47 Cfr 87.199

47 CFR 87.199 (up to date as of 6/05/2025)
Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs.

47 CFR 87.199 (June 5, 2025)

This content is from the eCFR and is authoritative but unofficial.

Title 47 —Telecommunication
Chapter I —Federal Communications Commission
Subchapter D —Safety and Special Radio Services
Part 87 —Aviation Services
Subpart F —Aircraft Stations
Emergency Locator Transmitters
Authority: 47 U.S.C. 154, 303 and 307(e), unless otherwise noted.
Source: 53 FR 28940, Aug. 1, 1988, unless otherwise noted.

§ 87.199 Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs.
(a) 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs use G1D emission. Except for the spurious emission limits specified in § 87.139(h),
406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs must meet all the technical and performance standards contained in the Radio
Technical Commission for Aeronautics document titled “Minimum Operational Performance Standards
406 MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT)” Document No. RTCA/DO-204 dated September 29,
1989. Document No. RTCA/DO-204 is incorporated by reference into this the section with the approval of
the Director of the Federal Register in accordance with 5 U.S.C 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. This
incorporation by reference (IBR) material is available for inspection at the FCC and at the National
Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Contact the FCC through the Federal Communications
Commission's Reference Information Center, phone: (202) 418-0270. For information on the availability of
this material at NARA, visit www.archives.gov/federal-register/cfr/ibr-locations.html or email
fr.inspection@nara.gov. The material may be obtained from the Radio Technical Commission for
Aeronautics (RTCA), Inc., 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036; phone: (202) 833-9339;
email: info@rtca.org; website: www.rtca.org.
(b) The 406.0-406.1 MHz ELT must contain as an integral part a homing beacon operating only on 121.500
MHz that meets all the requirements described in the RTCA Recommended Standards document
described in paragraph (a) of this section. The 121.500 MHz homing beacon must have a continuous duty
cycle that may be interrupted during the transmission of the 406.0-406.1 MHz signal only.
(c) As part of its Supplier's Declaration of Conformity a 406.0-406.1 MHz ELT, the ELT must be certified by a
test facility recognized by one of the COSPAS/SARSAT Partners that the equipment satisfies the design
characteristics associated with the COSPAS/SARSAT document COSPAS/SARSAT 406 MHz Distress
Beacon Type Approval Standard (C/S T.007). Additionally, an independent test facility must certify that the
ELT complies with the electrical and environmental standards associated with the RTCA Recommended
Standards.

Note 1 to paragraph (c): The verification procedure has been replaced by Supplier's Declaration of
Conformity. Equipment previously authorized under subpart J of part 2 of this chapter may remain
in use. See § 2.950 of this chapter.
(d) The procedures for Supplier's Declaration of Conformity are contained in subpart J of part 2 of this
chapter.

47 CFR 87.199(d) (enhanced display)

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47 CFR 87.199 (up to date as of 6/05/2025)
Special requirements for 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs.

47 CFR 87.199(e)

(e) An identification code, issued by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the
United States Program Manager for the 406.0-406.1 MHz COSPAS/SARSAT satellite system, must be
programmed in each ELT unit to establish a unique identification for each ELT station. With each
marketable ELT unit the manufacturer or grantee must include a postage pre-paid registration card printed
with the ELT identification code addressed to: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315
East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910-9684. The registration card must request the owner's name,
address, telephone, type of aircraft, alternate emergency contact, and other information as required by
NOAA. The registration card must also contain information regarding the availability to register the ELT at
NOAA's online Web-based registration database at: http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov. Further, the
following statement must be included: “WARNING—failure to register this ELT with NOAA before
installation could result in a monetary forfeiture being issued to the owner.”
(f) To enhance protection of life and property, it is mandatory that each 406.0-406.1 MHz ELT must be
registered with NOAA before installation and that information be kept up-to-date. In addition to the
identification plate or label requirements contained in §§ 2.925 and 2.926 of this chapter, each
406.0-406.1 MHz ELT must be provided on the outside with a clearly discernable permanent plate or label
containing the following statement: “The owner of this 406.0-406.1 MHz ELT must register the NOAA
identification code contained on this label with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA), whose address is: NOAA/SARSAT Beacon Registration, NSOF, E/SPO53, 1315 East West Hwy,
Silver Spring, MD 20910-9684.” Aircraft owners shall advise NOAA in writing upon change of aircraft or
ELT ownership, or any other change in registration information. Fleet operators must notify NOAA upon
transfer of ELT to another aircraft outside of the owner's control, or any other change in registration
information. NOAA will provide registrants with proof of registration and change of registration postcards.
(g) For 406.0-406.1 MHz ELTs whose identification code can be changed after manufacture, the identification
code shown on the plant or label must be easily replaceable using commonly available tools.
[69 FR 32885, June 14, 2004, as amended at 76 FR 17352, Mar. 29, 2011; 79 FR 77918, Dec. 29, 2014; 82 FR 50838, Nov. 2, 2017;
85 FR 64410, Oct. 13, 2020; 88 FR 21449, Apr. 10, 2023]

47 CFR 87.199(g) (enhanced display)

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