Author: kevin

  • Christmas Gift Rescue

    Two cyclists received a distress beacon for Christmas and it wasn’t long before they found a need for it.

    The couple had ridden in Pureora Forest Park near Taupo, New Zealand before, but got completely lost , and received a timely rescue after setting off their beacon despite not having yet registered it.

    Registering a beacon promptly upon receipt or purchase can provide rescuers with access to important emergency contact and other information, which could aid in a timely rescue.

    Read more here:
    http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1601/S00102/christmas-beacon-saves-day-for-cyclists.htm 

  • MCC Selection for Additional Alert Messages After Position Confirmation, and LGM MCC Commissioning Status

    DDR  Destination MCC Maximum Number of Alerts Requested after Position Confirmation (1) LGM Operational (2) LGM Report LGM entry in Operation Date FGB ELT(DT) (3) SGB (4)
    Central DDR CYMCC 999 YES EWG-3C/2023 Nov-19 JC-38  JC-40
    FMCC 0 YES JC-30 Dec-16  JC-36   EWG-3C/2022
    GRMCC 999 YES EWG-3C/2021/S1 Jun-21 
    ITMCC 999 YES JC-36 Mar-22 
    NMCC 0 YES JC-31 Sep-17  JC-38  EWG-3C/2026/S2 
    TRMCC 0 YES EWG-3C/2020/S4 Dec-20
    UKMCC 999 YES EWG-1/2019 Jun-19 JC-39 
    Eastern DDR CMC 0 YES EWG-3C/2022  Sep-22  EWG-3C/2025/S2 
    INMCC 999 NO  * *
    PAMCC 999 NO  * *
    North West Pacific DDR CNMCC 0 YES EWG-3C/2023 Jun-23
    HKMCC 0 YES  EWG-3C/2026/S2** May-26 EWG-3C/2026/S2** EWG-3C/2026/S2**
    JAMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2020/S4 Apr-20 
    KOMCC 0 YES  JC-38 Feb-24
    TAMCC 0 YES  EWG-3C/2022 Mar-22  EWG-3C/2025/S2**  EWG-3C/2025/S2** 
    VNMCC 1 NO  * *
    South Central DDR AEMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2023 Aug-23
    ALMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2020/S4 May-20 EWG-3C/2025/S1  EWG-3C/2026/S1 
    NIMCC 999 NO  * *
    QAMCC 999 YES  EWG-1/2019 Oct-19
    SAMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2023  Jul-23
    SPMCC 999 YES  JC-32 Jan-19  JC-37  EWG-3C/2025 /S1
    TGMCC   NO  Under Development   * *
    South West Pacific DDR ASMCC 999 NO  * *
    AUMCC 999 YES  JC-32 Jul-19 EWG-3C/2023  EWG-3C/2023 
    IDMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2025/S1 Aug-24 EWG-3C/2025/S1  EWG-3C-2025/S1
    SIMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2020/S2 Apr-20 JC-39 JC-39
    THMCC 999 YES EWG-3C/2025/S2 Oct-25 EWG-3C/2025/S2 EWG-3C/2025/S2 
    Western DDR ARMCC 999 NO  * *
    BRMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2025 Jan-25 EWG-3C/2025/S1 EWG-3C/2025/S1
    CHMCC 999 YES  EWG-3C/2021/S1 Nov-20  JC-40  JC-40
    CMCC 999 YES EWG-3C/2026/S2 Jul-26 EWG-3C/2026/S2 EWG-3C/2026/S2
    PEMCC 999 NO  * *
    USMCC 999 YES  JC-30 Dec-16   JC-36  JC-36

     as at 29-May-2026

    Legend

    0 MCC has requested that no additional alert messages for a particular beacon activation be sent to it after a message has been received that includes a confirmed position for that beacon.
    999 MCC has requested to receive unlimited additional alert messages for a particular beacon activation even after receiving a confirmed beacon position.
    [xx] The number specifies the maximum number of additional alert messages desired by the MCC after receiving a confirmed position from a particular beacon activation. 

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Notes:

    (1) Maximum Number of Alerts Requested after Position Confirmation:

    • All MCCs by default will receive continued transmission of MEOSAR data for a beacon, even after initial position confirmation (and will be shown as 999 above) unless the MCC has notified its nodal MCC and the Secretariat of a preferred numerical limit to messages after initial confirmation of a beacon’s position.
    • Per document C/S A.001 section 3.2.5, the capability to limit the number of alerts after position confirmation is not required.

    (2) For current operational status of MCCs, see the Cospas-Sarsat Quality Monitoring System (QMS) tables.

    The following status information is provided from the EWG/JC formal recommendation when:
    (3) the MCC is commissioned for FGB ELT(DT) capability.
    (4) the MCC is commissioned for SGB capability (including SGB ELT(DT)).

    * Since CSC-69 in 2023, new DMCCs shall be commissioned at the same time for the three following capabilities: MEOSAR IOC/FOC, FGB and SGB ELT(DT), and SGB.
    ** Capability commissioned but not declared as “FOC” due to nodal MCC restrictions.

    MCC Selection to Receive Notification of Operational “Live” Beacon Tests Conducted Outside of Their Service Area

    Matrix is available at MCC Selection for SIT 915 Live Test

  • Reference Beacon Status

    Reference Beacon Status can now be found on the QARS pages here, under the “REFBE” tab: https://qars.cospas-sarsat.int/?tab=refbe

  • MCC/SPOC Model Agreement Template

    A new template has been made available to provide a MCC/SPOC Model Agreement to address the distribution and reception of Cospas-Sarsat distress alert data between Cospas-Sarsat Mission Control Centres and their supported search and rescue points of contact.

