New Civil Aviation Regulations require most aircraft to carry a digital 406 MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT), also known as distress beacons or emergency beacons. Older, analogue 121.5 MHz ELTs are no longer permitted.

Maintenance engineers and aircraft operators are reminded that they must properly dispose of older 121.5 MHz ELTs. When removing these older devices from aircraft, the battery must be physically disconnected from the device. The older devices and batteries can be disposed of at Battery World outlets.

These steps are required to ensure false activations of 121.5 MHz beacons do not occur.

Further details about the "switchover" to 406 MHz ELTs are available on the CASA website at: http://casa.gov.au/owners/elt.htm and on the AMSA website at: http://beacons.amsa.gov.au/.