[time-nuts] Fwd: FAASafety.gov - General Information "Termination of 121.5 MHz Beacons fo...
Brooke Clarke
brooke at pacific.net
Fri Sep 7 22:09:46 EDT 2007
Hi:
In addition to the civilian 121.5 MHz signal the x2 military signal on 243.0
MHz is also being discontinued. Both replaced with the digital data signal
near 406 MHz. The data includes, among other things, the name and contact
phone number of the registered owner so a phone call can quickly confirm if
it's a real emergency. The fancier versions have built in GPS.
A year or more ago a hiker was saved by one of the 406 MHz beacons. I would
hope to see a rental business at national parks were hikers disembark on long
treks.
Have Fun,
Brooke Clarke
http://www.PRC68.com
http://www.precisionclock.com
SAIDJACK at aol.com wrote:
> We are loosing the good-old analog services left and right:
>
>
>
> ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com
>
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject:
> FAASafety.gov - General Information "Termination of 121.5 MHz Beacons
> for Satellite Alerting is Coming Soon"
> From:
> "faasafety.gov \(FAASafety.gov\)" <announce at faasafety.gov>
> Date:
> Thu, 6 Sep 2007 15:38:35 -0600
> To:
> <saidjack at aol.com>
>
> To:
> <saidjack at aol.com>
>
>
> FAASTeam - FAASafety.gov
>
> Termination of 121.5 MHz Beacons for Satellite Alerting is Coming Soon
> Notice Number: NOTC0981
>
> On 1 February 2009, the International Cospas-Sarsat [1][1] Organization
> (U.S. included) will terminate processing of distress signals emitted
> by 121.5 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs). This means that
> pilots flying aircraft equipped with 121.5 MHz ELTs after that date
> will have to depend on pilots of over flying aircraft and or ground
> stations monitoring 121.5 to hear and report distress alert signals,
> transmitted from a possible crash site.
>
> Why is this happening?
>
> Although lives have been saved by 121.5 MHz ELTs, the downside has been
> their propensity to generate false alerts (approximately 98 percent of
> all 121.5 MHz alerts are false), and their failure to provide rescue
> forces with timely and accurate crash location data. Both of which
> actually delay rescue efforts and have a direct effect on an
> individual's chance for survival. Rescue forces have to respond to all
> 121.5 MHz alerts to determine if they are real distress alerts or if
> they are being generated by an interferer, an inadvertent activation
> (by the owner) or equipment failure.
>
> Is there an alternative?
>
> Yes, the Cospas-Sarsat System (U.S. included) has been and will
> continue processing emergency signals transmitted by 406 MHz ELTs.
> These 5 Watt digital beacons transmit a much stronger signal, are more
> accurate, verifiable and traceable to the registered beacon owner (406
> MHz ELTs must be registered by the owner in accordance with Federal
> Communications Commission (FCC) regulation). Registration allows the
> search and rescue authorities to contact the beacon owner, or his or
> her designated alternate by telephone to determine if a real emergency
> exists. Therefore, a simple telephone call often solves a 406 MHz
> alerts without launching costly and limited search and rescue
> resources, which would have to be done for a 121.5 MHz alert. For these
> reasons, the search and rescue community is encouraging aircraft owners
> to consider retrofit of 406 MHz ELTs or at a minimum, consider the
> purchase of a handheld 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) which can
> be carried in the cockpit while continuing to maintain a fixed 121.5
> MHz ELT mounted in the aircraft's tail.
>
> Remember, after February 1, 2009, the world-wide Cospas-Sarsat
> satellite system will no longer process 121.5 MHz alert signals. Pilots
> involved in aircraft accidents in remote areas will have to depend on
> pilots of over flying aircraft and or ground stations to hear emergency
> ELT distress signals. For further information concerning the
> termination of 121.5 MHz data processing visit [2]www.sarsat.noaa.gov
> _______________________
>
> [3][1] The Cospas-Sarsat Organization provides a satellite based
> world-wide monitoring system that detects and locates distress signals
> transmitted by Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs), Emergency
> Position Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) and Personal Locator Beacons
> (PLBs). The system includes space and ground segments which process the
> signals received from the beacon source and forwards the distress alert
> data to the appropriate RescueCoordinationCenter for action.
>
> Address SARSAT inquiries to:
>
> NOAA SARSAT
> NSOF. E/SP3
> 4231 SuitlandRoad
> Suitland, MD 20746
> Phone: 301.817.4515
> Toll free: 888.212.7283
> Fax: 301.817.4565
>
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> References
>
> 1. file://localhost/tmp/tmpKDz9L5.html#_ftn1
> 2. file://localhost/SPANS/www.sarsat.noaa.gov
> 3. file://localhost/tmp/tmpKDz9L5.html#_ftnref1
> 4. https://www.faasafety.gov/SPANS/preferences.aspx
> 5. http://www.faasafety.gov/
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> 8. http://www.faasafety.gov/about/contact.aspx
>
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