top rounded corners
pad
  • Increase font size
  • Decrease font size
  • Default font size
pad
Seach Sponsored by Pizza Hut Hawaii
pad
KGMB9 Weekend Team
Like Plane, Distress Signal Missing Print E-mail
Written by Brooks Baehr - bbaehr@kgmb9.com   
June 18, 2008 07:10 PM

 
The single engine plane operated by Island Hoppers that has been missing on the Big Island since Tuesday morning is equip with an emergency signaling device that is supposed to help searchers locate the plane. But like the plane itself that signal has been missing.

The device is called an Emergency Locator Transmitter, or ELT. The pilot can activate it manually, but it is also designed to activate on impact in the event of a crash.

An ELT will continue to send a distress signal as long as its batteries last, sometimes 3 or 4 days. But search and rescue crews will only get a signal from the ELT is they establish a direct line of site with the aircraft carrying the ELT, and direct line of sight can be difficult to establish. For example when a Hawaii Air Ambulance went down on Mauna Loa in January, 2004 it took Coast Guard search planes two days to get in the proper position to hear the signal.

"In this case what we're doing is flying the C-130's at elevation. We flew them four times. We flew them over the Big Island and essentially we asked commercial air liners as well to listen for the signal," said Coast Guard Lt. John Titchen.

Pilots say when you need one, an ELT is the most important piece of equipment on a plane. But that line of sight limitation means they are not always effective, so they are being fazed out in favor more reliable GPS locator devices.


Twitter!Digg!Reddit!Del.icio.us!Google!Facebook!Slashdot!Technorati!StumbleUpon!Newsvine!Furl!Fark!Yahoo!Ma.gnolia!
Last Updated ( June 18, 2008 07:10 PM )
 

KGMB9 Developing News - Powered by Zippy's
Swine Flu Developments
Sunrise on KGMB9 - Powered by HMSA's Online Care
The KGMB9 Blogroll
Locate the Car You Want at the Price You Want
Advertisement

Sunrise on KGMB9

Sunrise on KGMB9
Weekdays 4:30-8am

Have you heard? Dan Cooke is joining the Sunrise crew as the new Weather Anchor! Dan will be here later this summer. Until then, Malika Dudley and Ben Gutierrez will share the Sunrise weather responsibilities - weekday mornings on the 9s!

Wake Up With Us

KGMB9.com Interactive

Storm Patrol
KGMB9's Storm Patrol

Be a part of KGMB9's Storm Patrol and tell us the weather in your neighborhood. We want video and pictures straight from you.

Join the Team

KGMB9.com on Twitter

Follow KGMB9.com on Twitter
KGMB9.com is now on Twitter

KGMB9 Interactive has been meaning to write up something to explain what Twitter is and why we have been using it.

Follow KGMB9.com

hawaii.womf.com

hawaii.womf.com
Hawaii's New
Word of Mouth Forum

Have a favorite local business or service? Share your experiences with them on the new Word of Mouth Forum and help Hawaii's businesses thrive in this challenging economy.

Make Your Voice Heard

KGMB9 News

Why Did the Anchor Cross the Road?
Tannya Joaquin Joins
KGMB9 News at 5 & 6

KGMB9 welcomes Tannya Joaquin the anchor desk weeknights at 5 & 6 p.m. Still curious on why the anchor crossed the road? Let Tannya explain...

Find Out!

bottom rounded corners