ACR&Artex SLB406 ELT - Manual (Page 13)

ARTEX PRODUCTS / ACR ELECTRONICS, INC
DESCRIPTION, OPERATION, INSTALLATION AND MAINTENANCE MANUAL
SLB 406 ELT
Page 13 of 43
MAR 27/11
570-6700 Rev. B
Initial Issue DEC 19/2006
Cospas-Sarsat Overview
Cospas-Sarsat is an international, humanitarian search and rescue system that uses
satellites to detect and locate emergency beacons carried by ships, aircraft, and
individuals. The system consists of a network of satellites, ground stations, mission
control centers, and rescue coordination centers.
When a 406 MHz emergency beacon is activated, the signal is received by a satellite and
relayed to the nearest available ground station. The ground station, called a Local User
Terminal (LUT), processes the signal and calculates the position from which it originated
using the Doppler Shift process. This position is transmitted to a mission control center
(MCC) where it is joined with identification data and other information on that beacon.
The MCC then transmits an alert message to the appropriate rescue coordination center
based on the geographic location of the beacon. If the location of the beacon is in
another country's area of responsibility, then the alert is transmitted to that country's
assigned MCC.
On average, from the time a 406 MHz emergency beacon is activated it takes 8-10
minutes for the alert message and accompanying identification data to arrive at the
appropriate rescue coordination center. The Cospas-Sarsat system provides the
capability for protecting lives. With a 406 MHz beacon, a distress message can be sent
to the appropriate authorities from anywhere on Earth 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Figure 1 – Cospas-Sarsat Overview