Anyone had a REAL Emergency?

[trueblue40]

I was looking at a couple of E's and EM's on ebay yesterday and got to wondering if anyone on these forums knows of an occasion when an E or EM owner has had to use the distress transmitter for real.

Anyone got a real life story to tell on how their Breitling saved their lives?

Sorry if this has been bought up already :oops:

Regards
Nick

[razcob]

I've read a story of a sea rescue that was credited with the use of a Breitling Emergency. I think the Emergency is a beautiful watch, but I doubt many pilots have had a chance to activate the antenna, due to the fatality/injury rate.

[Kurt Koerfgen]

I think the Emergency is a beautiful watch, but I doubt many pilots have had a chance to activate the antenna, due to the fatality/injury rate.



Sorry, I don't get it; what are your trying to say with "due to the fatality/injury rate"?

Do you imply that after a forced or precautionary landing people are either dead, or too incapacitated to activate the emergency function?


While emergency transmitters in Breitling watches are not considered official on-board emergency equipment and as such cannot replace any officially mandated equipment, they nevertheless may prove useful in General Aviation.

General Aviation is dominated by single engine airplanes and the chance of a power loss on a single engine airplane away from a normally used landing site cannot be discounted.

Contrary to what many non-pilots may believe, these landings are highly survivable and simulated engine failures on single engine airplanes are in fact part of novice pilot's training syllabus.


While we may debate the effectiveness or usefulness of Breitling emergency transmitters (which I personally rate fairly low), the argument that people are too incapacitated after an emergency landing to use it is not based on statistical evidence.





Kurt

[FrogmanFreak]

i guess the emergency is also used as a backup incase you are separated from your aircraft due to unforeseen circumstances.

if you are in a maritime emergency, are you able to use this?

[trueblue40]

if you are in a maritime emergency, are you able to use this?

I don't know the rules, regarding deployment of the transmitter, but i am not just enquiring about aviation accidents. There are many stories of people becoming lost/injured in deserts, on mountains and at sea etc.

Surely ANY life threatening situation whether on land, air or sea, -where the transmitter is the only hope of being found would permit it's use.

[razcob]

Sorry, I don't get it; what are your trying to say with "due to the fatality/injury rate"?

Do you imply that after a forced or precautionary landing people are either dead, or too incapacitated to activate the emergency function?

While emergency transmitters in Breitling watches are not considered official on-board emergency equipment and as such cannot replace any officially mandated equipment, they nevertheless may prove useful in General Aviation.

General Aviation is dominated by single engine airplanes and the chance of a power loss on a single engine airplane away from a normally used landing site cannot be discounted.

Contrary to what many non-pilots may believe, these landings are highly survivable and simulated engine failures on single engine airplanes are in fact part of novice pilot's training syllabus.

While we may debate the effectiveness or usefulness of Breitling emergency transmitters (which I personally rate fairly low), the argument that people are too incapacitated after an emergency landing to use it is not based on statistical evidence.

Kurt

I was referring to pilots as they were listed as having the third most dangerous job and having the third highest occupational fatality rate in the U.S.; 70 per 100000, which according to one report http://www.menatrisk.org/health/dangerousjobs.html was 1 death short of tying the second place Fisherman. So, if you are dead then you aren't activating your Breitling.

[letsjet]

i guess the emergency is also used as a backup incase you are separated from your aircraft due to unforeseen circumstances.

if you are in a maritime emergency, are you able to use this?

In a true emergency you are allowed to use any and all means to stay alive. If I was wearing an Emergency and I was in a life threatening situation in the mountains with search planes over head, I'd pull the transmitter without hesitation.

I can just picture an Emergency wearer frozen dead from exposure reading the Breitling manual stating only use in an aviation emergency......sure....

Seriously though, if you want a real primary device purchase a PLB and stay within your safe boundaries.

An Emergency should only be considered a backup device for a little redundancy.

I realize this is a bit off thread topic, but it went astray before I got here.

[eqdok2007]

I found this written up in Breitling's Wikipedia article. The report is here:
http://www.timezone.com/library/news/news631795494389687500


Reuters reports that earlier this week, two British pilots, Squadron Ldr. Steve Brooks and Flight Lt. Hugh Quentin-Smith, crashed their helicopter in Antarctica and were rescued after activating their Breitling Emergency transmitter watches.

The two pilots were in their lifeboat when a Chilean Otter aircraft found them after homing-in on signals from their watches.

The Breitling Emergency watch contains a micro-transmitter, which is programmed to transmit on the international aviation distress frequency of 121.5 MHz.

1/30/03

I have no doubt there are a lot more of these rescues that have involved the Breitling Emergency. Also Steve Fossett wasn't carrying one when he went missing...

[Lou]

My phiolsophy is simple, if it saved my life, and meant that i got back to my kids and wife, and breitling refused to replace the watch then i would say "oh well guess i better buy another"

On another note, my brother bought a blue dialed E, due to the fact that He's RAF and thought what the heck, all was well until his wife called to say that he had been shipped out on deployment, and i asked if she had given in to his breitling LOL... He had told her that the RAF had got them for the air crew as a gift !!!!! guess he felt like pulling it on his return:-!

[Kurt Koerfgen]

if you are in a maritime emergency, are you able to use this?



Strictly speaking; no, you would not be allowed to use it.

