S A R S A T

Personal Locator Beacons

(PLBs)

COSPAS = Cosmicheskaya Systyema Poiska Aariynyich Sudov

Which loosely translates into: “The Space System for the Search of Vessels in Distress”

SARSAT = Search And Rescue Satellite Aided Tracking

What is Cospas-Sarsat???What is Cospas-Sarsat???

In short, Cospas-Sarsat takes the “search” out In short, Cospas-Sarsat takes the “search” out of Search & Rescueof Search & Rescue

Emergency Beacons

• Two types: 406 MHz 121.5/243 MHz (121.5 MHz EPIRBs are prohibited as of 01Jan07)

• Three applications:

- Emergency Position Indication Radio Beacons (EPIRB)

- Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT)

- Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

General CharacteristicsGeneral Characteristics

• Small and lightweight

• Manually activated

• Watertight

• Contains transmitter, antenna, and battery.

- GPS receiver (optional)

• Tested at international and national levels

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

International (Cospas-Sarsat) SpecificationsInternational (Cospas-Sarsat) Specifications

• Transmit at 406.028 MHz

• 5 W output

• Temperature range

Storage: - 67F to + 158F (Class 1)Operating: - 40F to + 131F (Class 1)Storage: - 22F to + 158F (Class 2)Operating: - 4F to + 131F (Class 2)

• 24 hours duration

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

National (RTCM) SpecificationsNational (RTCM) Specifications

• Floatation

- Category 1: Must float in water

- Category 2: Not required to float

• 121.5 MHz homing with Morse-code “P” identifier

• Self-test function

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

Identification InformationIdentification Information

• Encoded into beacon:

- Manufacturer, model, serial number

- Category

- GPS position (optional)

• Registration database:

- Owner, address, telephone

- Application (e.g., hiking, canoeing)

- Emergency points of contact

- Additional information

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

Performance As Demonstrated in Alaska (1995-2002)Performance As Demonstrated in Alaska (1995-2002)

Cause of Activation Number Percent

Distress Activation 154 85

Non-Distress Activation 14 8

Undetermined 12 7

Total Activation 180 100

Total Rescues: 226

Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) Personal Locator Beacons (PLB)

Alert Data DistributionAlert Data Distribution

Local User Terminal

U.S. Mission Control Center

Air Force RCC

State SAR Authority

PLB System

Virtual Private

Network

Frame Relay

Voice

PLB Processor

FOR MORE INFO…FOR MORE INFO…

NOAA/SARSAT4231 Suitland RoadSuitland, MD 20746

1-301- 817-4515 Or 1-888-212-SAVE (7283)

Fax: 1-301-817-4565

Visit NOAA’s Website! www.sarsat.noaa.govVisit NOAA’s Website! www.sarsat.noaa.gov

Any Questions???Any Questions???