Company

Phase-Out of Cospas-Sarsat 121.5 MHz/243 MHz service on 1 February 2009

From 1st February 2009, only 406 MHz beacons will be detected by the Cospas-Sarsat Search and Rescue satellite system. This affects all maritime beacons (EPIRBs), aviation beacons (ELTs) and personal beacons (PLBs). However, other devices such as man-overboard systems and homing transmitters that operate at 121.5 MHz and do not rely on satellite detection will not be affected by the phase-out of satellite processing at 121.5 MHz.

Cospas-Sarsat made the decision to cease satellite processing at 121.5/243 MHz in response to guidance from the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). These United Nations organizations mandate safety requirements for aircraft and maritime vessels and have recognised the limitations of the 121.5/243 MHz beacons and the superior capabilities of the 406 MHz alerting system.

The International Cospas-Sarsat System will cease satellite processing of 121.5/243 MHz beacons from 1 February 2009. All beacon owners and users should take steps to replace their 121.5/243 MHz beacons with 406 MHz beacons as soon as possible.

TÜV Product Service is one of only five approved laboratories in the world authorised to perform search and rescue beacon testing on behalf of Cospas-Sarsat. Our UKAS accreditation (ref 0141) enables us to perform type approval work on a wide range of equipment operating at 406 MHz and we can also undertake many other regulatory tests, addressing the various EU Directives (e.g. MED, R&TTE) and requirements of international bodies, such as Industry Canada, RTCM and FCC.