Personal Locator Beacons (PLB's)

Latest on PLB's Abroad

PLB .... Personal Locator Beacon 406MHz
ELT......Emergency Locator Transmitters 406MHz                               (Airframe fixed)

France - Microlights (ULM) do not need PLB or ELT

Germany - Microlights do not need PLB's or ELT

Beacon now required if over water for more than 10 minutes

The Personal Locator Beacon with built-in GPS is designed to provide individuals with the highest chance of being found quickly in an emergency at sea or on land. Hand-held Personal Locator Beacon feature a built-in GPS receiver (Global Positioning System) combined with a 406 MHz transmitter and 121.5 MHz homing signal.

In the event of an emergency, an alert signal is transmitted to Cospas-Sarsat satellites and forwarded to a rescue coordination center within typically 3 minutes. The built-in GPS receiver will provide latitude and longitude coordinates to give a position to within typically 98 feet anywhere in the world. Personal Location Beacons have been designed to provide pilots, recreational and professional boaters, as well as outdoorsmen with the very best chance of being found without delay in an emergency

- Built-in 12 parallel channel GPS receiver
- Visual indication of GPS acquisition

- Internal GPS allows position updates

- Global alert via COSPAS-SARSAT satellites

- 121.5 MHz homing frequency

- Built in self test on 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz

- Compact and lightweight

- Waterproof

- Accepts serialised or MMSI protocols

We are indebted to GASCo for the following information regarding locator beacons:

406 MHz Replaces 121.5 Alerting

Satellite detection of 121.5 MHz ceases on 31st January 2009. Thus for detection you will need a beacon that has 406 MHz; which includes 121.5, used for homing by helicopters, lifeboats etc and be monitored by over flying aircraft. The 406 beacon MUST by law be registered with the Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) Registry at Falmouth (phone 01326 211569). Aircraft 406 ELTs and PLBs must also be registered, it is free. Full details are provided by the manufacturers with the beacons.

Each beacon contains a 15 digit unique code which is picked up by a global satellite, the first step used by a UK Mission Control Centre in verifying that it is not a false alarm. They then phone the contact details (which can be several users) provided when registering. Another satellite system will plot the position of the signal. Depending upon the position and passage of these satellites, the alarm will be raised in between 10 minutes and 3 hours. Thus you should have a life raft and/or immersion suit if over water. The beacons sold in this country are coded 232 for UK, so if you buy one from abroad it will need to be re-coded noting that some cannot be re-coded. Why has all this come about, because 98% of 121.5 alerts were false.

Briefly, as from 1st January 2009 all aircraft flying in French airspace MUST have either an ELT or PLB (except microlights) able to transmit simultaneously on 121.5 and 406 MHz and be registered with a designated authority. Passengers must be briefed on its use. A number of aircraft including amateur built, orphan, kit built, microlights, restricted C of A vintage aircraft and gliders are exempt. The full details can be checked in French AIC 10/08 available in English via this link

www.sia.aviation-civile.gouv.fr.

Note that other countries in Europe may have similar regulations, it is the pilot's responsibility to check. On the AIS website click on Links and scroll down to 'Eurocontrol Web Links to Foreign AIS' and click Europe. There is then a list of 48 countries. You may need to inhibit your pop-up blocker.

UK registered aircraft not flying for public transport are exempt from the need for a mandatory ELT under General Exemption 682 dated 28th April 2008 which can be found on the CAA web site via Shortcuts, Publications, Official Record Series, ORS4 Miscellaneous and scrolling down