Unless you have a 406-MHz emergency locator transmitter (ELT), even your U.S.-registered airplane will be closed to Canadian airspace in approximately two years. Even flights that begin and end in the United States-but with a segment involving transition of Canadian airspace-will not be permitted, based on a decision made recently by Transport Canada that will cover all foreign-registered aircraft as well as those operated under Canadian registration. As of this February, search and rescue satellites will cease to monitor 121.5 MHz, the frequency used by older ELTs. New 406-MHz units typically cost $1,000 plus installation, according to the Canadian Owners and Pilots Association, and are soon to be eclipsed by better technology. The FAA has so far not mandated installation of the new ELTs, and the COPA management has projected that the new ruling will severely cut down on U.S. aircraft operators visiting their northern neighbor. The group estimates that 63,000 foreign-registered aircraft visited Canada last year-90 percent from the United States.
Canada Confirms 406-MHz ELT Rule Implementation
Key Takeaways:
- Canada will soon require 406-MHz Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) for all aircraft, including foreign-registered ones, to enter or transit its airspace, with older 121.5 MHz ELTs no longer monitored by satellites.
- This mandate, effective in approximately two years, will affect even U.S. flights passing through Canadian airspace, regardless of the FAA's lack of a similar requirement.
- The Canadian Owners and Pilots Association (COPA) anticipates a severe reduction in U.S. aircraft visiting Canada due to the cost of upgrading ELTs (around $1,000 plus installation).
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