Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Requirements
Updated December 10, 2004
Since January 1, 2004, all U.S. registered civil airplanes having a maximum payload of less than 18,000 pounds, including turbojet-powered aircraft, have been required to install an Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT). Exceptions to this requirement can be found in 14 CFR, Part 91.207.
General Aviation Requirements
From January 1, 2005, all general aviation “aeroplanes” operated on “extended flights over water” and on flights over “designated land areas” (as defined in ICAO Annex 6, Part II) shall be equipped with one automatic ELT that transmits on both 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz.
Commercial Aviation Requirements
From January 1, 2005, all “aeroplanes” operating as “commercial air transport” on “long-range over-water flights” and (as defined in ICAO Annex 6, Part I) shall be equipped with two ELTs, one of which is automatic. These ELTs must transmit on both 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz.
The requirement for a U.S. registered aircraft to have an ELT is an FAA Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR). The regulation applies to a U.S. registered aircraft whether it is flying within the United States or anywhere else. The regulation (14 CFR 91.207) only specifies that "There is attached to the airplane an approved automatic type emergency locator transmitter that is in operable condition…"
The requirement for an ELT to transmit on 406 MHz comes from ICAO Annexes.
• ICAO Annex 6 – PART I (INTERNATIONAL COMMERCIAL AIR TRANSPORT – AEROPLANES)
• ICAO Annex 6 – PART II (INTERNATIONAL GENERAL AVIATION – AEROPLANES)
• ICAO Annex 10 – Volume III, PART II
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ICAO Requirements
As a result of the Chicago Convention of 1944, Article 1 established that "…contracting States recognize that every State has complete and exclusive sovereignty over the airspace above its territory."
NBAA Interpretation: In U.S. territories, we are expected to equip our aircraft as required by Federal Aviation Regulations.
14 CFR 91.207 says that "no person may operate a U.S.-registered civil airplane unless... there is attached to the airplane an approved automatic type emergency locator transmitter that is in operable condition..."
NBAA Interpretation: You can't operate the aircraft anywhere unless it is equipped with an ELT. Again, there is no specific reference to 121.5 MHz or 406 MHz ELTs in the FARs that requires this capability.
It gets complicated when you are operating in airspace over areas that are not owned by any country (known as “international airspace”), like oceanic airspace or other designated remote areas. In this case, operators shall follow ICAO Standards and Recommended Practices (SARPS).
ICAO SARPS applicable to ELTs say that for general aviation operations, from January 1, 2005, “aeroplanes” shall be equipped with an ELT that transmits on both 121.5 and 406 MHz frequencies when operating on extended flights over water.
ICAO defines extended flights over water in Annex 6, Part II, as “when over water away from land suitable for making an emergency landing at a distance of more than 100 NM, in the case of single-engined aeroplanes, and more than 200 NM, in the case of multi-engined aeroplanes capable of continuing flight with one engine inoperative…”
NBAA Interpretation: From January 1, 2005, operators shall have an ELT that transmits on 121.5 and 406 MHz when operating on extended flights over water and any designated remote areas.
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JAR-OPS Requirements
JAR-OPS 1 requirements, published by JAA, require 406 ELTs capable of transmitting on 121.5 MHz and 406 MHz. There is, however, an applicability consideration of JAR-OPS 1. As outlined in JAR-OPS 1.001 (Applicability), JAR-OPS 1 ”…prescribes requirements applicable to the operation of any civil aeroplane for the purpose of commercial air transportation by any operator whose principal place of business is in a JAA member state."
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