From left to right: Techtest 500 12Y ELT, ACR Electronics GyPSI 406 PLB, SERPE-IESM KANNAD 406 XS-2, McMurdo Pains Wessex FastFind Plus, Wireless Concepts MicroPLB.

by Douglas S. Ritter

The advantages of 406 MHz alerting over 121.5 MHz are significant and are proven lifesavers. For pilots, the disadvantage of 406 MHz ELTs has always been the expense as well as problems inherent in any fixed ELT installation. Neither is likely to change in the foreseeable future. But now, U.S. pilots have an alternative that provides the benefits of 406 MHz alerting at an affordable price compared to a 406 MHz installed ELT. It’s called a personal locator beacon, or PLB for short. …