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SWITCH TO 406

By NSS Staff

In support of the National Search and Rescue Program, the National Search and Rescue Secretariat is pleased to provide you with this information piece, which can be used in your public education, outreach and prevention activities.

Regardless of the amount of preparation, distress situations can still occur. Having the ability to alert search and rescue (SAR) authorities as soon as possible increases your chance of a successful outcome. Carrying some sort of device to call or alert others to an emergency situation should be an essential part of your survival kit, and should be compatible with the activity and area in which you will be operating.

Advance preparation is still required, however. It is critical to know both the capabilities and the limitations of the equipment you are planning to use as your lifeline to survival. This article will provide an overview of various technologies that are typically used to call or alert SAR authorities, as well as key points to consider when making your selection. Indeed, most people find that using a combination of technologies can be the best approach.

1. 406 MHz Emergency Beacons: The International Satellite System for Search and Rescue – COSPAS-SARSAT

Since its inception in 1982, the International Satellite System for Search and Rescue, COSPAS-SARSAT (www.cospas-sarsat.org), has been linking those in distress with search and rescue responders around the world. As of December 2007, the system had provided assistance in rescuing more than 24,700 persons in over 6,760 incidents. As one of the original founding members – along with Russia, the USA, and France – Canada continues to be an active participant in the development, management, and operation of COSPAS-SARSAT.

The COSPAS-SARSAT system has three key components:

• the emergency beacons that transmit a distress signal;
• the satellites that capture and calculate the location of the distress signals; and
• the ground stations and data distribution network that relays the distress alerts to the appropriate rescue coordination centres worldwide.

When activated, a 406 MHz emergency beacon sends a digitally encoded signal that signals a distress condition, and uniquely identifies the beacon sending the alert. The signal is captured by one or more of COSPAS-SARSAT’s satellites, including those in low-earth orbit over the poles, as well as geostationary satellites that continuously monitor the earth’s surface between 70°N and 70°S latitude. The signal is downloaded to specialized ground stations (Local User Terminals), which automatically process and forward the alert to one of 26 Mission Control Centres around the globe. Canada’s Mission Control Centre (CMCC) is located in Trenton, Ontario. Using the satellite-derived information, a location is also calculated within
5 kilometres of the beacon’s position. If the beacon is GPS-enabled, the location accuracy may be closer to 0.1 km.

Fig. 1 – How the COSPAS-SARSAT system works.

Using the emergency beacon’s unique code and registered information, CMCC rapidly validates the alert and forwards it to one of the Joint Rescue Coordination Centres (JRCCs) or appropriate civil authorities for action. The JRCCs, which handle aviation and maritime incidents, are strategically located in Trenton, Ontario; Halifax, Nova Scotia; and Victoria, British Columbia. Figure 1 shows how these components of the COSPAS-SARSAT system work together.

Aside from the initial cost to purchase a 406 MHz emergency beacon, there is no subscription fee for COSPAS-SARSAT monitoring, nor is there any fee for registering it with the Canadian Beacon Registry.

The Canadian 406 MHz Beacon Registry

The key attribute for modern COSPAS-SARSAT beacons is their ability to transmit a digitally-encoded signal on 406 MHz. When properly registered with the Canadian Beacon Registry (www.canadianbeaconregistry.forces.gc.ca), SAR authorities will also know who is in distress, in addition to their location. If the beacon is triggered accidentally, false alarms can often be resolved by making a single phone call to the owner, or his/her emergency contacts. This ensures that rescue units are available to respond to actual distress situations. 406 MHz beacon registration is therefore a critical step in getting the most out of the COSPAS-SARSAT system.

In addition to the initial registration, it is important that beacon owners update their information in the Canadian Beacon Registry on a regular basis. And, at the end of an emergency beacon’s life, it is important that it be disposed with care. More information about the Canadian Beacon Registry is available at the National Search and Rescue Secretariat website (www.nss-snrs.gc.ca).

Types of 406 MHz Emergency Beacons

There are three types of COSPAS-SARSAT emergency beacons, each designed for a specific purpose. All 406 MHz emergency beacons are also equipped with a secondary homing signal on 121.5 MHz, which helps rescuers locate the beacon in conditions of darkness or reduced visibility. Many 406 MHz beacons are also capable of transmitting GPS coordinates along with the distress signal, which truly takes the “search” out of “search and rescue”.

ELT

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) – Aviation Use

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are purposebuilt for aviation use. An ELT is fixed to an aircraft’s structure, usually near the tail, and is automatically activated by the force of a crash. The ELT can also be manually activated, with the help of a cockpitmounted switch required for a 406 MHz installation.

