It puts out about 10 Mw, which is just adequate to be picked up by the SARSAT satellites if the antenna and watch are properly positioned so it has a good ground plane. It has a reported range of 100 miles to an aircraft at 20,000 ft. It would likely be heard by any airline traffic overhead and monitoring 121.5 (which they are supposed to do and would especially if over the search area, if for no other reason than curiosity or interest in possibly helping find him) and with as many aircraft in the area monitoring the freq, it would almost certainly have been heard if he had deployed it.

I am not a big fan of the Brietling Emergency watch, but it is a far sight better than nothing, but it is nowhere near as effective as a PLB. I would never spend the money for one, but if someone gave it to me, I'd wear it. Ironic that he wasn't actually wearing it as most pilots I know who have one wear it all the time. It's also a status thing with them.

I suspect a lot of pilot husbands and boyfriends will be getting one this coming holiday. While not nearly as good publicity as if it saved him, no doubt Brietling will sell a ton from the publicity they are getting. I only hope the buyers realize hat they are buying and don't expect more than it can provide.