ELT Registration for Purchased Aircraft

[DrBill]

If you purchase an aircraft with the new 406 MHz ELT don't forget to :

A: Have the current owner/registrant either change the registration and/or give you the password (at least 12 characters).

B: Verify the registration has the right information (people/phones, etc) to contact in case of an incident.

 

How do I know ?  My plane was in the shop this week and the ELT went off. I got a call at 5:30PM from a Captain at Tyndall AFB asking me to verify the unit was tuned off.

I called the shop and luckily the owner answered and verified it was no longer operating.  It took the Captain over 1 hr to locate me since I did not change the registration upon purchasing the airplane.  I called the Captain back and all was well.  When I got the plane back today, I got the registration number and tried to follow the Captains directions to re-register it but I had to call them. They in-turn called the previous owner to be sure I bought the ELT from him.  My registration is now correct AND I've put the registration number in the aircraft logs as well as the password.

 

I had wrongfully assumed that the ELT registration pointed to an N number, and by changing the FAA N number registration I also satisfied the ELT.

Don't wait for an incident, espectially if you are in the airplane.

 

BILL

 

[Jerry 5TJ]

You are supposed to renew the 406 ELT registration every 24 months. 

 

There's no charge, you renew at the site:

 

http://www.beaconregistration.noaa.gov/

 

The registration details include contact information and phone numbers so that the responders can call you if they receive an ELT signal.  That is the first action taken when your ELT's signal is received.  

 

If you buy a plane and don't know the password for the 406 ELT beacon installed,  you can use the beacon ID (from the label on the ELT) to create a new log-in. 

 

The NOAA site (http://www.sarsat.noaa.gov/emerbcns.html) summarizes:   Presently, most aircraft operators are mandated to carry an ELT and have the option to choose between either a 121.5 MHz ELT or a 406 MHz ELT. The Federal Aviation Administration has studied the issue of mandating carriage of 406 MHz ELTs. The study indicates that 134 extra lives and millions of dollars in SAR resources could be saved per year. The only problem is that 406 MHz ELTs currently cost about $1,500 and 121.5 MHz ELTs cost around $500. It's easy to see one reason for the cost differential when you look at the numbers. However, no one can argue the importance of 406 MHz ELTs and the significant advantages they hold.

 

[DrBill]

You are supposed to renew the 406 ELT registration every 24 months. 

 

f you buy a plane and don't know the password for the 406 ELT beacon installed,  you can use the beacon ID (from the label on the ELT) to create a new log-in. 

 

I didn't know the 24 months thing and I just registered it. 

 

If you don't know the PW and the 406 ID is active, you have to call their 800 number.  They will follow up with previous owner to insure it's sold (I guess vs stolen).

Nice feature there.

Learned alot today.

BILL

Here are some excerpts from the FAQ on the NOAA site:

How do I change registration information if I purchased a beacon from someone else?

You cannot register the beacon until the previous owner has informed NOAA that the beacon has been sold

 

How long is my registration information valid in the NOAA registry?

The registration information is valid for two years.  However, you should update your registration when any information changes.....