Chapter 10

“Swissair 391, I’m switching to the en route frequency over this area, one twenty-six point nine. Over.” The ELT was an electronic locator transmitter which was set to broadcast on emergency frequencies one twenty-one point five and two forty-three point zero megahertz. All commercial aircraft were required to monitor either of these frequencies during en route travel. I thought for a few minutes and figured I could get an idea of the source from readings obtained by aircraft within my zone.

“Roger Elk Pond, switching over, as well.”

“All aircraft, this is Elk Pond radio. Swissair 391 is reporting ELT in this vicinity. Please, manually set your VOR to one twenty-one point five, long enough to get a reading on the signal direction. I’d like to get vectors from anyone passing this station, over.”