Getting Found and Getting Out: ELTs, Equipment and Egress

The emergency locator transmitter (ELT) is your automatic call for help: it transmits a distress signal after a crash to guide search and rescue. Older ELTs transmit on 121.5 MHz, while modern 406 MHz units send a digital signal to satellites with far better location accuracy and aircraft identification. It is good practice to monitor 121.5 when able, and to confirm after a hard landing that the ELT was not set off by accident. Equally important is preparation for egress. Before flight the pilot should know where the emergency equipment is and how to use it — fire extinguisher, first-aid kit, survival gear, and life vests over water — and brief passengers on seatbelts, the doors, and how to get out. After an off-airport landing, the sequence is to stop the aircraft, shut down the fuel and electrical systems to reduce the fire risk, and get everyone clear of the wreckage. Planning these actions in advance means they happen automatically when they matter most.