When to activate the ELT

ELT switch-on rules:

• ON only in an emergency (CAR 605.40(1)).
• Exception: manufacturer-instructed test of 5 seconds or less within the first 5 minutes of any UTC hour (CAR 605.40(2)).
• 406 MHz set: never in operational mode outside an emergency (TC AIM SAR 3.8.1).

Emergency (crash):

• Unit may fire on its own in a crash. Still switch function switch to ON manually as soon as practicable.
• Do not wait for flight-planned times to expire: delay only delays rescue.
• Do not cycle OFF/ON to save battery: irregular operation wrecks localization accuracy and hampers homing.
• Once ON, leave ON until positively located and SAR forces direct you to switch off. Hearing or seeing a search aircraft is not enough.

Landed, no emergency:

• Do not activate ELT.
• Search still starts once overdue (see When an aircraft is overdue).
• Cannot reach anyone: switch ELT ON when search begins. Leave ON until found.
• Once located: use aircraft radio on 121.5 MHz, not ELT, to give condition and intentions. Switch ELT off only if it interferes.

Never attempt SAR yourself (TC AIM SAR 3.4). Cannot contact anyone: keep trying an ATS unit, or land at the nearest suitable aerodrome with a telephone.

Trap: a search aircraft finding you is not "positively located" with SAR forces telling you to switch off (their call, not yours); the 5 second test cap is not the 5 minute window the test must start within.

Practice