What does the Emergency Locator Transmitter do?

• A. Emits emergency signals activated by impact or manually.
• B. Tracks weather patterns around the aircraft.
• C. Monitors passenger seat occupancy.
• D. Receives incoming communications from air traffic control only.

Answer: (A)

The Emergency Locator Transmitter is designed to broadcast a distress beacon when an aircraft is in trouble, either automatically on impact or manually by the crew. The beacon transmits a coded signal on emergency frequencies (modern units use 406 MHz, with older systems using 121.5 MHz) that are picked up by the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system and ground stations. This signal helps search-and-rescue teams locate the aircraft quickly, often including a unique identification and, when available, location data. It’s not a device for tracking weather, it doesn’t monitor passenger seats, and it isn’t used for receiving communications from air traffic control.