NZFF

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:31 pm**

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/3910343/Tw...ide-plane-crash

Surprised no one has mentioned this today. We always listen for ELT signals on 121.5 after our flights and I was tuned in at about 12.30pm, not sure why I didn't hear it- is it only audible in a localised range?

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 6:51 pm**

Be interesting to see what happened here , many years back we had a sailplane pilot in Canterbury recon could clear the ridge in Banks Peninsular , course the glider did not make it , pilot broke his legs and few other injuries , this the other hand , an engine .. looks like skill and experience saved both , mushing it out in the bush .

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:17 pm**

Isn't 121.5 the old ELT frequency?

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 7:45 pm**

Nope we still use 121.50, the new ELT's though you can just glance to see if the light is on if you can't be botherd to change to 121.50 before shutdown..

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 8:27 pm**

Thats the aircraft I have been using to learn how to fly and had great times in, what a shame

Picture above was taken by myself as you can see the call sign is ZK-EHY

And here is a link to a video I had created after a flight in ZK-EHY

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeQrUxazINE

Posted: **Mon Jul 12, 2010 9:04 pm**

I have flown this bird also. The new 406 MHz ELTs also transmit on 121.5 but the satelite monitoiring of 121.5 has ceased I understand.

Posted: **Tue Jul 13, 2010 9:13 pm**

GlennAV8R is correct. The ELT's transmit on 121.5MHz for initial detection by other aircraft and international towers (in this case Ohakea Tower heard it going off), 243MHz for military detection and 406MHz for the SARSAT system.

QUOTE

We always listen for ELT signals on 121.5 after our flights and I was tuned in at about 12.30pm, not sure why I didn't hear it- is it only audible in a localised range?[/quote] Whats the range of VHF comms Trolly??

Line of sight. I was tuned in at the time the signal was transmitting in the circuit at Palmy (Less than 40km away) and I even didnt hear it... The plane most likely went down at around 12.55pm anyway.

I was tuned in for most of the SAR operation and got the running updates from the Police SAR & Ambulance/Rescue Chopper Comms...Very professsional effort from all!

Chris its good airmanship to actually listen to 121.5 on shutdown as you may detect someone elses ELT...Tauranga Tower certainly wont hear it unless someone else lets them know that they can hear it.

NZFF

ZK-EHY Crash