Becker Avionics was showing off its SAR-ADF 517 system designed to simplify the task. This is the system recently procured by Civil Air Patrol with the first 25 units recently delivered. The system provides both text or graphic DF capability for all the normal and test beacon frequencies, including 406 MHz. It also provides 406 message decoding, including GPS coordinates when transmitted. Traditional solutions, be it manual or hydraulic, all require the operator to use two hands and they are extremely awkward to use, putting the operator at peril and slowing the process when time is of the essence.
Hydraulic cutters are also quite heavy, always a drawback.
It is a single shot device. The forward part that includes a slot for the cable and a replaceable brass anvil is unscrewed, the cartridge inserted, and then the front part is reattached. It is single-hand operated, just reach out and snag the cable in the hook style end piece, depress the safety and squeeze the trigger. LED technology is just starting to find its way into aircraft external lighting. In part this has been because the intensity necessary requires use of more than a single LED and packaging becomes an issue.