Monitoring 121.5 in Australia
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Australia
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Sheep Guts
"Maybe the next generation of ELTs will have this?"
I sure do hope so but in the mean time we have to rely on the current system and the cleaner the signal the more chance of an accurate position. I just freak out when I read posts suggesting you can have a chat or check the position of jet traffic on 121.5, although these suggestions did come from NAS supporters on another thread.
Makes you wonder don't it!!!
"Maybe the next generation of ELTs will have this?"
I sure do hope so but in the mean time we have to rely on the current system and the cleaner the signal the more chance of an accurate position. I just freak out when I read posts suggesting you can have a chat or check the position of jet traffic on 121.5, although these suggestions did come from NAS supporters on another thread.
Makes you wonder don't it!!!
I don't get it.
To state the bleeding obvious and as all professional pilots know and it applies to all private pilots as well, if you have one VHF com only then the appropriate frequency to monitor and use is the area ATS (as shown on the map with boundaries or not - may they return soon) or the MBZ/CTAF frequency as required. If you have two VHF coms then area frequency plus MBZ/CTAF if approaching an MBZ/CTAF OR area plus 121.5. 121.5 should be monitored only and only used if you are in trouble or responding to someone else in trouble if a verbal transmission is received. Receipt of ELT/EPIRB signals which may be from one of many sources (air,ground,marine) should be advised to ATS through the appropriate area frequency or relay through another aircraft if out of range of an ATS ground station. If you have the luxury of three coms then as for two above plus whatever - company, chat, etc
Am I wrong?
Cheers
To state the bleeding obvious and as all professional pilots know and it applies to all private pilots as well, if you have one VHF com only then the appropriate frequency to monitor and use is the area ATS (as shown on the map with boundaries or not - may they return soon) or the MBZ/CTAF frequency as required. If you have two VHF coms then area frequency plus MBZ/CTAF if approaching an MBZ/CTAF OR area plus 121.5. 121.5 should be monitored only and only used if you are in trouble or responding to someone else in trouble if a verbal transmission is received. Receipt of ELT/EPIRB signals which may be from one of many sources (air,ground,marine) should be advised to ATS through the appropriate area frequency or relay through another aircraft if out of range of an ATS ground station. If you have the luxury of three coms then as for two above plus whatever - company, chat, etc
Am I wrong?
Cheers
Join Date: Jul 1998
Location: brisbane
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From my point of view, what is chilling, from an Jet- RPT cum Charter Captains point of view, and there are not many jet jocks who operate from Sydney, Norfolk, Cairns, Townsville, Hamilton Island and then to Century, Phosphate, Cloncurry etc. Is that:
Dick Smith advocates that he and his happy band of ******s should be allowed to operate anywhere OCTA and monitor ONLY 121.5!!!!
I asked him, and others on this forum, to consider the implications of this. if flying from Winton to anywhere in the NT using these procedures a few months ago. Response? Zip!!
This happy band of genltemen would be flying through one of the busiest areas in Australia and according to Dick Smith, to paraphrase, " be free to listen to the radio and enjoy the view."
Dick I have honestly tried to see your point of view, but Sir, you have got it wrong.
Have the balls to admit it!
Dick Smith advocates that he and his happy band of ******s should be allowed to operate anywhere OCTA and monitor ONLY 121.5!!!!
I asked him, and others on this forum, to consider the implications of this. if flying from Winton to anywhere in the NT using these procedures a few months ago. Response? Zip!!
This happy band of genltemen would be flying through one of the busiest areas in Australia and according to Dick Smith, to paraphrase, " be free to listen to the radio and enjoy the view."
Dick I have honestly tried to see your point of view, but Sir, you have got it wrong.
Have the balls to admit it!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Brisbane, Australia
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A little off the point, but to be accurate.
