Portable emergency beacons (PLB)

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Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) are processed by Cospas-Sarsat using the same procedures as ELTs. However, unlike ELTs, which use ‘aviation’ coding protocols, PLBs, because of their undifferentiated use, are identified using serialized numbers, which can only be associated with a person or a ‘carrier’ using databases set up by each state for its own beacons (beacons bearing the national country code). These databases must enable a link to be made between an alert received and a carrier, and are managed according to the same rules as those used for ELT codes.

 

1. Terminology

 

The term ‘COSPAS-SARSAT’ refers to an international satellite search and rescue programme for sea, air and land vehicles covering the entire globe. The programme is based on two satellite constellations and a network of Mission Control Centres (MCCs) responsible for processing the alert signals transmitted by the satellites and distributing operational information to the various countries of the world, without discrimination, via ‘Single National Contact Points’ or SPOCs. These single points of contact are declared by each country and listed in document Cospas-Sarsat A.001.

The support MCC for the wider Europe zone is the French Mission Control Centre, based at CNES Toulouse in France (Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales) and operated by the French Ministry of Civil Aviation and Maritime Affairs.

 

2. Codification of PLB

 

The coding used by Luxembourg is defined by :

  • the country code: 253 for Luxembourg ;
  • the PLB type approval number (or Type Approval (TAC) number) issued by Cospas-Sarsat;
  • the serial number of the beacon, assigned by the manufacturer individually to each beacon sold. This number is unique and specific to each beacon.

The coding itself includes :

  • the country code: 253 Country code - Digit 27 to 36;
  • Protocol code 0111 (Standard Location Protocol /Serial PLB) - Digits 37 to 40;
  • the Type approval code issued by Cospas- Sarsat - Digit 41 to 50 This code is accessible on this site;
  • the serial number supplied by the manufacturer - Digit 51 to 64

 

3. Use of PLB

 

Since PLBs are used by people, the efficiency of the alert management process in its successive sequences is fundamental:

  • The PLB transmits an alert message;
  • Detection and relay by the satellite;
  • Exploitation and distribution of the alert message by Cospas-Sarsat to the national SPOCs concerned (notification to the country of registration and distribution of the alert according to the geographical location of the alert);
  • Search for information in the PLB carrier's environment by the responsible service in the State concerned, enabling the alert to be validated;
  • Response to Cospas-Sarsat;
  • Processing of the information by Cospas-Sarsat;

It is imperative that the contact details of the carrier's environment (family, workplace, etc.) recorded in the database are managed as strictly as possible. This is an essential link in the efficiency of the process. The safety of the bearer is at stake, as failure to identify the source of the alert may mean that, in the event of simple detection without location, the RCCs are unable to coordinate a search and rescue operation.

 

4. Management of PLB

 

The DAC does not hold or manage a national register of PLBs and has therefore authorised direct individual online registration in the International Beacon Registration Database (IBRD) managed by COSPAS/SARSAT.

Any PLB owner can register their beacon directly into the COSPAS/SARSAT database using https://www.406registration.com/.