26 January 2012
In 2011, a New Zealand tour operator and his co-pilot crashed off the coast of Stewart Island, just seconds after take off. The two men were in a 6-seater Piper Cherokee, with a spidertracks unit and ELT unit on board. They were unharmed after crash landing into the shallow water, and were able to climb out of the cockpit after activating the SOS buttons on both their spidertracks and ELT units.
The SOS button on the spidertracks system alerted the tour company of the crash immediately, providing the plane's location and SOS message on a monitoring screen at the company office. Following the SOS report from spidertracks, emergency services were already on their way to the unharmed crew when the Rescue Co-ordination Centre called to notify the operator of an ELT activation.
Spidertracks’ real time monitoring system ensured the safety and immediate recovery of the two men by providing the operator with their exact location. Spidertracks provide vital GPS tracking equipment for all pilots, recreational and commercial, offering affordable and reliable tracking solutions in over 60 countries.
