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Posted on 06/25/2010 8:38:46 AM PDT by Errant
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) June 15 released the notice of a rule prohibiting the “certification, manufacture, importation, sale, or continued use of 121.5 MHz ELTs.” The rule would suddenly make aircraft that are in full compliance with the federal aviation regulations in violation of federal communications law.
“At this time, we caution anyone against purchasing a new ELT until this issue is resolved,” said AOPA Vice President of Regulatory Affairs Rob Hackman. “There’s a lot of misunderstanding at this time as to the status of this rule. As verified by the FCC, the rule has not been published in the Federal Register, and thereby no effective date can be determined. This provides AOPA and the general aviation industry the opportunity to address our concerns with the FCC and potentially influence the outcome.”
14 CFR Part 91.207 currently requires aircraft to carry a fixed ELT, but does not specify either 121.5 or 406 MHz. The FCC’s change to 47 CFR Part 87 would outlaw the use of the former—effectively forcing general aviation aircraft owners to buy the 406 MHz ELT. The rule would go into effect 60 days after publication in the Federal Register. AOPA is aggressively pursuing all options to have the FCC and FAA delay and re-evaluate the rule, highlighting the economic and operational impact to the more than 220,000 aircraft in the GA fleet, most of whom still carry the 121.5 MHz ELTs.
“The FCC is making a regulatory change that would impose an extra cost on GA operators, without properly communicating with the industry or understanding the implications of its action,” Hackman said. “There is no FAA requirement to replace 121.5 MHz units with 406 MHz technology. When two government agencies don’t coordinate, GA can suffer.”
Both the 121.5 MHz and 406 MHz ELTs meet the FAA’s regulatory requirements if manufactured to the proper technical standard order. While satellites no longer monitor the 121.5 MHz frequency as of Feb. 1, 2009, the frequency is monitored by ATC, the military, and other pilots. AOPA is exploring all avenues of action to address this rule before it goes into effect.
It would be impossible to outfit all aircraft in the timeframe of the FCC rule and cost prohibitive for GA aircraft owners. The rule highlights the fact that threats to GA can come from many different areas, Hackman said. Government agencies outside of the FAA don’t necessarily understand the effects of their actions on aviation, and poor communication can compound the problem. In addition to the unnecessary cost, this ruling also raises the question of the legality of the 406 MHz ELTs because they also transmit a low-power signal on 121.5 MHz to allow the search-and-rescue community to home as part of the rescue process.
ANother “Unfunded Mandate” from Obummer’s Bandits.
For those who don’t know, “ELT”s stands for “Excited Little Transvestites,” which can subtly vibrate at these frequencies when turned on at nightclubs.
Thank you, I needed that.
What we have is a situation where there are two sets of federal regulations administered by different agencies that impact on a single device.
Each agency should be aware of the other agency's rules ~ after all, they are part of the same government and there's no Jamie Gorlick rule in the way prohibiting their communication with each other.
There are no real reasons standing in the way of these two agencies COORDINATING what they do ~ on the other hand with the kind of incompetent managers at the top that the Obama regime has attracted to government, whatever earlier adherence to the discipline of making sure all the rules don't conflict with other rules has simply been lost.
The problem is we have a President who not only does not attract quality talent, he has no idea what that means, nor does he care, nor do those he appoints. The Senators who consent to these appointments must be senile or mentally ill.
I think you might be missing the point: this is to harm GA again. I think with two agencies affecting policy, this is another way of preventing people from exercising their freedom while giving the average citizen the bureaucratic run-around (”My hands are tied, go talk to these guys...”).
Maybe the state and local guys are putzes, but not the federales.
Nothing like smashing a citizen to make your day (for all too many of them).
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While satellites no longer monitor the 121.5 MHz frequency as of Feb. 1, 2009, the frequency is monitored by ATC, the military, and other pilots.
So Govt agency, can you with any logic or reason, explain what the real issue is.
It is secret and explaining it to you would require your being shot.
I thought so.
Geez, Mr Bean, I had no idea.
Maybe they need the freq for free wireless broadband or worse, FEMA camp communications...
Obama Names Campaign Adviser to Head FCC - washingtonpost.com
That's what I'm talking about! ;)
Get me up to speed, please. Is 406Mhz now “guard” frequency?
Do they still use VHF comm? Do they plan on changing ILS frequencies? Thanx.
For the entire article that goes into detail, click on this link: Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs)
This isn’t by accident. There has been one assault on GA after another by the feds.
Thanks, looks like this has been going on under my Radar for several years. Guess that happens when you have a cursory interest in something (GA).
The other freqencies use will remain the same. One thing on the horizion is the mandate to have a new technology called Automatic Dependant Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B), where aircraft equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) receivers can transmit their location and altitude to other nearby aircraft and to air traffic control. Although the FAA plans to retain primary radar for homeland defense purposes, many of today’s secondary surveillance radars will be shut down in the future.
On May 27, 2010 the FAA issued a final rule mandating Automatic Dependant Surveillance –Broadcast (ADS-B) equipage. Effective on January 1, 2020, any aircraft operating in airspace where a Mode C transponder is required today, will also be required to carry an ADS-B OUT transmitter. The FAA is not mandating ADS-B IN systems with this rule.
The rule does not impact the current transponder requirement – meaning aircraft will continue to be required to carry their transponders in addition to this requirement for ADS-B Out equipage after 2020.
Unlike most rulemaking activities which are safety based, the basis of the mandate is to support the FAA’s Next Generation Air Transportation System (NextGen). The FAA indicates that the mandate will not greatly increase or decrease safety, but is necessary to move forward with NextGen.
This technology in many instances could replace the ELT function. Below is a link to the entire article.
There’s also a huge push by the EPA to ban 100LL. Like everyone else, GA is getting hit from all sides...
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