Category: Uncategorised

[module-243]

Legend: yellow ELTs, red EPIRBs, blue PLBs (Land), green PLBs (Aviation), purple PLBs (Maritime)

SIT 185 Information Letter to SPOCs

ELT(DT) Information Letter as Revised at JC-37

Below are some articles on the Cospas-Sarsat Programme or System published in different magazines, newspapers and other media.

Please find here a ZIP file containing documents related to the Secretariat circular letter on JC-35 Matters of Interest to Beacon Manufacturers and test facilities.

Return Link Service (RLS) Protocol Acceptance Template

RLS Protocol Acceptance Template

• JC-40 – Report on System Status and Operations for Ground Segment Providers
• JC-40 – Report on System Status and Operations for Space Segment Providers
• JC-40 – Report on System Status and Operations for User States
• JC-40 – SLT Results – Attachment
• JC-40 – Table for processing 2025 Annual System Data
• JC-40 – 2025 Saves (Excel) 
• JC-40 – 2025 Saves (Access)

What is an RLS-Enabled Beacon?

An RLS-enabled beacon is a beacon that has the Return Link Service feature.  The Return Link Service feature is an indication (e.g., a light or text display) on the beacon that confirms to the user that the distress signal from the beacon has been received and localized by the Cospas-Sarsat system and forwarded to government authorities for action.  It does NOT mean that a rescue has yet been organized/launched, only that the distress alert has been received and routed to the appropriate government agencies.   For further information about how the Return Link Service feature works, and performance expectations, you should watch the Cospas-Sarsat video on RLS and read the related sections of the SAR/Galileo Service Definition Document.

Every beacon includes as part of the transmitted distress message a preprogrammed “country code”, that normally indicates the national residency of the owner and/or the country/territory where the beacon was purchased.  Some countries/territories allow RLS-enabled beacons (using an RLS “protocol” for the transmitted distress message) to be preprogrammed with their “country code”, and sold and used on their territory, and some other countries/territories do not.  (However, any properly programmed beacon will work anywhere on Earth.)

Please Register your Beacon

Cospas-Sarsat strongly recommends that you register your beacon.  It only is possible to register a beacon in the registry operated by the country matching the country code programmed into the beacon (or the International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) if the country uses it for their registrations).  (For example, it only is possible to register a beacon with a French country code in France’s registry.  However, owners of Belgian-coded beacons must register in the IBRD.)  Visit Where to Register My Beacon to see where you can register your beacon

Where Can I Buy an RLS-Enabled Beacon?

For countries/territories that have informed Cospas-Sarsat that RLS-enabled beacons are allowed to be preprogrammed with their “country code” and sold and used on their territory please see countries’ C/S S.007 webpages. Because there may be a delay in countries informing Cospas-Sarsat, it is also recommended to check directly with the national/territorial authorities for the latest information on what is allowed. Your local beacon vendor may be able to tell you where to find this information.