australianflying.com.au 63
January - February 2015 AUSTRALIAN FLYINGand GPS location back to the
user’s nominated contacts via
email and/or SMS. When linked
via Bluetooth to a Smartphone
or tablet more complex email
messages, and updates can be sent.
Claimed battery life is up to 12
months or 2000 transmissions
on a single charge, and the unit
is waterproof 1/30, dust and
impact resistant. Four versions
are available; basic, standard,
professional and corporate.
Subscription costs are monthly
line rental but only the months of
use, plus purchase of credits for
messaging. At time of writing the
manufacturer advised integration
of YB3 with FlightAware live
tracking was almost complete.
RRP: $619-869 (Corporate POA)
RockSTAR Rock 7
Professional
RockSTAR allows the user to send
and receive messages and the tracker
will wake up on a regular basis as often
as 5 seconds, obtain a position using
the GPS satellite network, and then
transmit back to Rock Seven HQ
for display on a web viewer. The alert
button enables an urgent message
to go to a nominated point. Social
media updates, SMS and short emails
can be sent using a paired Bluetooth
device such as a Smartphone and
the Messenger application. The fee
structure and battery life parallels
Yellowbrick. RRP: $860
RockFLEET
Professional
RockFLEET is a robust, fixed
device with multiple mounting
options which operates as a GPS
tracker, with battery back-up, data
transfer capability and Bluetooth
connectivity for i0S and Android
devices.In October 2014 RockSTAR
partnered with FlightAware to
provide enhanced live flight tracking.
This also offers users flight manifests
and route analysis. Daniel Baker,
CEO of FlightAware, said: “Our new
partnership with Rock Seven provides
business aircraft operators with a
cost-effective tracking solution with
the RockSTAR and RockFLEET
Iridium units.” RRP: $949
Spidertracks
Spider S3S3 is compact with an integrated
keypad. The pilot can manually
send preset notifications. Pressing
the SOS button immediately
sends text and email alerts.
Watch mode is commenced by
pushing that button, or can be
auto-configured to send position
reports at least every 2 minutes
and if Spider stops transmitting,
the system sends SOS messages
by text and email to support
people. Plan costs are based on
hours f lown and the monthly
fee includes a quota of position
reports, with a small fee per extra
report. RRP: $USD 995Spidertracks
Spider S5
S5 has all the S3 features plus
Spidertxt Bluetooth capability to
link to a Smartphone and from
anywhere send custom SMS
messages to mobiles that may also
reply to the messages. $USD 1795Locator beacons
A last known position will find
the crash site, not necessarily
moving survivors. A personal
locator beacon (PLB) regularly
updates location plus a 121.5
MHz aircraft radio homing signal
for minimum 24 hours. C O S PA S -
SARSAT, which provides the
PLB/EPIR B/ELT beacon
reporting system, is upgrading
under the title MEOSAR to
facilitate beacon enhancements,
such as return link transmission
enabling the beacon to provide
confirmation that someone
received the distress message.
There are coverage gaps or delays
with current constellations.
John Ophel of AMSA said:
“The MEOSAR system will be
able to generate a location for a
beacon sooner and with more
accuracy than the existing system.
AMSA has signed a contract to
have MEOSAR satellite tracking
equipment installed in Australia.”
AMSA advises MEOSAR will
detect beacons in almost real-time(within five minutes). When the
MEOSAR constellation is complete,
location will be determined within
10 minutes, 95% of the time.
Ophel spoke of beacon
improvements in the forthcoming
second-generation specification.
“COSPAS-SARSAT is working
on a new generation of beacons
with increased performance and
functionality. Current beacons
transmit every 50 seconds and take
50 seconds for the first burst to be
transmitted. In contrast, second-
generation beacons will have an
intelligent transmission schedule
that will transmit sooner (possibly
within three seconds of activation)
and will transmit more bursts inthe first hours that the beacon is
active to increase the chances of
the beacon being detected and a
location generated sooner than
with existing beacons.”
Australia has around 450,000
operational distress beacons. During
2012, beacons saved 283 lives.
GME produces the popular
MT410G PLB, but Marketing
Manager Brad Darch believes
that PLBs and tracking systems
complement each other, rather than
be strictly opposed.
“There is certainly a place for
both technologies in aviation, but
for different purposes,” he says.
“The technology used in each is
significantly different, and in the endSPIDERTRACKSYB TRACKING1 GME ’s MT410 G is one of the most
popular PLBs available toda y.
Standby for MEOSAR upgrades!
2 Spot GEN3 enables GPS tracking
and reporting.
3 Yel lowbr ic k 3 is capable of
sending complex messages.
4 Spidertracks has been cited by
ICAO as an economic system for
tracking aircraft.3
4