Elt Antenna

[1938BF50]

In talking with the owner of the T-Craft I am buying (after annual), he commented that he was asked to mount an external antenna for the ELT and that he was told he has to mount an indicator light (elt) on the dash. What are you guys with the antiques doing to mount an antenna. This plane is about as original a 1938 as they get and I don't want to spoil anything in mounting the antenna. Any thoughts?

[Dano"T"]

Re: Elt Antenna

That's the first I heard of that! None of mine have an external antenna or indicator light....you better check that one out.

[Dick Smith]

Re: Elt Antenna

You might have your mechanic check this setup...very common up here. You will notice in the section about features, it mentions no external antenna and no external cabling.

http://www.lifesupportintl.com/EBC-502.htm

Dick

[1938BF50]

Re: Elt Antenna

That's the first I heard of that! None of mine have an external antenna or indicator light....you better check that one out.

Dano...Where are you in Iron Mtn? I lived there for 10 years out on Merriman West. Used to fly quite a bit with Wayne Peterson (Pete). Did you ever get to meet Mario Fontana before he passed away? I was lucky enough to have set down 1:1 with him several times. He was good friends with all the "greats" and I remember him showing me personal corrspondence from C.G. Taylor and Bill Piper. Whenever Henry Ford landed in Kingsford it was Mario that refueled his plane from unopened 55 gal drums. Ford would watch him break the seal on the drums before fueling. I sure miss that area! Hope to retire back to the Copper County when the time comes.

Mike Cushway

[Dano"T"]

Re: Elt Antenna

I'm actually in Iron River now....I bought a house on Camp Lake near Ski Brule. I work at MJ Electric. I grew up in Ontonagon and I have a PVT Strip there with a hangar. I fly my BC12D-85 from my lake on floats/Skis now. My dad knew the Fontanas....Dad flew out of Marquette in the 50's & 60's and frequently flew to IMT with the Cub. If you ever get up this way PM me and we'll get together (we can do some float flying)....between my dad and I we have (4) T-Crafts and a J-3. Dad's J-3 and my BC-65 are projects now. There are some other small strips up here we could visit too....a new one in Ralph, and my strip in Ontonagon...they are short...but fun!

[3Dreaming]

Re: Elt Antenna

If you want give me a call on ELT installations from an A&P, IA perspective. Tom 618-393-2967

[barnstmr]

Re: Elt Antenna

If I can remember to do it this weekend, I will send a digital pic we took 2 yrs ago of the ELT installation in Lon's BC65. It has a small plywood floor attached behind the seat using adel clamps to the lower brace tubing. We manufactured a ground plane from sheet aluminum with ground strap to the fuselage frame. Antenna is installed on the aluminum ground plane vertically inside the fuselage behind the seat.

Also, take a look at FAA AC43.13-2A for guidance on ELT installations.

[Garry Crookham]

Re: Elt Antenna

Mike,
FAR 91.207 addresses ELT's. It says that after June 21, 1997 new ELT installations require the use of an ELT that has been certified to TSO C-91a, which requires the ELT to have a remote, panel mounted switch and indicator light, and for most installations an external antenna. Existing (meaning installed before 6-21-97) installations are not required to be upgraded with the following exception: if the current ELT becomes inoperable and cannot be repaired, or one of the same model cannot be obtained as a replacement for the inoperable ELT, then a TSO-C91a ELT will be required. As Terry mentions above, many antennas in fabric and composite aircraft are mounted inside the fuselage. If you are planning an antenna installation inside the fuselage it is best to check will the local FSDO, most have no problem with it but I have been involved with one install that became a paperwork nightmare.

Garry Crookham
N5112M
Tulsa

[barnstmr]

Re: Elt Antenna

Here's the photos I mentioned. The antenna is difficult to see. The black cable bundle for the remote light is tie-wrapped out of the way in this photo. We later routed it forward to the glove box for indicator light and toggle switch. These came with the install kit. Off hand, I cannot remember the make and model of this ELT.

[high time cub]

Re: Elt Antenna

Terry,
That looks like an Ameri-King AK450 ELT. The black bundled wire is the antenna coaxial cable. The remote control panel uses a lighter telephone type wire and plug (square receptacle to the right of the coaxial plug on ELT)
I can't remember what I did last week!
Jim

[flybikefarm]

Re: Elt Antenna

Here's my elt istallation. Ground plane as per part 43. George

[barnstmr]

Re: Elt Antenna

Hey Jim,
You're right. I guess I am getting old... my memory aint what it used to be. Anyway... I didn't make it out to the Hangar this weekend. I still plan to take a picture of the remote indicator light installation. Thanks for keeping me straight.

[1938BF50]

Re: Elt Antenna

Heres the scoop.....

Dear Mr. Cushway: Your e-mail to [email protected] was forwarded to me for response. You wanted to know if it is FAA mandate to have an ELT antenna mounted on the aircraft. Do you have an EBC ELT (EBC 102A, EBC 302-series, EBC 502?)? If so, these ELTs have an integral built-in antenna and there is no need for external antennas as long as it is mounted near the window so that the signal can radiate through the glass, and mounted in the cabin so that the pilot can retrieve it quickly if needed. The light on the panel is for tail-mounted ELTs, with the cable running to the panel light which is a monitor. The EBC-line of ELTs do not have a light on the panel, they have a test light on the ELT (in the well) so that you can test your ELT manually and see the light pulsating, letting you know it is working. The TSO C91a FAA specification is for a specific G-switch to be mounted onto the printed circuit board of the ELT, more environmentally stronger cases, and a monitor to let the pilot know if the ELT is going off inadvertently. A monitor could be that light on the panel you spoke of on tail mounted ELTs. We make our EBC 502 with an audible monitor sitting under it in the bracket, so we don't need a monitor/light on the panel. The audible monitor sits inside a long mounting bracket and the ELT sits on top of it with a connector. The monitor gives off a very loud beep if the ELT goes off inadvertently. You can see our ELTs on our website: emergencybeaconcorp.com.
Patricia M. Wyllie, V.P. Marketing & Sales for Emergency Beacon Corporation

[mulwyk]

Re: Elt Antenna

Patricia:

I have a EBC 102A. After reading your post I went straight out and gave it a big kiss right on its faceplate. Wonderful unit. Thank you!

Bob Gustafson