[Eaa42-list] FCC Bans 121.5 ELTs

[Lars Gleitsmann]

Another blow to GA owners! -government running amok!

FCC Bans 121.5 ELTs

June 21, 2010
By Mary Grady, Contributing editor

The Federal Communications Commission took the general aviation world by
surprise when it said in a recent report (
http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?et=1103500294837&s=1458&e=001M6yc39mJFVF4-fVIt75XGecNDZbley9ii0QmGoSxeHCJrhR7Zni3UgFXolrO1ImXhsnHndlNQtzTcVcv-UIrwc5r-DKH4P6cT7Lgjv9vb9vjVF0VMtHoCV8SzrHwfoLJzAGEbN-bFISS27c1pfT5p35CZSVeilT-tZaFdBSkMYfxnqdWGTYCTQ==)
it will prohibit the sale or use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator
transmitters, effective in August. The Aircraft Electronics Association said
(http://aea.net/governmentaffairs/regulatoryupdates.asp?ID=42) it just
learned of the new rule today, and has begun working with the FAA, FCC and
others to allow for timely compliance without grounding thousands of general
aviation aircraft. The 121.5 ELTs are allowed under FAA rules. The FCC said
its rules have been amended to "prohibit further certification, manufacture,
importation, sale or use of 121.5 MHz ELTs." The FCC says that if the 121.5
units are no longer available, aircraft o
 wners and operators will "migrate" to the newer 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs, which
are monitored by satellite, while the 121.5 frequency is not. "Were we to
permit continued marketing and use of 121.5 MHz ELTs ... it would engender
the risk that aircraft owners and operators would mistakenly rely on those
ELTs for the relay of distress alerts," the FCC says. AOPA said today (
http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2010/100621elt.html) it is opposed to
the rule change.

The entire article may be viewed at
http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/FCCBans1215ELTs_202760-1.html
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