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Satellite testing, Preventing false alarms, False alarms – ACR&Artex ResQLink PLB User Manual

Page 15

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False alert

A false alert must be reported to the search and rescue

authorities.

False alerts in the USA that are rectified must be reported to

the US Air Force Rescue Coordination Center (AFRCC) to let

them know that the situation has been corrected and

everything is fine. Responsibly reporting these events to the

AFRCC or your proper authority will not incur a penalty, but

deliberate misuse or not notifying the proper authority may

incur a severe penalty.

Reporting

Should there be a false alert for any reason, it must be

reported to the nearest search and rescue authorities. The

information that should be reported includes:
• The PLB 15-digit Unique Identifier Number (UIN)
• Time and date
• Duration and cause of activation
• Location of beacon at the time of activation

To report false alerts outside of the USA

, contact the

national authority where your beacon is registered.

To report false alert in the United States

, contact:

United States Air Force Rescue Coordination Center

(AFRCC)

Tel: 1-800-851-3051

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8. False Alarms

Preventing false alerts

A false alert is any activation of the beacon, intentional or

otherwise, that does not result from a situation of grave

and imminent danger.

Be sure to do the following to help minimize false alerts:

Register your beacon. This does not reduce false alert

rates; however, when the beacon is properly registered,

the situation can usually be resolved with a phone call.

Be careful with whom you leave your beacon. Make

sure that they know how to use it, and that they

understand the ramifications of causing a false alert. A lot

of false alerts are generated by curious individuals. If you

notice the beacon is flashing the red or green LED and

strobing periodically on its own, this likely means it has

accidentally been activated and needs to be shut off and

reported.

The Cospas-Sarsat satellites detect distress beacon

transmissions immediately and locate the transmission

within a few minutes of beacon activation.

NOTE: If you report a false alert and the authorities have

not received the signal, do not be concerned. This may

mean that you were able to deactivate the beacon before

transmitting the signal.