Display name:
He who ironically no longer flies an AA5B
I took everything out of the plane recently and stumbled upon my old personal locator beacon (the original generation ACR Resqulink style). Separately, I inherited the same unit from a family friend who was also a pilot and passed, whose wife gave me all his airplane emergency gear. So now I have two ACR-style PLBs.

I long ago went to a Garmin InReach and have seen the SOS function successfully used (unfortunately) so I’m wondering… are the PLBs still relevant? What should I do with them?
 
Just want to say it is straightforward to replace the batteries on the ACR Resqulinks.
I've also seen the InReaches successfully used in an emergency situation and they seem to offer a lot. That said, the ACR seems a whole lot better than an alternative of nothing.
 
Seems "relevant" might be the wrong term and "redundant" (at least as far as your gear bag is concerned) is more apt.
 
I carry one in the plane; mainly because I've been flying over remote areas and don't have a 406.
You should be getting biennial renewal mailings from NOAA to confirm the listed contacts, just did mine.
 
I have two PLBs and decided to sell my InReach, since I dont want to pay the monthly subscription.
 
I think they're probably more relevant than InReach because there are three constellations of SAR satellites including satellites in geosynchronous orbit vs Iridium for InReach and they don't require a subscription. But maybe Iridium offers the same coverage, IDK? I have one for the same reason @Let'sgoflying! has one, just an old 121.5 MHz ELT installed...
 
I take both. My InReach sits on the glareshield so it can see satellites for sending tracking points. In case of ditching, I plan to grab it - but would I remember, or succeed?

I keep a PLB permanently in one of the pockets on my lifejacket so even if I do fail to take the InReach with me, I have a plan B.
 
AA5Bman said:
are the PLBs still relevant? What should I do with them?
Click to expand...
Was told years ago, an ELT locates the aircraft and a PLB locates you. So depending on where you operate, it can matter if you have one or not. Plus a PLB can be used for any activity and not just flying. And for reference, the majority of Part 135 helicopter ops in the GOMEX usually have at least 3 PLBs on board with some customers issuing PLBs to their employees as well. And the preferred brand is the ACR Resqulink series.
 
The inreach type devices, at least when I researched this question a few years back, rely solely on satellite communication and that may not work everywhere and always...depending on location and network, etc...
Their advantages include two-way messages, leaving courtesy breadcrumb trails, I'm ok messages, etc...

The PLB's however include 121.5mhz signal that can be used to home in on your location, even if you are shaded from the satellites.
 
I’ve used my InReach north of the arctic circle in some insanely remote zones, so I’m curious where the coverage is lacking?
 
I have flown over Lake Michigan more than 240 times. I had a raft, wore personal inflatable flotation, but I did not have a PLB. I carried my handheld radio on a waterproof container.

Some time ago, there was a US Coast Guard pilot at an air show in nearby Stevens Point, and I asked him how long it would take to get to a downed pilot in the middle of Lake Michigan from Traverse City. He said it would be at least 20 minutes before they got airborne, and another 20-30 minutes before getting to the last reported position. Without a signaling device, a mirror or smoke generator or dye, or a radio or a PLB, he said it was about a 5-10% chance they would find the downed pilot.
 
I bought an ACR. Pretty cheap, lite, small, no subscription, locates you when you activate. Seems a good thing to do.
 
cruiserandmax said:
Holy cow- I was totally unaware of this new iPhone feature- that's great!
Click to expand...
Absolutely! I think it got some extra visibility with the recent hurricanes.

But yes, Apple originally introduced just a search-and-rescue "Emergency SOS via satellite" with the iPhone 14, and as of iOS 18 a couple months ago has expanded it to use that satellite hardware for regular Messages usage as well. It can also update your location in Find My, obtain roadside assistance, or do the Emergency SOS mode which will ask you all of the things the emergency providers are going to ask you and get it all out right away which can be crucial because satellite messaging often takes minutes.

BUT... Be sure to set this up and test it *before* you need it! Settings -> Apps -> Messages -> Messages via Satellite -> Satellite Connection Demo.
 
