While researching this article we found lots of available data. Unfortunately, no two sources provided even remotely the same figures. We stated that the second generation of 121.5 MHz ELTs achieved about a 73-percent activation rate, while the new 406 MHz units upped that to approximately 82 percent. This data came from a position paper published by the AOPA.rnAnother paper we found was published by Gliding International, a news and information publication for glider pilots produced by New Zealander John Roake. This paper cites NTSB statistics indicating that in actual crashes the ELT operated only 25 percent of the time and that 406 MHz beacons are no better.
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