LA Series Fixed Aircraft Homer

Module 10

of

CASARA ELT Training Plan

Air Search

La-Series-Homer

A/C External AntennasPermanent Roof mount installation

STRENGTHDIRECTIONFREQUENCY SENSITIVITY

VOLUME

ALARM SWITCH-DOWN

FUNCTIONAL CHECK

The effectiveness of the electronic homer should be confirmed using a hand held radio on the appropriate frequency.

WARNING! USE OF HIGH-POWER TRANSMITTERS CLOSE TO THE DF ANTENNAE CAN DAMAGE THE UNIT.

ELT TESTER SHOULD BE KEPT AT LEAST 50 FEET AWAY FROM THE ANTENNAE WHEN USING TO TEST

La-SeriesFUNCTIONAL CHECK - WITH TRANSMITTER AND ACFT ON THE GROUND

FREQ – 123.10 MHZ

SENS - MIN . VOL – MID SCALE

ALARM – TOGGLE OFF (DOWN)

VOL -ON

SENS - ADJUST UNTIL AUDIBLE

FUNCTIONAL CHECK PARK AIRCRAFT IN THE OPEN, AWAY FROM METAL BUILDINGS WITH TRANSMITTER AT LEAST 50 FEET IN FRONT OF AND 15-30 DEGREES TO ONE SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

DF NEEDLE SHOULD POINT TOWARD THE TRANSMITTER.

FUNCTIONAL CHECK

PERSONNEL TO MOVE TRANSMITTER TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

DF NEEDLE SHOULD FOLLOW TRANSMITTER.

NEEDLE MAY NOT CENTER WITH TEST TRANSMITTER DIRECTLY FORE OR AFT.

DF OK IF THE NEEDLE POINTS CORRECTLY WHEN THE TRANSMITTER IS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AIRCRAFT.

SENS – TURN CLOCKWISE. (STRENGTH NEEDLE SHOULD MOVE)

FUNCTIONAL CHECK

La-Series FUNCTIONAL CHECK - NO

TRANSMITTER

FREQ - 121.5 MHZ- 123.10 TRAINING

ALARM - TOGGLE OFF (DOWN)

SENS – MAX VOL -ON

CHECK SIGNAL STRENGTH (HISSING SOUND ON AUDIO, SIGNAL

STRENGTH NEEDLE ¼ TO ½ WAY BETWEEN CENTER AND LEFT END.

DF NEEDLE CENTERED.

SENS – MIN, THEN MAX (DF NEEDLE SHOULD MOVE SLOWLY AND

RANDOMLY BACK AND FORTH.) CHECK AUDIO FOR BACKGROUND NOISE.

La-Series✔FLIGHT OPERATION

FREQ - 121.5 MHZ / 123.10 MHZ (TRAINING MISSIONS)

ALARM – TOGGLE OFF (DOWN)

SENS – MAX

VOL – MID SCALE

DF NEEDLE MOVES SLIGHTLY LEFT AND RIGHT

Signal Detected

• Complete 360 degree turn.• Check for 2 centers - DF ambiguity.• Note; TIME, ALTITUDE, POSITION, and BEARING• If SENSITIVITY “needle” is near maximum, decrease the SENSitivity

control until the signal disappears , then increase it until the strength meter has an on scale reading.

• Do NOT decrease the VOLume control to reduce signal strength. .• Maintain comfortable volume.• Banking of the aircraft will cause the needle to swing so bearings should be

taken with the aircraft level and steady.• Fly tracks with needle centered at all times.

ELT Homer Operation• Changing SENSITIVITY control will also affect

the “swing” of the needle so changes should be made in stages and not constantly. The aim is to keep the needle as sensitive as possible without letting it swing to either end of the meter.

STRENGTHDIRECTIONFREQUENCY SENSITIVITY

VOLUME

ALARM SWITCH-DOWN

STRENGTHDIRECTIONFREQUENCY SENSITIVITY

VOLUME

ALARM SWITCH-DOWN

ELT Homer Operation• As you get close to the “On-Top” put the

VOLUME / SENSITIVITY at a suitable level and leave it there

STRENGTHDIRECTIONFREQUENCY SENSITIVITY

VOLUME

ALARM SWITCH-DOWN

ELT Homer Operation

• Minimize your heading changes as well.• Try to identify the “On Top” by the change in

volume and any unusual movement of the needle.

Boxing the target (air)

Fly second track perpendicular to first starting roughly in the centre of probable target area.

Keep the needle centered

ELT Homer Operation

• Once you assess an “On Top”, call it out and mark the position on the GPS.

• Continue on the track just to confirm that this was the “On Top”.

• To confirm and refine the position, conduct a second homing from a 90 degree position. Regardless of the “On Top”, the ELT should be close to where where the two tracks cross.

Boxing the target (air)

Signal strength increasing,Needle moderately sensitive

Fly tracks with needle centered at all times

Boxing the target (air)

Signal strength very high,Needle very sensitive.

Brief turns can be used to confirm station passage.

Boxing the target (air)

Signal strength decreasing,Needle less sensitive.

Boxing the target (air)

Probable target area

Boxing the target (air)Intersection of tracks is target location

Keep the needle centered

Boxing the target (air)Additional tracks will refine target location,

reducing search altitude will also narrow the area.

Some error will still exist due to search altitude, local terrain, and ELT position.

Call in NOCL

• Contact Searchmaster, JRCC.• Give NOCL.• Turn on landing light.• Orbit site{SHALLOW BANK no

more than 30 degrees} and give aid to ground teams if in area to locate site.

• If rescue aircraft arriving on scene establish communication and maintain higher orbit to guide rescue aircraft to scene if required.

• Stay on site until released, BINGO time or weather situation.

• May be required to stay on scene as communication platform for rescue party.

ELT LocatedRescue Situation -Air

ELT LocatedRescue Situation –Air

Who is flying the plane?

• Locating crash site can lead to situation where ALL crew members are looking outside to view site.

• Potential danger for collision, or stall.

• PILOT must concentrate on safe operation of aircraft at all times.

• Spotter to keep site in view.

Information Sources

• www.ltronics.com (Maker of Little L-Per)

• www.CAP-ES.net (Scott E Lanis) • CASARA TRAINING MANUAL

Practice and Experience

““THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE”THAT OTHERS MAY LIVE”

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