Rescue Satellites Set for Summer

Posted by Alan Sorum Jun 4, 2008

With the approach of the summer recreational season coming, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) was readied their rescue satellite system called COSPAS-SARSAT to receive the inevitable jump in traffic generated by emergency locator beacons.

This international search and rescue satellite system was responsible for a record 353 saves in 2007. COSPAS-SARSAT detects and locates radio distress signals transmitted by emergency beacons located on boats and aircraft, and carried by people.

SARSAT Program Manager Chris O’Connors, states in an Agency press release that, “During the summer, we typically see a big jump in rescues because more people are out enjoying the warm weather. But anyone planning to hike or camp this summer in a remote area where cell phone service is not reliable, or sail a boat far from shore, should not leave home without an emergency beacon registered with NOAA.”

Program sponsors wish to remind the public that older emergency beacons that operated on 121.5 and 243 MHz are being phased out on 1 February 2009. Newer equipment uses the 406 MHz frequency band for their transmissions. 406 MHz emergency locator beacons generate superior accuracy and provide identification information to potential rescuers.