  • List of Current Correspondence Working Groups

    Cospas-Sarsat correspondence working group (CWG) meetings are informal working groups and take place in a variety of platforms.

    The list below was updated 17 February 2026. For modifications, please send a message to <conference at cospas-sarsat.int>

    CWG Name Leader Venue Status
    AI in MCC Operations Dr. Hamad Albadry (hamad.ab at nsrc.gov.ae) Basecamp 2 Active
    Development of Operational Documents for the Implementation of MEOSAR Operations Mr. Denis Hill (DenisAPHill at gmail.com) Basecamp 2, E-mail Dormant
    FGB and SGB ELT(DT) and SGB System Test Mr. Chris Hoffman (chris.hoffman at acrartex.com) Basecamp 2 Active
    FGB One-Way Communication (OWC) Mr. Mike Reece (michael.reece2 at forces.gc.ca) Basecamp 2 Active
    GEOLUT CWG Mr. Peter Andreadis (peter.andreadis at forces.gc.ca) and
    Mr. Mike Reece (michael.reece2 at forces.gc.ca)
    Basecamp 2 Active
    MEOLUT Performance Specification and Design Guidelines and the MEOLUT Commissioning Standard Mr. George Theodorakos (george.j.theodorakos at nasa.gov) Basecamp 2 Active
    MEOSAR Space Segment Mr. George Theodorakos (george.j.theodorakos at nasa.gov) Basecamp 2 Active
    Opening and Closing of Beacon Frequency Channels USA (TBD) Basecamp 3 Active
    T.001/T.007 Unmoderated Basecamp 2 Active
    T.018/T.021 Mr. Anthony Foster (anthony.w.foster at nasa.gov) Basecamp 2 Active
    Two-Way Communication Mr. Antonio Rolla (antonio.rolla at ec.europa.eu) Basecamp 2

    Active

     

    Project forums for correspondence groups are set up in a third-party site called Basecamp, from which you will receive an invitation to set up an account.

    Details will be provided to all CWG leaders on how to arrange conference calls.

    Please contact the leader listed above to be included in the correspondence working groups.

    Please note the following procedure regarding correspondence working groups:

    1)  At the conclusion of a CWG’s work, the leader of the CWG shall produce a summary of the work and conclusions reached by the CWG in a format based upon the JC Splinter Group Report. The content of this report shall be agreed by the CWG members.

    2)  In addition, the CWG leader shall also produce a draft of the relevant specification, output paper or other document which fulfills the task allocated to the CWG. The content of this document shall be agreed by the CWG members.

    3)  The above documents may, if required, be combined into an input paper for submission to future Cospas-Sarsat meetings where the CWG Report and output document could form Annexes to the C/S input paper.

    4)  Apart from the above documents no other records of the work of a CWG shall be maintained by Cospas-Sarsat once a CWG has completed its work and all communications, conversation threads and records of the CWG’s work will be deleted no sooner than one month after the completion of the CWG’s work.

     
     
     
  • Galileo’s Dozen – 12 Satellites Now in Orbit

    Galileo 11 and 12 lifted off together at 11:51 GMT (12:51 CET, 08:51 local time) atop a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana.

    “With today’s launch, Europe has doubled the number of its Galileo satellites in orbit in just nine months,” commented the Director General of ESA.

    Read more here:
    http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Navigation/The_future_-_Galileo/Launching_Galileo/Galileo_s_dozen_12_satellites_now_in_orbit 

  • Unmounted EPIRB Vibrates in Boat, Sets Off False Search

    EPIRBs can be set off by vibrations, so they are usually mounted to the wall of a boat, which minimises this.

    AMSA said EPIRBS should be placed in a mounting bracket or a grab bag with flares and other safety equipment.

    Read more here:
    http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/news/westpac-helicopter-tasked-after-distress-beacon-in/2872074/ 

  • New Zealand, Australia Boost SARSAT System in Southern Hemisphere

    A new MEOSAR satellite ground station was completed near Tuapo, New Zealand in November.

    The new ground station, along with a similar receiving station in Western Australia that began construction in 2014 will be commissioned for use in the next year, boosting SARSAT coverage in the Southern Hemisphere.

    The chances of a satellite being in line of sight of beacons will greatly increase as the number of MEOSAR satellites orbiting the Earth continues to rise.

    Maritime New Zealand will now enter a period of testing for the site, after which Cospas-Sarsat will consider data from the ground station to ensure it meets appropriate standards and approve it as part of the global network.

    Read more here:
    http://www.satellitetoday.com/technology/2015/12/03/new-zealand-australia-step-to-forefront-of-new-satellite-search-and-rescue-system/ 

  • EPIRB Activated and Four Rescued from Capsized Cabin Cruiser

    JRCC received an alert with suspect position data from an Australian EPIRB that had previously been owned by another user.

    Aircraft reported hearing the beacon, and a search and rescue plane investigated, soon joined by a helicopter and vessel already helping in the search for a missing kite surfer.

    The helicopter sighted four people in the water wearing life jackets, and all were subsequently recovered by the diverted rescue vessel.

    Read more and view video footage here:
    https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/wa/a/30226062/four-rescued-after-wave-capsizes-cruiser/ 

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