Practically speaking; if I fall overboard somewhere in the Pacific and have nothing else to attract the attention of airplanes passing overhead; who cares? As long as I survive, I can explain (and pay any fines) later.
(Note: This would NOT be the correct answer in an FAA exam for a pilot's license. ;-))

A man gotta do, what a man gotta do....


However, if I would have set off the alarm by negligence or for some trivial reason and it could be proven that there was no overriding reason, then I would have to face the music.

[letsjet]

A man gotta do, what a man gotta do....

However, if I would have set off the alarm by negligence............. then I would have to face the music.

You see, here we are agreeing again.....karma

[rik]

I was under the impression (and here I must add the rider that although I could have at least tried to Google it for 'accuracy' (:-d) I can't be bothered because QI is on in a minute) that Richard Branson popped his E when he splashed down in one of his balloons? Anyone care to confirm/debunk?

[Evenstephen2000]

Sorry, I don't get it; what are your trying to say with "due to the fatality/injury rate"?

Do you imply that after a forced or precautionary landing people are either dead, or too incapacitated to activate the emergency function?


While emergency transmitters in Breitling watches are not considered official on-board emergency equipment and as such cannot replace any officially mandated equipment, they nevertheless may prove useful in General Aviation.

General Aviation is dominated by single engine airplanes and the chance of a power loss on a single engine airplane away from a normally used landing site cannot be discounted.

Contrary to what many non-pilots may believe, these landings are highly survivable and simulated engine failures on single engine airplanes are in fact part of novice pilot's training syllabus.


While we may debate the effectiveness or usefulness of Breitling emergency transmitters (which I personally rate fairly low), the argument that people are too incapacitated after an emergency landing to use it is not based on statistical evidence.





Kurt
Geez, I'd hate to have to pass the "Koerfgen Certification Test". I mean, we're just normal people here having a discussion, not debating aviation protocol or preparing for certification. Have a beer or something...loosen that tie...buy some boxers and throw away the briefs...live a little...

I've got ski jackets with transmitters on them. I don't expect them to be official and I haven't studied the avalanche statistics. But I'm da** glad I have those jackets. I figure that I have something that could save my life should I get caught on a mountain. I think I'd take an Emergency watch, as well - statistics and hypotheticals notwithstanding!

[Kurt Koerfgen]

Geez, I'd hate to have to pass the "Koerfgen Certification Test". I mean, we're just normal people here having a discussion, not debating aviation protocol or preparing for certification. Have a beer or something...loosen that tie...buy some boxers and throw away the briefs...live a little...

I've got ski jackets with transmitters on them. I don't expect them to be official and I haven't studied the avalanche statistics. But I'm da** glad I have those jackets. I figure that I have something that could save my life should I get caught on a mountain. I think I'd take an Emergency watch, as well - statistics and hypotheticals notwithstanding!




Sure, you're right; whatever...
Entirely my fault; why on earth was I trying to discuss this?


It's much easier to "think the Emergency is a beautiful watch, but... doubt many pilots have had a chance to activate the antenna, due to the fatality/injury rate" - whatever that may be.


That settles it then.
So; no need to buy one then, eh?


Wouldn't help much when someone is buried in an avalanche anyway.
It is almost impossible for an avalanche victim to get one hand across to the other wrist, because avalanche victims are immobilized by the dense snow surrounding them. Doesn't matter; it is doubtful whether the signal would be strong enough from under the snow, because the antenna is buried with the victim and cannot be extended.
But I'm too technical again...



Thanks to your e-mail, I have become a believer...
I believe, I'll have another beer now. :-d





K.

[Broker]

I think we could realistically call this one a wraps also. We certainly don't want valid differences to escalate into bad feelings on the behalf of members. And for the record, I think everybody is right here. But I'm not getting rid of my yellow E cause it's cool.

Todd

[Evenstephen2000]

Sure, you're right; whatever...
Entirely my fault; why on earth was I trying to discuss this?


It's much easier to "think the Emergency is a beautiful watch, but... doubt many pilots have had a chance to activate the antenna, due to the fatality/injury rate" - whatever that may be.


That settles it then.
So; no need to buy one then, eh?


Wouldn't help much when someone is buried in an avalanche anyway.
It is almost impossible for an avalanche victim to get one hand across to the other wrist, because avalanche victims are immobilized by the dense snow surrounding them. Doesn't matter; it is doubtful whether the signal would be strong enough from under the snow, because the antenna is buried with the victim and cannot be extended.
But I'm too technical again...



Thanks to your e-mail, I have become a believer...
I believe, I'll have another beer now. :-d





K.
Good. I'm glad you agree with me. I'm an extremely persuasive writer and beer is good for a lot of things...have like six or seven even.

[Lou]

I think we could realistically call this one a wraps also. We certainly don't want valid differences to escalate into bad feelings on the behalf of members. And for the record, I think everybody is right here.

I think Todd is right and therefore, must suggest that as before we call this one a wraps, before it does get out of hand, and taken to far.

[razcob]

I think we should nominate our 'moderator' to contact Breitling to get their input. :-)

[GoldenBear]

I know that some wanted to end this thread, but...if someone DID use their E for a non-aviation situation (but true and legitimate emergency) and were rescued...Think of the great publicity that Breitling (and the E, itself) would get. Also, I am sure that the SAR folks would be glad for the assistance.