FCC halts pursuit of 121.5 MHz ELT ban

[N2255D]

By AOPA ePublishing staff

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) stayed a rule Jan. 11 that would have prohibited the certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or use of 121.5 MHz emergency locator transmitters (ELTs).
The rule, if enacted, would have required the replacement of 121.5 MHz ELTs with 406 MHz ELTs at a direct cost to aircraft owners. It could have also caused a shortage of the 406 MHz ELTs, leading to the potential grounding of aircraft until such time as units became available. After the commission released notice of the rule June 15 on its website, AOPA immediately expressed concern to the FCC and FAA, coordinated with other aviation groups, and provided information about ELTs to members of Congress. In a letter to the FCC in June, the association highlighted its concerns and asked the FCC to rescind the rule and engage the aviation industry. The FCC stayed the prohibition at the request of the FAA, acknowledging concerns shared by AOPA and others.

http://www.aopa.org/advocacy/articles/2 ... _id=ebrief

[hilltop170]

OK, so 121.5 ELTs are still OK to make, sell, and use. So are 406 ELTs still required at some point? It's not real clear to me. Then there is Canada.............they required them because of us.........

[c170b53]

As I replaced my relatively new ACK 450 with a 451 I've got to hold still for a moment so I can kick myself in the rear. Then again maybe now someone will want the it at the auction this summer.

[jrenwick]

OK, so 121.5 ELTs are still OK to make, sell, and use. So are 406 ELTs still required at some point? It's not real clear to me. Then there is Canada.............they required them because of us.........

Richard, I haven't heard anything about Canada requiring 406 units in a long time. Last I heard, that rule was on hold. Have they advanced it again?

John

[hilltop170]

John-
I haven't heard anything else from Canada, hopefully they will stay on hold until the FAA makes its mind up.