Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:31 pmPage 1 of 1
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 2:31 pmPosted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:32 pmcan i ask why you think its such a bad idea? although it wouldn't be cheap, it would be a useful safety measure.
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 5:36 pmWhy not?
New Zealands terrain is rugged and its bush dense so searching in those conditions is worst than finding a needle in a haystack. Believe me you can go over the same area twice from the ground or Air and miss something just feet away from you.
Like the story says VHF comms in New Zealand is patchy at best, I know I have worked in rugged conditions in the South Island and even in the North you can be just a few kms from a reapeater station and find a comms Black hole.
Only thing that is certain is that UP will give you the best line of sight when you need it and GPS is the way to go! Not just money will be saved but lives consider the cost in the event of a Search and Rescue against the small change cost of GPS!
Cellphones are not the answer with 95% of the population of New Zealanders covered but what they forget to mention is cellphone coverage accounts for 25% of the Land mass of New Zealand. I have lost count of the people I know who have gone into the bush with a cellphone then wondered why it dont work. By all means carry one but dont really on it.
Its not the perfect solution but the more systems in place that cover UHF and VHF recievers the better your survival Chances.
New Zealands terrain is rugged and its bush dense so searching in those conditions is worst than finding a needle in a haystack. Believe me you can go over the same area twice from the ground or Air and miss something just feet away from you.
Like the story says VHF comms in New Zealand is patchy at best, I know I have worked in rugged conditions in the South Island and even in the North you can be just a few kms from a reapeater station and find a comms Black hole.
Only thing that is certain is that UP will give you the best line of sight when you need it and GPS is the way to go! Not just money will be saved but lives consider the cost in the event of a Search and Rescue against the small change cost of GPS!
Cellphones are not the answer with 95% of the population of New Zealanders covered but what they forget to mention is cellphone coverage accounts for 25% of the Land mass of New Zealand. I have lost count of the people I know who have gone into the bush with a cellphone then wondered why it dont work. By all means carry one but dont really on it.
Its not the perfect solution but the more systems in place that cover UHF and VHF recievers the better your survival Chances.
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:14 pmWell I was basically thinking of the cost side of it, good points though. What about training aircraft though? My Aeroclub's tecnams are usually working within 20nm of the airport, so would the rule apply to them?
In a way it's slightly like the dog chipping laws.
In a way it's slightly like the dog chipping laws.
Posted: Sun Aug 06, 2006 8:39 pmmonkeybdg wrote: Well I was basically thinking of the cost side of it, good points though. What about training aircraft though? My Aeroclub's tecnams are usually working within 20nm of the airport, so would the rule apply to them?
In a way it's slightly like the dog chipping laws.
Point 1, What price do you put on saving a life? Even at 20nm from a Airport in New Zealand you can still come down and find a dense patch of Bush that will swallow you up. Example being Micheal Ercegs Helicopter!
Point 2, Well slightly off topic and political! I totally agree with the chipping of all dogs no exemptions. Why because both my parents dogs came over from the UK and had to have microchips before being allowed into New Zealand. Made us laugh as at the time the wanganui and Ruapehu Council did not know anything about Dog Chipping (18months ago).
Want a example try the Photo Driving License being forced in over a 12 month period replacing Lifetime Licenses with a 10 year photo licence.
Back to topic if it saves lives and makes SAR easier then I am all for it!
Posted: Thu Aug 10, 2006 8:57 amThey tried this in Alaska, too. GPS systems (and more) in every aircraft. Sadly, most couldn't afford it, and the FAA didn't enforce it, and so we end up with the same situation we were in before.
Oh, well.
One more week, and we're in NZ!
Oh, well.
One more week, and we're in NZ!