SPO.IDE.A.190 Emergency locator transmitter (ELT)

BATTERIES

(a)All batteries used in ELTs or PLBs should be replaced (or recharged, if the battery is rechargeable) when the equipment has been in use for more than 1 cumulative hour or in the following cases:

(1)Batteries specifically designed for use in ELTs and having an airworthiness release certificate (EASA Form 1 or equivalent) should be replaced (or recharged, if the battery is rechargeable) before the end of their useful life in accordance with the maintenance instructions applicable to the ELT.

(2)Standard batteries manufactured in accordance with an industry standard and not having an airworthiness release certificate (EASA Form 1 or equivalent), when used in ELTs should be replaced (or recharged, if the battery is rechargeable) when 50 % of their useful life (or for rechargeable, 50 % of their useful life of charge), as established by the battery manufacturer, has expired.

(3)All batteries used in PLBs should be replaced (or recharged, if the battery is rechargeable) when 50 % of their useful life (or for rechargeable, 50 % of their useful life of charge), as established by the battery manufacturer, has expired.

(4)The battery useful life (or useful life of charge) criteria in (1),(2) and (3) do not apply to batteries (such as water-activated batteries) that are essentially unaffected during probable storage intervals.

(b)The new expiry date for a replaced (or recharged) battery should be legibly marked on the outside of the equipment.

TYPES OF ELT AND GENERAL TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

(a)Point (a) of AMC2 CAT.IDE.A.280 lists the applicable types of ELTs.

(b)To minimise the possibility of damage in the event of a crash impact, the ELT(AF), ELT(AP), ELT(AD), or ELT(DT) should be rigidly fixed to the aircraft structure, as far aft as practicable, with its antenna and connections arranged so as to maximise the probability of the signal being transmitted after a crash.

(c)Point (c) of AMC2 CAT.IDE.A.280 on crash survivability and homing-signal capability applies.

(d)Any ELT carried should operate in accordance with the relevant provisions of ICAO Annex 10, Volume III and should be registered with the national agency responsible for initiating search and rescue or other nominated agency.

PLB TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

(a)A personal locator beacon (PLB) should have a built-in GNSS receiver with a cosmicheskaya sistyema poiska avariynich sudov — search and rescue satellite-aided tracking (COSPAS-SARSAT) type approval number. However, devices with a COSPAS-SARSAT with a number belonging to series 700 are excluded as this series of numbers identifies the special-use beacons not meeting all the technical requirements and all the tests specified by COSPAS-SARSAT.

(b)Any PLB carried should be registered with the national agency responsible for initiating search and rescue or other nominated agency.

BRIEFING ON PLB USE When a PLB is carried by a task specialist, he/she should be briefed on its characteristics and use by the pilot-in-command before the flight.

TERMINOLOGY

GM1 CAT.IDE.A.280 contains explanations of terms used in point SPO.IDE.A.190 and in the related AMC.

MAXIMUM CERTIFIED SEATING CONFIGURATION The maximum certified seating configuration does not include flight crew seats.

ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE The guidance provided in GM2 CAT.IDE.A.280 is also applicable to point SPO.IDE.A.190.