by JenBurdoo1 » Tue Mar 21, 2023 2:22 pm
Was the antenna sending a signal meaning "you're here" straight up, "you're a bit away" at an angle, and "you're far away" at the horizon? Or something similar? Yes. So when he pointed the antenna at the helicopter, it received the "you're here" signal? Yes.
SPOILER
The liferaft contains an antenna which transmits an audible signal in a cone shape to the rescue helicopter. When at the center of the cone, the sound cannot be heard. This signal gets louder and louder as it gets closer, providing directional info, but it cuts off entirely when directly overhead. This enables the crew to rescue victims that they cannot see, which is typical even in good weather against a grey sea. When the signal stops, the helicopter hovers and lowers a winch.
The lost pilot, contrary to instructions, repeatedly pointed the antenna at the rescue helicopter, thus putting it in the center of the signal cone and silencing the signal. This caused the crew to believe they were over their target, hover, and lower the winch to a rescuee who was nowhere nearby. In the real incident, they figured out what was going on, and "worked their way" over the raft by waiting until the rescuee let go of the antenna so that it could operate correctly. The winch operator was extremely angry.