| Q: |
What information should I include under Additonal Data |
| A: |
This will depend upon your primary use of the PLB:
If your primary use of the PLB will be in an aircraft, list at least the same information requested on the ELT registration form: Aircraft Registration Number, Manufacturer, Model, Color, Number of Seats, Radio Equipage and Primary Airport
If your primary use of the PLB will be on a boat, list at least the same information requested on the EPIRB registration form: Type of Vessel (Sail or Power) and what specific type (Sloop, Yawl, Schooner, Fishing, Cabin Cruiser, or whatever description is appropriate), Color (including sail color s) if applicable), Radio Equipage and Onboard Telephone types and phone numbers, Vessel Name and Call Sign, Federal or State Registration Number, Overall Length (feet), Capacity (crew and passengers) and Home Port.
You can include trip information as you would in the remarks section of a Flight Plan or in a Float Plan or a Backpacking Trip Plan. This can be updated online at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov for any trips you take. Don't forget to either date the information or remove/change it after you complete the flight, voyage or trip.
Note that for security reasons the transfer of data is not automatic and currently up to 24 hours can lapse between the time you enter your information online and its acceptance into the system. So, you should plan accordingly when entering trip information and know that last minute changes may take hours to be updated. That does limit its maximum utility somewhat, but it is still far better overall and in most respects than traditional means.
You may want to provide other information that could be useful to searchers such as survival and other distress signaling equipment carried, what type life raft on board, colors of clothing worn or tarps or tents carried, satellite phone number if carried, etc.
On the down side, NOAA has inexplicably limited this data field to only 255 characters total. So, type terse prose, use abbreviations when you can, making sure their meaning is still clear, and don't worry about punctuation or complete sentences.
|
| Date Created: 6/27/2003 |
Last Updated: 8/28/2003 |
|
|
Have you gotten your 406 MHz PLB or ELT yet?
![[Previous]](../icons/1left.gif){kind=icon}
![[Next]](../icons/1right.gif){kind=icon}