Personal Locator Beacons Now Legal on land in UK
News Release / 13.01.2012
[This announcement comes from Technology company Cobham Industries who are currently promoting a new PLB for UK use at the Outdoors Show at Excel, London. Booth OU741]Late last year Ofcom the regulatory agency for radio communications licensing in the UK passed new legislation permitting the use of 406 MHz Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) on land in the UK from 12th January 2012.
The Wireless Telegraphy (Exemption and Amendment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011 made on the 19th December 2011 as UK Statutory Instrument 2011 No.3035 permit the licence free use of 406 MHz PLBs on land in the UK provided that they comply with publication “IR 2084 - UK Interface Requirement 2084 Cospas-Sarsat locator beacons for use on land (December 2011)†published by Ofcom.
PLBs have been permitted to be used on both aircraft and ships in the UK for a number of years now, however both applications require the user to be in possession of an appropriate radio licence. Until now no means of licensing PLBs for use on land in the UK has existed, which has prevented backpackers, equestrians, lone workers, mountaineers and others going into remote areas with poor or non-existent mobile phone coverage from legally carrying these lifesaving devices.
From 12th January however thanks to the efforts of a large number of people and organisations all this will change and a licence will no longer be required to carry and use a PLB on land. Chris Hoffman ACR’s Business Development Director said; “We very much welcome this change to UK legislation, as we believe it will help to save lives and reduce the risk and time involved in finding people in distress in remote areas. It is important that people remember to register their PLBs with the UK Distress & Security Beacon Registry in Falmouth in order to make the service effective and permit a rapid response to any distress alert.â€
Going forward individuals and organisations will be able to buy a 406 MHz PLB and carry it with them on land and in situations of grave and imminent danger use it to alert the police who are responsible for co-ordinating search and rescue on land. Distress Alert messages will be picked up by satellite and relayed via the United Kingdom Mission Control Centre (UKMCC) currently at RAF Kinloss to the relevant Police Force. The police can then in turn call in any appropriate support services, for instance Mountain Rescue or search and rescue helicopters, such as the one flown by Prince William, the Duke of Cambridge, from RAF Valley in Anglesey.
Once someone has purchased a PLB for use on land there are no additional charges related to its use or registration. There are no annual or monthly subscription or licence fees, registration is free and there is no charge for being rescued, even if a large team of people and a helicopter are involved.
Purchasers of PLBs for use on land should be aware of the fact that different rules and regulations cover the use of 406 MHz PLBs in the air and on ships at sea and that if they intend to use their PLBs in these applications as well, then they will require the appropriate radio licences and operators certifications for these applications.
All ACR 406 MHz PLBs are fully compliant with IR2084 and as such are approved for sale and use on land in the UK.
Owners of PLBs in the UK should register their beacons with:
The UK Distress & Security Beacon Registry, Falmouth MRCC, Pendennis Point, Castle Drive, Falmouth, Cornwall, TR11 4WZ. Tel: 01326 211569, Fax: 01326 319264, E-mail: epirb@mcga.gov.uk