Two types of ELTs are currently available to aircraft owners: analog units, which transmit on a primary frequency of 121.5 MHz; and the digital 406 MHz units. As of February 1, 2009, analog 121.5 MHz ELTs are no longer monitored by satellite, and do not therefore provide early alerting or a satellite-derived location for an aircraft in distress. The requirements for using ELTs on aircraft are specified in the Canadian Aviation Regulations.

The Canadian Forces is responsible for responding to search and rescue incidents involving aircraft, including those incidents signalled by an ELT alert. Volunteers from the Civil Air Search and Rescue Association (CASARA) may also be called upon to assist.

EPIRB

Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) – Maritime Use

Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacons (EPIRBs) transmitting on a primary frequency of 406 MHz are required on ships, fishing vessels and tugboats above a certain size and weight, as outlined in the Canada Shipping Act and associated regulations. Class 1 EPIRBs may be activated manually or automatically when they come in contact with water. They are also designed to float free from a sinking ship. Class 2 EPIRBs can only be activated manually. Vessels not required by law to carry an EPIRB (e.g. small pleasure craft) are encouraged to do so voluntarily.

The Canadian Coast Guard, assisted by the Canadian Forces, responds to maritime SAR incidents within Canada’s ocean jurisdiction and in the Canadian waters of the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence System. Volunteers of the Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary may also be called upon to assist. Response to marine SAR incidents that occur on Canada’s inland lakes and rivers is the responsibility of the local police, who may also call upon SAR volunteer teams to assist.

PLB

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) – For Personal Use

Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are specifically designed to be lightweight, portable, and to withstand the elements. They are triggered manually using a simple two-step process, which helps prevent accidental activations. While intended primarily for use by those working and recreating on the ground or inland waters (e.g. hiking, canoeing), pilots and mariners are also using PLBs on board aircraft and boats as personal distress alerting devices. Sometimes these PLBs are marketed as “Survival ELTs” or “Survival EPIRBs”.

Police forces across Canada (e.g. Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, etc.) are tasked to respond to SAR incidents triggered by PLBs that occur on the ground, or on inland lakes and rivers within their jurisdiction. Specially trained ground SAR volunteers may also be called upon to assist. Parks Canada’s public safety specialists are responsible for ground SAR within national parks.

Pilots and passengers who carry PLBs on aircraft should therefore confirm that their Canadian Beacon Registry record reflects this use, to ensure that the appropriate air search and rescue response (i.e. Canadian Forces / CASARA) is coordinated.

2. Alternative Satellite-Enabled Alerting Technologies

SPOT Satellite Messenger

There are a number of other commercial satellite-based technologies now available to Canadians that include a function for signalling emergencies. Many are designed primarily for locating and/or monitoring the status of people, vessels, aircraft, or vehicles, with distress alerting provided as a secondary capability.

Most of these devices acquire and then re-broadcast their GPS position through a commercial satellite system. Many also offer the capability to send these periodic GPS location reports to a data server – essentially creating an “electronic breadcrumb trail” that can be monitored remotely through the Internet or an electronic messaging system.

In addition to the cost to purchase these devices, a subscription fee is usually charged by the system provider for access to the satellites and the related data distribution and alerting services. When an emergency alert is transmitted, the commercial service provider also assumes the responsibility for contacting the appropriate search and rescue authorities on behalf of the customer.

At the present time (June 2009), some of the satellite based tracking and emergency alerting products sold by Canadian-based companies include:

• Guardian Mobility – Skytrax, Seatrax, Tracer
  (www.guardianmobility.com)
• Solara Remote Data Delivery – Field Tracker 2000
  (www.solaradata.com)
• SPOT (Globalstar Canada) - SPOT Satellite Personal Tracker
  (www.findmespot.com)

Consumers considering these alternative technologies for search and rescue alerting are encouraged to research the following:

• What is the extent of satellite coverage in the area where you will be using the device?
• Is the device designed for the environment in which it is going to be used most often (e.g. aviation, maritime, ground and inland waters), and to what standard(s)?
• Is it approved for use in Canada?
• What is the battery life, and what is the optimum operating temperature range?
• Does the device have to successfully receive a GPS position to determine its location, or can its location be calculated through other means?
• Does it have a secondary homing signal that search and rescue units can use to pinpoint you position (e.g. at night or in low visibility)?
• Is the satellite system itself, and message traffic, monitored continuously by the service provider? In other words, will any problems or outages with the system be promptly detected and remedied?
• Is the company’s emergency dispatch centre (if applicable) well-acquainted with Canada’s search and rescue system, and does it have the appropriate contact numbers for your area? If the dispatch centre is located outside your region, or outside Canada, toll-free numbers for local emergency services may not work. It may therefore be necessary to provide the company with the appropriate direct-dial emergency numbers, including area code, for your region.

