ELT's

Emergency Locater Transmitters

121.500 MHz (AM)
243.000 MHz (AM)
406.000 MHz (digital, satellite tracked)

 

ELT's are probably the next best thing to a Flight Data Recorder or a
Nav-Com radio. In the event that a aircraft should crash or exceed certain
limits (quite similiar to an airbag in a automobile) a small self contained
transmitter would emit a signal on one of the above frequencies. This signal is
sometimes the only thing that gives an unconscious or radio-less pilot a
chance at survival, and sadly enough if the ELT ins'nt destroyed it sometimes
leads rescuers to the crash victims. These transmitters are usually moinitored
by the FAA from monitoring stations, which are sometimes located near
navigation beacons or VOR's. Since the Emergency Frequency(s) is highly
guarded against interference, unecesssary transmitting must be curbed.
ANY traffic on one of these frequencies must concern the safety of the aircrafts
or annothers occupants. Since VHF communications is limited to around a
couple hundred miles depending on terrain and the aircraft's altitude, aircraft must sometimes relay traffic for other aircraft. It may be common to hear the higher
flying (usually commercial jetliners) relay a distress call to ATC or Air Traffic
Control. For obvious reasons it is very important for all pilots to constantly
moinitor the distress frequency as long as it does'nt interfere with normal radio
procedures. Again with new technologies, relaying may soon be a thing of the
past....Until then rural communities and mountainous regions may cover the
cry of a pilots call for help, with the help of ELT's downed aircfaft can be
located in a matter of minutes...ELT's can even be monitored by satelites!!!
Yes the Civiln Air Patrol have access to them...Elt's will never be obsolete.

EMERGENCY Frequencies

Aviation Civilian - 121.500 MHz (AM)
Aviation Military - 243.000 MHz (AM)
406.000 MHz (other)

Practice Frequencies - Used for training

121.775
121.600

The Civil Air Patrol are experts at ELT Hunting.

Since the crash of any aircraft is immediatlly an investigation
you should never get involved in any crash unless you are
absolutely sure of the situation.

• If you should hear traffic on an Emergency Aviation Frequency...
  

1.) Make sure what your hearing is legitimate, and not a prank
(to the best of your ability) Check the frequency!!

2.) See if there is a need for your help, many times help has already
been obtained...remember you may not be able to hear both sides of the
conversation!!!

3.) Record any important information as you hear it...

4.) If the aircraft is in your immediate area contact your local
Airport and let them know what you heard, Remember chances
are they already are aware of the situation, but it never hurts.
Tell them everything, including the frequency, so they can
confirm your report.

Your local authorities may be useful but dont bother them unless your sure
the're is a problem that they could help.

5.) If you know of someone in the Civil Air Patrol call them
immediately, they can handle the situation better than you can,
Remember, they're trained at it!!! (The person at the airport may be a CAP)

6.) Dont try to be a hero, even if you appear at or near a crash site you
will be asked to leave by the authorities.

(Ares/Races members must be called upon before going to a crash scene to assist
other authorities)

Finally.) If a call continually goes unanswered or you cannot contact
anyone at an airport or a CAP member....

Contact the State Police or the Highway Patrol, If your a Ham tell them... it
builds their confidence and lets them know it is'nt a prank. They have ties to
higher authorities and can make judgement calls....

Also if you contact your local authorities, make sure its a real situation...or otherwise
your reputation will possibly be ruined ( Remember the boy that cried "Wolf" ? )

• If you should hear a possible ELT........and you're a HAM

If you're not a HAM contact the airport or a CAP member, dont call your local
authorities, It COULD be a malfunctioning ELT or an accidental activation.
Wait for the proper authorites to do their job. Try to contact a HAM operator, they'll
usually help you determine what you're hearing and if its reportable...Be careful what you report!!

1.) If you are a Ham try to get a fix...Try this only if you have a directional antenna.......

2.) Contact other Hams in the area, DO NOT say the're has been a Plane Crash,
until it has been confirmed and released. Tell them to try to monitor the frequency(s).
The more hams that hear the signal will increase the chances of a correct fix.

3.) Do Not go to the direct scene of the crash even if you get a fix or an immediate fix.
Contact the proper authorities if you get it confirmed by mobile station.
Stay at your station location and note anything you hear. If you have a general area in mind
try to confirm it but dont enter the area around the aircraft...This is Important, Do not tamper
or touch ANYTHING unless you are 100% sure you will save someone's life. Remember the
proper authorities can handle the situation......YOU CANNOT ALONE.

Please remember this information should be used with your own judgement,
stay out of a situation if you are unsure and never go to the scene of an aircfraft crash...

LET THE AUTHORITIES HANDLE IT !!!

Some insight from a Civil Air Patrol member....

Hi,

I'm a CAP search aircrew member and a ham.  I found your page on ELTs (
http://www.qsl.net/kf4uel/elts.htm ) while looking for info on 121.775 MHz practice
transmitters.

I have a few comments on your "what to do" area in case someone hears an ELT or EPIRB on 121.5
or 243 MHz:

(1)  The first thing to understand is that 99% (yes, ninety-nine percent) of all ELT activations
are accidental.  However, the other 1% often indicate that someone is injured or dead.

(2)  The local and state police rarely have the knowledge or resources to handle ELTs and
EPIRBs.  It is also possible that the local CAP squadron may not be prepared to deal with an
ELT.  However, they should know who to call.  Moreover, CAP squadron headquarters are usually
unmanned except during missions and meetings.  So unless you know a CAP member's name, it may be
difficult to contact a CAP person by looking up the local CAP number in the phone book.

(3)  The agency responsible for all inland search and rescue in the continental US is the Air
Force Rescue Coordination Center, AFRCC, located in Langley, VA.  They use the SARSAT system to
attempt to locate ELTs, and usually assign CAP (via a call to the chief CAP emergency services
personnel in the state in which the transmitting ELT is thought to be located) to go find the
ELT and determine whether it is a false alarm (99%) or an actual emergency (1%).  Their website
is http://www2.acc.af.mil/afrcc// .

(4)  Another agency that one could contact to report an ELT is FAA Flight Service, at 1 800 992
7433 (1 800 WX BRIEF).  They will forward credible reports to AFRCC for search mission
assignment.

Thanks, and regards,
Chip Fleming, W3RFF