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5 – EMERGENCY PROCEDURES
emergency activation
In situationswhere you are forced touse a distress beacon that is not
certified for use inwater, ensure that the beacon is kept dry. The beacon
should operate successfully from inside a plastic bag.
For operations over LAND youwill get the best performance from a distress
beacon operating from its permanent installation in the aircraft or from
operating it on the ground on anEARTHMAT.
AnEARTHMAT canbe aSPACEBLANKETor similarmaterial with a reflective
surface.
A simple inexpensive earthmat canbemadeby joininghousehold
ALUMINIUM FOIL tomake a 120 cm square. It is suggested that, if you carry
a distress beacon youmake a foil earthmat, fold it and tape it to your distress
beacon. To use the earthmat, unfold it and place it flat on the ground, holding
the edges downwith rocks or earth. Switchon your distress beacon and
place in the centre of theearthmat, alternatively place thedistress beaconon
wing of aircraft.
INMANYCASES, USINGANEARTHMATWILL INCREASETHEEFFECTIVE
RANGEOFYOURDISTRESSBEACON.