Sequoia Helicopters selects Becker emergency beacon locator for SAR ops

Sequoia Helicopters selects Becker emergency beacon locator for SAR ops

19-Nov-2012 Source: Becker Avionics

Becker Avionics is pleased to announce the selection of its new airborne BD406 Beacon Decoder by Sequoia Helicopters for their MD 530F Helicopter.

Sequoia Helicopters, located in El Dorado County, CA volunteers its MD 530F Helicopter for use in conjunction with the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department Aero Squadron, under the command of Sheriff John D’Agostini and Aero Squadron Commander Stewart Wilson.

Owner/Pilot Robert Reish, a former USAF Search & Rescue pilot, installed the Becker BD406 Beacon Decoder to greatly improve Search & Rescue capability by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department, which is in keeping with the USAF Search & Rescue mission, “That other’s may live.”

The Becker Avionics Emergency Beacon Locator or Beacon Decoder, BD406, provides a unique tool for SAR organizations on land, on water and in the air. The high-performance product can be used in a fixed installation or as a portable receiver developed specifically to decode and navigate to 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat capable beacons (PLB’s, SPLB’s, ELT’s or EPIRB’s), transmitting the 406 MHz signal with GPS information. The need to detect and locate downed aircrew, mariners and adventurers has always existed. Not being able to accurately pin-point both aircraft and crew can sometimes result in lengthy and costly search operations, which can typically engage a number of Search and Rescue (SAR) assets. Fortunately, the new BD406 product from Becker provides the ability to directly decode the transmitted GPS location of a 406 MHz beacon data burst at long distances. Due to its lightweight and compact size, the Becker BD406 offers maximum flexibility for installation, while providing the latest geo-location technology.

Brett Gardner, Director of Sales and Marketing stated, “The new BD406 provides an immense improvement in identifying the precise location of a distress beacon when compared to older direction finding systems, in addition to a much lower hardware cost.” He continued, “With the increased population of 406 MHz beacons worldwide, including those with embedded GPS, there exists an urgent requirement for land or airborne SAR organizations, to be able to utilize their available rescue resources more effectively. Our BD406 product will help with that need by allowing direct, real-time reception of a Beacon GPS positions during rescue missions.”

The Becker BD406 comes in two varieties; a panel mounted 2.25″ instrument, or as a mobile battery-powered portable unit. The decoder can display location data on it’s self-contained LCD display, or on a cockpit display or integrated aircraft EFIS display, via the ARINC 429 output, while also displaying the bearing and distance to the selected beacon. The decoded GPS position is not degraded by poor RF signal quality and therefore improves navigation accuracy and reliability during rescue missions. The BD406 can track and identify up to 49 individual beacon codes, and will display the 15 digit C/S Hex ID Code to enable rescue services to effectively allocate resources accordingly in trying to find the distress beacon.

Beacon Decoder (BD) 406    

As mentioned previously, the high-performance “BD406” is a fixed installed or portable receiver developed specifically to decode and navigate to 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat capable beacons (PLB’s, SPLB’s, ELT’s or EPIRB’s) transmitting the 406 MHz signal with GPS information. The Becker DB406 provides the ability to directly decode the transmitted GPS location of a 406 MHz beacon data burst.

Also, the BD406 is a single block, lightweight unit with easy to use mode and scroll functions, all incorporated into an easy to read backlit LCD graphics display.

Features:

  • Real-time 406 MHz beacon monitoring by scanning up to 16 channels
  • Receiving the whole 406 MHz Cospas-Sarsat band and decodes the full distress message
  • Single block, self-contained stand alone system design
  • Indicates the elapsed time since last message was received in seconds
  • Sensitivity > – 104 dBm / 1.4 µV / 50 ohm => more than 50NM range with standard beacons
  • Computes and indicates via GPS the navigation route to the emergency beacons and back to hospitals
  • Tracks and identifies each target beacon (up to 49 targets) and displays the 15 digit C/S Hex ID Code
  • Qualified according to DO-160D standards
  • NVG-backlit (Optional) and full day light readable LCD display
  • Low life cycle costs – essentially maintenance free
  • Lightweight, weight less than 2.4 lbs / 1.1 kg for fixed unit (BD406)
  • Power 9 V DC to 36 V DC (panel mounted) and AC adapter for portable system (PBD406)
  • ARINC 429, RS422, RS 232 output (BD406 only) or relative bearing

The Becker BD406 & PBD406 are revolutionary new products that promise to improve the effectiveness and capabilities of search and rescue organizations, along with helping reduce beacon false alarms at airport and seaport locations.

Becker Avionics

Becker Avionics is a privately held high-tech company that develops, manufactures and distributes the latest communications, navigation, surveillance and search & rescue equipment for airborne and ground applications.

Becker Avionics has a longstanding history of over 50 years in providing equipment to General and Corporate Aviation, ATC, law enforcement and military organizations around the world. In order to support international market requirements the Company has established branches around the world. Becker Avionics supports an extensive customer base, such as, but not limited to

Eurocopter, EADS, Airbus, British Aerospace, ATR, CASA, RUAG, Xi’an Aircraft Corporation, AgustaWestland, Pilatus, German Air Force, Navy and Army, German Border Patrol, German Police, Austrian Army and Police, Swiss Air Force, Dutch Police, Security Civil, Irish Air Corps, Egyptian Navy, Indonesian Navy, Portuguese Air Force, US Army, US Air Force, US Navy and US Auxiliary Civil Air Patrol, etc.

For more information see: www.beckerusa.com or www.becker-avionics.com.

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