I just tried the Emergency SOS Demo on my wife's iPhone 14. It was kind of hard to find. But is under Emergency SOS or something. It seems to work. Very cool. That may be the only reason I have found yet to switch from Android, hah.
 
Flyxaos said:
I just tried the Emergency SOS Demo on my wife's iPhone 14. It was kind of hard to find. But is under Emergency SOS or something. It seems to work. Very cool. That may be the only reason I have found yet to switch from Android, hah.
Click to expand...
Yeah- this is a pretty amazing feature for sure... It's almost as good as when we could get graphical NEXRAD on PalmPilots at any altitude for free!
 
Two separate things.

SOS is still there.

But now you can sent texts when there is no cell or wifi coverage. I have tested it in cruise at 14,000. Pretty easy to use.

I think you can text anyone, but they can only reply from a iPhone 14 or newer with iOS 18 or later.
 
Flyxaos said:
That may be the only reason I have found yet to switch from Android, hah.
Click to expand...
Similar capability is available today with the Pixel 9, and will be available before too long through other Android options. The downside is that there will be multiple implementations, at least at first, so it may not be as simple to use as the Apple option.

www.androidauthority.com

Android and iPhone satellite connectivity: What is it and what are your options right now?

iPhones and Androids are quickly gaining access to satellite connectivity. But what is it, and how is it useful to you? We break it down.
www.androidauthority.com www.androidauthority.com
 
I still carry an ACR PLB, but the battery expired several years ago; hope it still works if I need it. Probably better off to buy a new one instead of sending this one in for a new battery (if available).

Still relevant? Maybe not. I've flown for CAP for almost 40 years; things change. We are seldom dispatched for an ELT or search anymore. When someone gets lost or lands out, we usually know where they are before we take off. The CAP cell phone forensics team can do amazing things with cell & ADSB data.
 
Last edited:
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Still relevant? Maybe not. I've flown for CAP for almost 40 years; things change. We are seldom dispatched for an ELT anymore. When someone gets lost or lands out, we usually know where they before we take off. The CAP cell phone forensics team can do amazing things with cell & ADSB data.
Click to expand...
Pretty much mirrors what I have been hearing.
In a meeting with our State Aeronautics Department it was mentioned that some of us have been checking the volunteer for Search and Rescue box on our State required pilot registrations (small percentage of pilots probably actually do it) for over 50 years for some pilots. No one can recall ever being called to help with a search. The state admitted they probably did not need this and in the past didn't use it as much as they could have. Then stated that they now rarely actually search for people any more. If someone is missing where they previous would have initiated a search it usually takes only a short time to track them down via a cell phone or other tracking device.

Brian
 
I lived in Idaho for eight years; always checked that box; never called out except for CAP.
 
Pinecone said:
But now you can sent texts when there is no cell or wifi coverage. I have tested it in cruise at 14,000. Pretty easy to use.

I think you can text anyone, but they can only reply from a iPhone 14 or newer with iOS 18 or later.
Click to expand...
When you're off grid, people who are either in your emergency contacts or in your Family Sharing group can contact you via satellite without you contacting them first. Obviously, this needs to be set up as desired *before* you're off grid.

Only the person who is off grid needs the iPhone 14+ and iOS 18+. If the other person has iOS 18+ (iPhone model irrelevant) it'll be via iMessage, otherwise it's "SMS via satellite" instead, and your carrier must support it. https://support.apple.com/en-us/120930
 
RockyMtnFlyer said:
Still relevant? Maybe not. I've flown for CAP for almost 40 years; things change. We are seldom dispatched for an ELT or search anymore. When someone gets lost or lands out, we usually know where they are before we take off. The CAP cell phone forensics team can do amazing things with cell & ADSB data.
Click to expand...

Except if you are in an area of no cell phone coverage. :)

For the price, a PLB is worth it to me.
 
cruiserandmax said:
The other tidbit I gleaned from that article is: "Satellite features are included for free for two years with the activation of an iPhone 14 or later (all models)."

What happens after 2 years?
Click to expand...
Nobody knows yet... Although the iPhone 14 came out >2 years ago and they're not charging anything just yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top