Houston, TX- Capt Eric Thompson, Thunderbird Composite Squadron Commander, received a call from Capt Ann Starr, Group 4 Deputy Commander Sunday evening July 29, 2006. Would he be willing to get together a ground crew for an ELT mission? Within minutes Capt Thompson assembled a five member team, three cadets and two seniors. The ELT was located somewhere on the south side of Hobby Airport. The team gathered at West Houston Airport, got the UDF equipment together and headed south. 

Arriving at Hobby near the Firefighter Training School the team began triangulating a position. Moving a few miles south the team received a very strong signal. Driving slowly a preliminary area began to emerge with a very strong signal. Capt Thompson showed the cadets a few techniques to narrow the search. It was determined that the ELT was located in the Enterprise Jet Services hangar. The staff here was very understanding and patient. The hangar had over twenty aircraft inside. After a brief search of the hanger, checking each aircraft, the ELT signal was determined to emanating from a transient aircraft. The staff informed the team that the aircraft had just been sold, the owners were in California!! They had had an aircraft refurbishing company come out and tear out the carpet and they had the key, therefore turning the ELT off had to wait until the next morning.  

Capt Thompson received a call from the maintenance director at Enterprise Jet Services informing him the ELT had been deactivated at 11:11 AM.  The cause: a “to do” list had fallen off an armrest and set off the ELT. Capt Starr was immediately informed and the mission was formally closed out.