3. Cellular and Satellite Telephones Cellular telephones

Cellular telephones

Cellular telephones can provide a direct and very capable means of communicating a distress situation. They enable rapid and two-way communication with rescue authorities. In order to ensure that they perform as expected, however, there are a number of aspects to consider:

• Is there cellular coverage in the area in which you will be travelling? Check with your service provider before you go. Most publish their coverage maps online. Even in an area having good coverage, physical obstacles like steep terrain can block the signal.
• Is “911” service available? In certain regions of Canada, 911 service is not available to landline or cellular users. The appropriate direct-dial numbers for the emergency and SAR services should therefore be compiled.
• Will you be subjecting your cellular phone to environmental extremes (e.g. very hot or very cold temperatures, dust, high humidity)? Is there a risk of dropping it into water, or onto rocks? Most cellular phones are not designed for rugged outdoor use, and may not therefore be suitable as a primary emergency alerting device.
• How long do the batteries typically last, and in the temperatures you are likely to encounter?
• Is the cellular phone equipped with a global positioning system (GPS) chip, and is this function activated? This feature can transmit your location to emergency authorities. Cellular companies may also be able to determine your approximate location by the cellular towers that are receiving your signal. These features should not, however, be relied upon as the sole means of determining your location.

Satellite telephones

Satellite phone

Satellite telephones are usually more versatile than cellular phones, since they are not limited by the availability of ground-based cellular networks. They are also particularly useful in that they permit real-time, two-way communication. However, many of the same considerations apply when evaluating the adequacy of a satellite telephone as a distress alerting device:

• Is there good satellite coverage in the area in which you will be travelling? Check with your service provider before you go, as this will vary by company. Unlike cellular phones, most satellite telephones also require the user to be outside, or somewhere with a clear view of the sky.
• Since calls placed from a satellite telephone must include an area code, “911” services cannot be reached. The appropriate direct-dial numbers for emergency and SAR services must be researched for the region of travel. Also, toll-free numbers may not be compatible with some satellite telephone services. Check in advance.
• Is the model of satellite telephone designed for a rugged environment? Some handsets are more robustly constructed than others, and may be water, dust, and shock resistant.
• Battery life should also be carefully researched, and spares carried.
• What other potentially useful features does the satellite telephone have? Can it calculate or display your position, or send and receive data? Check with your service provider.

Some caveats:

As the technologies available for search and rescue alerting continue to develop and grow, so too has confusion regarding the capability and limitations of related safety devices, including those that also use the term, “beacon”:

Avalanche beacons / transceivers

Avalanche beacons are critical safety devices that should be worn by people working, travelling, or recreating in avalanche-prone areas. Since survival after being buried in an avalanche is usually measured in minutes, rescue must be carried out by other people close by who were not buried. By homing in on the signal transmitted by an avalanche beacon, those who are buried can hopefully be located and dug out, before they run short of breathable air.

These beacons should not be confused, however, with 406 MHz COSPAS-SARSAT beacons like PLBs, ELTs, and EPIRBs, or any of the alternative locating devices currently on the market. Avalanche transceivers cannot be detected by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites, overflying aircraft, or even heard by the human ear. They are not designed, nor are they suitable, for distress alerting.

Family Radio Service (FRS) & General Mobile Radio Service (GMRS) radios and beacons

These popular portable radios are now used in virtually every outdoor activity, and are an easy and effective means of maintaining short-range communications within members of the same group. However, FRS and GMRS frequencies are not universally monitored by emergency services personnel. While some parks and resorts have designated certain FRS and GMRS channels for emergency purposes, the public should not have any general expectation of being able to send a distress message using these radios. They should not therefore be relied upon as an emergency communications device.

Similarly, emergency beacons that transmit on FRS or GMRS frequencies are not monitored by search and rescue authorities, unless there is specific information that a distress situation exists, and that an FRS/ GMRS beacon is being used. As these FRS/GMRS beacons are very rare, few search and rescue teams are equipped or trained to locate them.

Maritime Survivor Locator Devices (MSLDs)

Maritime Survivor Locator Devices, or MSLDs, are short-range beacons most commonly used by personnel working on ships or offshore oil and gas platforms. They are compact beacons worn on a lifevest or floatation suit, and may be manually or water-activated. Transmitting a low-powered radio signal (e.g. 121.5 MHz), MSLDs are intended for short-range homing. Frequently called “man overboard” beacons, they indicate the direction towards a person who has fallen into the water, which is particularly useful during rescue operations in heavy seas or darkness. MSLDs are not, however, designed or intended to be a primary distress alerting device, nor are they required to meet the minimum standards for a COSPAS-SARSAT PLB or EPIRB.

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