In reply to winhill and a couple of others:
Having taken part in that long-ago string, I'll highlight a few (spurious) points made by the then detractors:
1. The much discussed point about how much the new Registration Database was going to cost has been proved to be mistaken - PLBs have simply been included in the already established EPIRB Registration Database at MRCC Falmouth
2. It was intimated that false alerts would be rife – well, we'll see, and there will likely be a few (that can mostly be filtered out at the UKMCC stage), but this has certainly not been the experience of other countries (we're talking PLBs on land here, not ELTs or EPIRBs, folks), and it’s worth noting that the several thousands of SPOT Messengers in the UK have produced only two semi-false alerts in the past 5 years that required no SAR responses, and that their 911/SOS responses have been genuine, time-saving, pain-reducing and in one case at least, arguably life-saving. Because the SAR agencies knew where the casualties were, it eliminated the need to search, thereby saving voluntary SAR and helicopter time - and the taxpayers' money that some previous respondents were seemingly so concerned about.
It's maybe worth considering that, of the hundreds of thousands of folk who go walking and climbing every weekend, there are very few SAR incidents as a result. The Exchequer is coining it in - from the tax on the fuel, accommodation, food equipment and clothing that is spent by those outdoors folks. The money spent on those few unfortunates who come to grief is but a drop in the ocean. The health and psychological benefits to the country are immeasurable.
3. There wasn't apparently an outcry on this site about SPOT Messenger or mobile phones: one wonders why all the vitriol came about just because a lady fell from a horse, genuinely perceived a need and tried to do something positive about it. By the way, SAR folks in the UK had by then already started the process of getting PLBs legalised for land in the UK, with the purpose in mind to put land users on an equal footing with their maritime and aviation counterparts - professional and recreational.
4. Have a look at what such as New Zealand’s SAR agencies, which have several years' experience with land PLBs, have to say - all positive.
5. PLBs were never claimed to be the answer to Life, the Universe and Everything; the effort was just to make the option available to those who wanted to carry them and to make us compatible with the majority of the rest of the land area in the world.
6. Another point made was that some hill users would be forced or obliged to carry PLBs against their wishes because of insurance or Health and Safety concerns. That hasn't happened with SPOT Messenger or similar devices, so it is unlikely to come about with PLBs - I certainly hope not. It's worth mentioning that there aren't many people who don't carry mobile phones on the hill now. Remember the similar racket there was about them, and they're now positively viewed by Police and MRTs, and obviously all those who carry them on the hill – no, I know they’re a pain-in-the-neck!
For those who are going on long and hazardous routes by themselves, consider instead the merits of having a SPOT Messenger on 'tracking' mode. That way, if you fall and become unconscious (or worse), or even destroy the device, there is still the tracking snail-trail to lead to within ten minutes of the last position burst. Just be sure your nominated Points of Contact have been told how to track you on the Internet. Activated PLBs have ultimately more chance of getting through, but they are manually operated. In a group, a PLB would arguably be the better option; it has a 5-watt data-burst, does not rely solely on GPS to provide the position, and has a homing transmitter/transmission for SAR helicopters to source the beacon
The lady who fell of the horse and 'we' have successfully managed to get the PLB legal for use for those who want it and, in response to the few who continue to field negative remarks just for the sake of it, or to belittle the horsewoman, I'll just say - "Whatever!"
Thanks very much to those who supported the process and to those who produced constructive points - for and against.
