republic-os/legal/us/code/title-49/chapter-447/section-44712.md

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LegalText	49 U.S.C. § 44712	Emergency locator transmitters	us	united_states_code	code_section	49	TRANSPORTATION	447	SAFETY REGULATION	44712	49 U.S.C. § 44712	current	119-100	2026-06-26	official	https://uscode.house.gov/download/releasepoints/us/pl/119/100/xml_usc49@119-100.zip	/us/usc/t49/s44712	data/legal/raw/us/code/title-49/usc49.xml	f08da8d7adc093364059c22a7d362049bb20a23b08261394d4df45bbe672fbc8	0786acdd244d8f42c5a8e8ed1ec2a8dcb47dd0e02a286752710a20745702a4fb	e48c102e5481307f6d68c9bacd146abeba0b2cdaf5b075323c4786f7de31f84c	2026-07-04	official	legal us-code

49 U.S.C. § 44712 - Emergency locator transmitters

Text

(a) Installation.— An emergency locator transmitter must be installed on a fixed-wing powered civil aircraft for use in air commerce.

(b) Nonapplication.— Prior to January 1, 2002, subsection (a) does not apply to—

(1) turbojet-powered aircraft;

(2) aircraft when used in scheduled flights by scheduled air carriers holding certificates issued by the Secretary of Transportation under subpart II of this part;

(3) aircraft when used in training operations conducted entirely within a 50 mile radius of the airport from which the training operations begin;

(4) aircraft when used in flight operations related to design and testing, the manufacture, preparation, and delivery of the aircraft, or the aerial application of a substance for an agricultural purpose;

(5) aircraft holding certificates from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for research and development;

(6) aircraft when used for showing compliance with regulations, crew training, exhibition, air racing, or market surveys; and

(7) aircraft equipped to carry only one individual.

(c) Nonapplication Beginning on January 1, 2002.— (1) In general.— Subject to paragraph (2), on and after January 1, 2002, subsection (a) does not apply to—

(A) aircraft when used in scheduled flights by scheduled air carriers holding certificates issued by the Secretary of Transportation under subpart II of this part;

(B) aircraft when used in training operations conducted entirely within a 50-mile radius of the airport from which the training operations begin;

(C) aircraft when used in flight operations related to the design and testing, manufacture, preparation, and delivery of aircraft;

(D) aircraft when used in research and development if the aircraft holds a certificate from the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out such research and development;

(E) aircraft when used in showing compliance with regulations, crew training, exhibition, air racing, or market surveys;

(F) aircraft when used in the aerial application of a substance for an agricultural purpose;

(G) aircraft with a maximum payload capacity of more than 18,000 pounds when used in air transportation; or

(H) aircraft equipped to carry only one individual.

(2) Delay in implementation.— The Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration may continue to implement subsection (b) rather than subsection (c) for a period not to exceed 2 years after January 1, 2002, if the Administrator finds such action is necessary to promote—

(A) a safe and orderly transition to the operation of civil aircraft equipped with an emergency locator; or

(B) other safety objectives.

(d) Compliance.— An aircraft meets the requirement of subsection (a) if it is equipped with an emergency locator transmitter that transmits on the 121.5/243 megahertz frequency or the 406 megahertz frequency or with other equipment approved by the Secretary for meeting the requirement of subsection (a).

(e) Removal.— The Administrator shall prescribe regulations specifying the conditions under which an aircraft subject to subsection (a) of this section may operate when its emergency locator transmitter has been removed for inspection, repair, alteration, or replacement.

(Pub. L. 103–272, § 1(e), July 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 1194; Pub. L. 106–181, title V, § 501(a), Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 131.)

Notes

Historical and Revision Notes RevisedSectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 44712(a)49 App.:1421(d)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 601(d)(1); added Dec. 29, 1970, Pub. L. 91–596, § 31, 84 Stat. 1619; restated Jan. 2, 1974, Pub. L. 93–239, § 4, 87 Stat. 1048; Nov. 9, 1977, Pub. L. 95–163, § 15(a)(1), 91 Stat. 1283. 44712(b)49 App.:1421(d)(2).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 601(d)(2); added Dec. 29, 1970, Pub. L. 91–596, § 31, 84 Stat. 1619; restated Jan. 2, 1974, Pub. L. 93–239, § 4, 87 Stat. 1048.  49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 3(e), 98 Stat. 1704. 44712(c)49 App.:1421(d)(3).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 601(d)(3); added Nov. 9, 1977, Pub. L. 95–163, § 15(a)(2), 91 Stat. 1283. In subsection (a), the words “Except with respect to aircraft described in paragraph (2) of this subsection and except as provided in paragraph (3) of this subsection” are omitted as surplus. The words “minimum standards pursuant to this section shall include a requirement that”, the text of 49 App.:1421(d)(1)(A), and the words “after three years and six months following such date” are omitted as executed. In subsection (b), the word “used” is substituted for “engaged” for consistency. In clause (3), the word “training” is substituted for “local flight” for consistency. In clause (4), the words “chemicals and other” are omitted as surplus. In clause (5), the word “purposes” is omitted as surplus. In subsection (c), the words “prescribe regulations” are substituted for “shall issue regulations . . . as he prescribes in such regulations” to eliminate unnecessary words. The words “such limitations and” and “from such aircraft” are omitted as surplus.

Editorial Notes

Amendments2000—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 106–181, § 501(a)(1), substituted “Prior to January 1, 2002, subsection (a)” for “Subsection (a) of this section” in introductory provisions. Subsecs. (c) to (e). Pub. L. 106–181, § 501(a)(2), (3), added subsecs. (c) and (d) and redesignated former subsec. (c) as (e).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2000 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 106–181 applicable only to fiscal years beginning after Sept. 30, 1999, see section 3 of Pub. L. 106–181, set out as a note under section 106 of this title.

RegulationsPub. L. 106–181, title V, § 501(b), Apr. 5, 2000, 114 Stat. 132, provided that: “The Secretary [of Transportation] shall issue regulations to carry out section 44712(c) of title 49, United States Code, as amended by this section, not later than January 1, 2001.”

Emergency Locator Transmitters on General Aviation AircraftPub. L. 112–95, title III, § 347, Feb. 14, 2012, 126 Stat. 82, provided that: “(a) Inspection.—As part of the annual inspection of general aviation aircraft, the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration shall require a detailed inspection of each emergency locator transmitter (in this section referred to as an ‘ELT’) installed in general aviation aircraft operating in the United States to ensure that the ELT is mounted and retained in accordance with the manufacturer’s specifications. “(b) Mounting and Retention.—“(1) In general.—Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act [Feb. 14, 2012], the Administrator shall determine if the ELT mounting requirements and retention tests specified by Technical Standard Orders C91a and C126 are adequate to assess retention capabilities in ELT designs. “(2) Revision.—Based on the determination under paragraph (1), the Administrator shall make any necessary revisions to the requirements and retention tests referred to in paragraph (1) to ensure that ELTs are properly retained in the event of an aircraft accident. “(c) Report.—Upon the completion of any revisions under subsection (b)(2), the Administrator shall submit a report on the implementation of this section to—“(1) the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate; and “(2) the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives.”