Emergency Locator Transmitters: What You Should Know

Beeyoo! Beeyoo! Beeyoo!

Do you know what that sound means in your cockpit? It’s from an activated Emergency Locator Transmitter, either yours or someone else’s. Unless the signal emanates from an ELT being tested (only allowed during the first five minutes of each hour), it means that, at best, someone just experienced a really hard landing. At worst, someone had an accident and needs assistance.

The cry of the ELT provides notice that something happened and allows ground-based stations to determine the position of the distress call. You probably already knew that, but there is still a lot of partial and outdated information floating around in the aviation community.

Here are important up-to-date facts you need to know about ELTs.

1. ELTs are automatically triggered when they detect a significant G force, such as during an accident, but can also be activated manually.

2. ELTs that only transmit on Guard, 121.5 MHz, and 243 MHz are now considered antiquated because the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network can’t detect their signals. So, users must rely on overflying aircraft that are within range of the crash site and listening to 121.5 MHz.

Old ELTs such as these are still legal to have in your airplane, but new ELTs of this type may no longer be sold as of 2019, per FCC regulations. 

3. New ELTs that you can acquire today transmit on 406 MHz, which the satellite network can detect and use to determine your location within 100 meters. If you get a 406 MHz ELT, you must register it on the NOAA website.

Per an FAA study, 406 MHz ELTs dramatically reduce the false alert impact on search and rescue resources, have a higher accident survivability success rate, and decrease the time to reach accident victims by an average of six hours.

If your aircraft still has the old-style ELT, consider the purchase of a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB), a handheld 406 transmitter that can be activated manually.