ELT Testing

[Jerry Jacobs]

I have been disscussing a possible fundrasier with someone else at my squadron where we would test ELT's at a fly in.  If an ELT pass's the test no fee is charged, however if it fails we would get 5 dollars.  Does anyone have any experience with this?  What equipment would we have to use? http://www.edmo.com/index.php?module=products&func=displaycat&catid=627
Would we have any liablity issues?

[lordmonar]

How would you "test" and elt?

What would constitute a pass/fail?

All you need to test it would a radio on 121.5....and you can only test them for 10 minutes at the top of the hour IIRC.

[Jerry Jacobs]

Well tere are some things you cannot test with a 121.5 radio I believe such as digital transmissions on 406.

Fail would be a weak signal, not working at all, no tone, no 406 signal or outdated ELT.

[Frenchie]

Most of the aircraft you could expect in a fly-in are not going to have a 406 mhz ELT.  Here's what the AIM says about ELT testing:

6-2-5. Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT)

...

b. Testing.

1. ELTs should be tested in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions, preferably in a shielded or screened room or specially designed test container to prevent the broadcast of signals which could trigger a false alert.

2. When this cannot be done, aircraft operational testing is authorized as follows:

(a) Analog 121.5/243 MHz ELTs should only be tested during the first 5 minutes after any hour. If operational tests must be made outside of this period, they should be coordinated with the nearest FAA Control Tower or FSS. Tests should be no longer than three audible sweeps. If the antenna is removable, a dummy load should be substituted during test procedures.

(b) Digital 406 MHz ELTs should only be tested in accordance with the unit's manufacturer's instructions.

(c) Airborne tests are not authorized.

Assuming you don't have a shielding device or room, you're only going to be able to test one ELT per hour.  I doubt you'd get much interest anyway for a couple of reasons.  First, most people don't have a remote ELT test switch, so they would have to access their ELT which may be fairly difficult to get to.  Next, ELTs are tested at least once per year at the annual anyway or every 100 hours for aircraft that require 100 hour inspections.

[RiverAux]

Man, I certainly wouldn't be telling a pilot that his ELT was working without having a ton of insurance backing me up for when his family sues me when he dies after crashing and the ELT failed....

[bosshawk]

I suggest that you think of another way to raise funds.  As has already been pointed out, you can only test the first five minutes of each hour.  Then, you have the issue of getting to the ELT to activate it: some Pipers and a most of the newer aircraft have a remote ELT switch, so those are fairly easy to test.  Most other light aircraft have the ELT very craftily hidden in remote portions of the airframe.  If you are a left-handed Orangutan, you might get to the ELT within a half hour of unscrewing panels and taking things apart.  Otherwise, it is not very accessible to most people.  Also, as has been pointed out, the ELT is required to be tested at every annual inspection.  Just hope that the test was done.  I do my own, so I know that it works.

[MikeD]

Can you test them with an attenuator and a spectrum analyzer? 

Granted, a spectrum analyzer does cost a lot more money then I expect us to have.  But talk to your local university EE lab and see if they might be willing to let you use it in their lab under supervision.  It might be a good opportunity to give a couple of students some experience. 

The upside is that there is very little RF leakage to the outside world.  The downside is that you need to figure out how to see if an ELT is working based on the test device...   

[wingnut]

I think you need to think of another way to make money, it is obvious you know little about radios, your not a certified avionics technician so you have no business messing around with an aircraft, if you damage the aircraft in any way CAP may be Liable. Best you sell hotdogs

[RiverAux]

Plane Wash!

[Eclipse]

Plane Wash!

Yeah - those are worse.  Break a static wick and your day is down the tubes, do something worse and it could be a lean year.

The airports around here won't allow it because of the mess and the fact that they do them at a good profit.

As mentioned, certifying, even in the most general sense, that an ELT is working puts CAP in a business we don't belong in, not to mention the possibility of actually damaging the ELT during the test.

[mikeylikey]

^ I don't think CAP allows it either.  How about selling Cans of soda or other "snacks".  Those are always popular at fly-ins.