CAP: ‘Don’t trash the beacon’ | Aviation International News

CAP: ‘Don’t trash the beacon’

In an effort to cut down on the more than 2,000 false distress signals it receives each year from emergency locator transmitters (ELT) and emergency positi

By AIN Staff • AIN Staff

March 30, 2009

In an effort to cut down on the more than 2,000 false distress signals it receives each year from emergency locator transmitters (ELT) and emergency position indicating radio beacons, the Civil Air Patrol has launched its “Don’t Trash the Beacon” public awareness campaign. “The false-alarm rate is between 90- and 95-percent now,” said John Demarais, CAP’s deputy director for operations.

The problem stems mainly from improper handling of the units, which are now being rendered obsolete, as users upgrade from 121.5-MHz analog beacons to the more powerful, more reliable 406-MHz digital transmitters.

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