406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) Registration Sep 28, 10 Origin: Field Status: Closed Classification: Maint & Ops REASON The international search and rescue agency COSPAS-SARSAT has informed DASSAULT AVIATION that a certain number of ELTs emitting on 406MHz frequency and installed on Falcon aircraft were not properly registered in their database. REMINDER: Both ELTs (i.e., installed on the aircraft and outfitted on the life raft) must be registered and coded in accordance with the rules described previously. It has been noted that several Falcon operators have forgotten to register their life raft s ELTs. The information contained in this database concerning the ELT beacon, its owner, and the aircraft on which the beacon is fitted, is vital for the efficiency of Search and Rescue resources. Consequently, any erroneous registration of the ELT(s) mounted onboard any aircraft could adversely affect a possible search and rescue mission. The objectives of this FSA are to remind you of: The purpose of the ELT registration with respect to the COSPAS SARSAT system, And the procedure to have your onboard ELT properly registered. 450B 1/6
INFORMATION WHAT IS COSPAS-SARSAT? COSPAS-SARSAT is an international, humanitarian search and rescue system that uses satellites to detect and locate emergency beacons carried by ships, aircraft, and/or individuals. The system consists of a network of satellites, ground stations, mission control centers, and rescue coordination centers. Their website address is : http://www.cospas-sarsat.org COSPAS-SARSAT OPERATING MODE When an emergency beacon is activated, the signal emitted by the beacon is received by a satellite and relayed to the nearest available ground station. The ground station called a Local User Terminal, processes the signal and calculates the position from which it originated. This position is transmitted to a mission control center where it is joined with identification data and other information on that beacon. If the location of the beacon is in another country's area of responsibility, then the alert is transmitted to that country's mission control center. With a 406 MHz beacon, a distress message can be sent to the appropriate authorities from anywhere on Earth, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 450B 2/6
406 MHZ ELTS REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS The use of ELTs has permitted a reduction of the time necessary to alert the appropriate authorities that an aircraft is in distress and the location of the distress site by rescue teams. Therefore, the installation of ELTs onboard aircraft is mandatory. The number of required ELTs is dependant on the aircraft s class of operations (e.g., private operations, public transportation and the like). However, the purpose of this FSA is not to deal with number of ELTs required onboard. The ELT registration in the COSPAS-SARSAT database allows the identification of the distress signal and the ability to correlate it to an aircraft registration and its owner/operator. Therefore, the registration of ELTs is also mandatory. Only 406 MHz beacons can be registered because a unique identifier is transmitted in their digital signal. Older 121.5 MHz beacons cannot be uniquely identified and therefore cannot be registered. Registration information includes: Transmitter identification (so-called ELT coding), Transmitter manufacturer and model, and manufacturer's serial number, COSPAS-SARSAT type approval number, Name, address (postal and e-mail) and emergency telephone number of the owner/operator and 2 other emergency contacts, Aircraft manufacturer and type, Color of the aircraft. In case of newly delivered/owned aircraft, this registration process must be accomplished without delay. In case of temporary installation of a spare life raft on board, recoding of the ELT is not needed. The COSPAS/SARSAT database is to be updated with the coding of the ELT embedded in that life raft. CODING REQUIREMENTS The ELT s coding is the first requested information for the registration into the COSPAS- SARSAT database. This information permits the correlation between an ELT signal and the identification of the aircraft on which it is outfitted, and its owner/operator. The ELT s coding permits Search and Rescue Coordination Centers to contact the registered owner or operator and verify the status of the aircraft (i.e., whether it is flying or safely on the ground). This valuable feature permits very rapid SAR response in the event of a real distress situation, and it saves valuable SAR resources in the event of an inadvertent 406 MHz ELT activation. 450B 3/6
ICAO Annex 10, volume III appendix 1 to chapter 5 provides the different protocols than can be used for 406 MHz ELTs coding: The aircraft s operating agency designator and the operator's serial number, The 24-bit aircraft address, The aircraft s nationality and registration marks, Choosing the coding protocol for use within their jurisdiction is the responsibility of each respective National Administration: For aircraft used in private operations, the coding protocol will be the one selected by the aircraft s state of registration, For public transport operations, the coding protocol will be the one requested by the authority having operational supervision over the operator. 450B 4/6
REGISTRATION PROCESS Operators whose responsible authority is the US government Emergency beacon owners can register and update their beacons directly via the internet at www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. Should you elect not to register your beacon via the internet, you may print a beacon registration form from the NOAA-SARSAT website at www.sarsat.noaa.gov. The form can be sent : By fax to NOAA: +1-(301) 817-4565 Mail the form to NOAA at: NOAA SARSAT Beacon Registration E/SP3, RM 3320, FB-4 5200 Auth Road Suitland MD 20746-4304 It is important to note, however, that the registration is only valid for two years. Reregistration of the beacon is required every two years so that up-to-date records about contact information is maintained. Other operators Several countries allow the operators to directly register their beacon in the COSPAS- SARSAT International 406 MHz Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) - A list of these countries is available on the website www.cospas-sarsat.org - (Select the "Beacons" subsection, then the "Beacon registration" chapter of the pull-down menu. Then click on the "Countries allowing Individual registration (in IBRD)" sub-chapter). Registration of the beacon in the COSPAS-SARSAT IBRD is available online at www.406registration.com. COSPAS-SARSAT will only accept beacon registrations submitted via the online facilities of the IBRD. For other countries, operators should contact the country s representative who is responsible for 406 MHz distress beacons - A list of point of contacts for beacon information in various countries is available at www.cospas-sarsat.org - (Select the "Beacons" subsection, then the "Beacon registration" chapter of the pull-down menu. Then click on the "Beacon Coding Guide" sub-chapter) Guidance regarding national regulations concerning beacon coding and registration, and the necessary forms to register the beacon is provided on this website. 450B 5/6
NEW CODING REQUIREMENT FOR FRENCH REGISTERED AIRCRAFT For aircraft registered in France, the regulation regarding the coding protocol requirements has evolved. Following the publication of a French Arrêté on April 15, 2009, 406 MHz ELTs installed onboard the aircraft have to be coded and registered in accordance with the new regulation before July 1, 2010. However, following a request from Dassault, French DGAC granted Falcon fleet a 6 month exemption (until December 31, 2010). ELT installed on the aircraft SOCATA P/N ELT96A2560 000 00x: retrofit to Amendment J and recoding are required to meet the new French regulation. Therefore, Dassault recommends that you comply with Cobham Avionics Service Bulletin SB03 25-61-02 no later than the end of the year. Please contact your Falcon Spares Account Representative for further information. ELTA P/N 01N65900: recoding is required to meet the new regulation. For other 406 MHz ELTs, please contact the STC holder for further instructions. ELT outfitted on the life raft Life rafts Winslow P/Ns 1218FAUL-7J0-1-301, 1015FAUL-7J0-1-301, 1015FAUL-7J0-1-608: recoding of the ELT is required to meet the new regulation. Life rafts Aerazur P/Ns A05-210155-2 and 212003-0: recoding of the ELT is required to meet the new regulation. For other life rafts, please contact the STC holder for further instructions. For aircraft used in private operations, the new coding protocol requirement does not apply if the ELT was installed before July 1, 2009. 450B 6/6