Personal Locator Beacon

When I  first learned to fly  in '67,  the situation I  feared most was "getting lost".  I have been temporarily unsure of my position many times in my 13,000 hour career, but only lost -- once. Rather than stay lost over southern Ontario, on that snowy day in'68,  I landed my C-150 on a farm driveway,  and turned around in front of the kitchen door as the family was having lunch. Pictures taken of all the children on the airplane, and information exchanged,  I flew on to my destination. The farmer told me later that from then on, the children always looked left when leaving the kitchen, hoping to see an airplane landing.
Two problems needed solving here: (1) I  was on a  Flight Plan and the Toronto controllers responsible for me, could not  identify me to help me get back on course......and (2) if  I did not arrive, no one would know where to look.
Happily, there  was somewhere to land and  someone to ask.

The Mosquito "L" Model has a dual package Global Positioning System (GPS) and Personal Locator  Beacon (PLB) -- one on each flight control. The PLB makes flight following by Air Traffic services unnecessary. The GPS position is constantly relayed to the PLB so that in the event of a crash or even a landing somewhere out of fuel, two seconds after the  "Activate"  button is pushed  by the thumb of the left hand, the exact position of the aircraft is relayed by satellite to CFB Trenton Rescue Coordinaton  Center, or any other Rescue Coordination Center that you register with. They  have a list of family to call, to whom, ( it is assumed) you would have communicated your flight plans. That is your part : Inform your family members or a  trusted friend just what you are planning. Fully informed then, the search would  go directly to your  Lat /Long position on their satellite plot.

So rather than fly at the altitude necessary to give a position report to Air Traffic Services, you never have to talk to them. You can fly at any altitude that is safe for an autorotation knowing that the PLB will bring help  to your position  povided  you "Activate" when any trouble arises. Even if  you are scared, lost and  running low on fuel, if you "Activate" you bave asked that help "Standby".  No one will go home or launch a search until you have either communicated you are safe,  or your satellite  position stops moving .