FCC Bans 121.5 MHz ELTs
Implementation Date For The Ban Is Still Not=
Set
In Stone
Effective in August, the FCC is prohibiting further certification,
manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator
transmitters. The date of compliance by the FCC has not yet been
announced. AEA, along with other Associations' leadership, is working
with the FAA and the FCC to postpone implementation and resolve this issue,=
and
AEA says it will post weekly updates on the website to address this critica=
l issue.
![](3D"FCCBans121_files/image001.jpg" "3D\"#\"")
406 MHz ELT File Photo
In the FCC's Third Report and Order for 2010, adopted June 1, 2010, and
published June 15, 2010, the FCC has prohibited further certification,
manufacture, importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELT=
s.
Previously, the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system
monitored distress signals on the 121.5 MHz frequency and relayed those sig=
nals
to search-and-rescue authorities. As it first announced in October 2000, Cospas-Sarsat stopped monitoring 121.5 MHz signals as=
of
Feb. 1, 2009. It stopped processing distress signals from 121.5 MHz emergen=
cy
radio beacons because of accuracy and false-alert problems. With the suppor=
t of
international aviation and maritime organizations, Cos=
pas-Sarsat
has urged users of 121.5 MHz ELTs and EPIRBs to switch to 406 MHz ELTs=
and emergency position indicating radio beacons.
As the commission noted in the second FNPRM, NOAA, the U.S. Coast Guard, the
U.S. Air Force, and NASA, which jointly administer the Cospas-Sarsat
system in the United=
States,
strongly recommended users of 121.5 MHz beacons switch to 406 MHz beacons.<=
br>
After reviewing the comments from the 2006 proposal, the FCC concluded it
should go ahead with the ban.
![](3D"FCCBans121_files/image002.jpg" "3D\"#\"")
The AEA was not made aware of this issue until Monday, June 21st, and has
begun working with the FAA, FCC and other associations to allow for a timely
transition to this new FCC prohibition without grounding thousands of gener=
al
aviation aircraft. At this time, the AEA recommends members delay selling a=
ny
new 121.5 MHz ELTs until further understanding =
of
this new prohibition can be understood and a realistic timeline for transit=
ion
can be established.
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