The International Cessna^® 170 Association

I have an old SHARC 7 ELT that I probably would not trust my life to. I replace the batteries when required to meet the legal requirements but I wonder if it would even activate and if it did, it's on the old frequency. I have read that the statistics are not in my favor of being located. I do carry a PLB whenever I fly.

First question. I am thinking about replacing it. If you were to buy a new ELT now days, which one would you recommend? I heard Ameriking had some issues with their TSO/PMA certification.


Second question. The old SHARC was mounted on the hat rack. I would like to relocate it out of the way. Where is the best place to mount it and how is yours secured?

Living in Nampa I'd ask the guys at MAF. I've had the same question concerning the most "survivable" location for the ELT and the ELT antenna. Years ago, if I recall correctly, MAF installed the ELT antenna in the dorsal fin. For what it's worth I included Cessnas instructions for ELT installation here.

nippaero wrote:I have an old SHARC 7 ELT that I probably would not trust my life to. I replace the batteries when required to meet the legal requirements but I wonder if it would even activate and if it did, it's on the old frequency. I have read that the statistics are not in my favor of being located. I do carry a PLB whenever I fly.

First question. I am thinking about replacing it. If you were to buy a new ELT now days, which one would you recommend? I heard Ameriking had some issues with their TSO/PMA certification.


Second question. The old SHARC was mounted on the hat rack. I would like to relocate it out of the way. Where is the best place to mount it and how is yours secured?

This is supposed to be checked every year at annual. you remove the elt from its mount and you hold it in one hand and hurl it toward your other hand. The other hand grabs your wrist which will indicate sudden stoppage. The ELT should go transmit. You turn on a radio set to 121.500 and listen for the ELT. You only do this test at the top of the hour plus or minus 5 minutes. You reset the elt once the function check is good. Do not test this any other time other then the top of the hour. It causes a lot of grief for those who listen for it. Doug

canav8 wrote:

nippaero wrote:I have an old SHARC 7 ELT that I probably would not trust my life to. I replace the batteries when required to meet the legal requirements but I wonder if it would even activate and if it did, it's on the old frequency. I have read that the statistics are not in my favor of being located. I do carry a PLB whenever I fly.

First question. I am thinking about replacing it. If you were to buy a new ELT now days, which one would you recommend? I heard Ameriking had some issues with their TSO/PMA certification.


Second question. The old SHARC was mounted on the hat rack. I would like to relocate it out of the way. Where is the best place to mount it and how is yours secured?

This is supposed to be checked every year at annual. you remove the elt from its mount and you hold it in one hand and hurl it toward your other hand. The other hand grabs your wrist which will indicate sudden stoppage. The ELT should go transmit. You turn on a radio set to 121.500 and listen for the ELT. You only do this test at the top of the hour plus or minus 5 minutes. You reset the elt once the function check is good. Do not test this any other time other then the top of the hour. It causes a lot of grief for those who listen for it. Doug

No one is listening anymore..................... I don't care what time it is.. I'm such a bandit!

That test is a good one, and also the integrity of the antenna should be tested. (Simple method, use an AM radio and hold it within a foot of your ELT antenna during the manual activation while installed in the aircraft. The AM radio (amplitude modulation) should pick up the "bleed-over" ELT signal.

The FAR 91.207(d) stipulates that the ELT must be tested in accordance with these sort of tests at least annually. A "ramp check" of my aircraft by a local FSDO inspector noted that 91.2078(d) should be noted in the annual inspection tasks, and it is best to also be recorded as accomplished in the record/logbook. I insist upon it being logged each year.

http://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?SI ... 7&rgn=div8