****su was correct about AsA monitoring of 121.5.
243.0 is monitored in Brisbane (not sure about Melbourne) Centre on the "old" military sector position now part of the Fraser Group (Downs Sector). It's a hangover from the days when we had a military presence in the AACC, before RAAF manpower problems were solved by handing over the military sectors to AsA fulltime.
It picks up all transmissions on 243.0 and emits an aural and visual alarm. 121.5 harmonics are not picked up, though I think it's due to the filtering of the frequency.
As for monitoring 121.5 elsewhere in the world, if you look at the thread under ATC issues in pprune forums, everyone does it differently. Probably due to necessity, economics, and local aviation culture and requirements.
So lets do whats right for Oz, not some half baked o/s system some well meaning amateurs are trying to force on the rest of the avaition community.
****su was correct about AsA monitoring of 121.5.
243.0 is monitored in Brisbane (not sure about Melbourne) Centre on the "old" military sector position now part of the Fraser Group (Downs Sector). It's a hangover from the days when we had a military presence in the AACC, before RAAF manpower problems were solved by handing over the military sectors to AsA fulltime.
It picks up all transmissions on 243.0 and emits an aural and visual alarm. 121.5 harmonics are not picked up, though I think it's due to the filtering of the frequency.
As for monitoring 121.5 elsewhere in the world, if you look at the thread under ATC issues in pprune forums, everyone does it differently. Probably due to necessity, economics, and local aviation culture and requirements.
So lets do whats right for Oz, not some half baked o/s system some well meaning amateurs are trying to force on the rest of the avaition community.
Join Date: Aug 2003
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I thought the only thing you heard on 121.5 was over paid QF second officers making PA's !
Seriously though - Does a quick cvoice call on 121.5 initiate a 'reaction' from the COSPAS system ?? Or can it differentiate between vox and the siren signal ??
Seriously though - Does a quick cvoice call on 121.5 initiate a 'reaction' from the COSPAS system ?? Or can it differentiate between vox and the siren signal ??
Join Date: Dec 1999
Location: Caloundra, QLD, Australia
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Topper, a voice transmission on 121.5/243MHz will not trigger an alert on the Cospas/Sarsat satellite system, certainly not on the Aus/NZ Local User Terminals (LUTs). However, electrical interferer(s) sometimes do trigger an alert. One malfunctioning VCR in Victoria did just that in 1995, and yes ACA and AsA did find the culprit!
99% of all alerts are false alarms but AusSAR still has to treat each alert as a Distress situation and will move heaven and earth to find the source. In some cases the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) plays a significant part in tracking down inadvertent and malicious activations which occur all too frequently. Particularly in school holidays! Incidentaly, Perth WA has the worst record in Australia for malicious activations!
99% of all alerts are false alarms but AusSAR still has to treat each alert as a Distress situation and will move heaven and earth to find the source. In some cases the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) plays a significant part in tracking down inadvertent and malicious activations which occur all too frequently. Particularly in school holidays! Incidentaly, Perth WA has the worst record in Australia for malicious activations!
Join Date: Dec 1999
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KM, as in someone stealing and ELT or EPIRB and activating it awaiting a result. One example was an EPIRB stolen in Victoria and placed under powerlines awaiting the searching helicopter to strike powerlines and crash! 
Malicious: As in deliberately activated to cause alarm and confusion!
Can interfere with genuine activation and provide spurious Satellite readouts.
Malicious: As in deliberately activated to cause alarm and confusion!
Can interfere with genuine activation and provide spurious Satellite readouts.
Join Date: Mar 2001
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AirNoServicesAustralia:
My understanding is that short transmissions will not be picked up as an ELT. The Satellite requires a constant transmission so that it can use the doppler effect to work out when it has pass overhead / abeam the beacon.
Transmissions from memory simply come up as very short "noise" type bursts.
Also if an aircraft transmits on 121.5 and the sattelite picks that up, then the SAR process starts, and we have to ask aircraft to monitor 121.5 and advise if a beacon is heard.
Transmissions from memory simply come up as very short "noise" type bursts.
