EASA SIB 2019-09R1: Emergency Locator Transmitters and Personal Locator Beacon - Annual Testing

What to do

Operators without a Maintenance Review Board-based program should perform annual ELT and PLB self-tests as per manufacturer instructions and verify beacon registration yearly. They should also conduct a visual inspection combined with testing in accordance with the bulletin's Appendix 1, ensuring precautions to prevent false alerts are followed. Type Certificate and Supplemental Type Certificate holders must verify that Instructions for Continued Airworthiness include these tasks and precautions at appropriate intervals.

Summary

EASA Safety Information Bulletin 2019-09R1 is an airworthiness bulletin addressing the annual testing and inspection of Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) and Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) installed on aircraft. It applies to all operators of aircraft equipped with Automatic Fixed or Automatic Portable ELTs, as well as operators carrying PLBs under Regulation (EU) 965/2012. The bulletin emphasizes proper testing procedures to ensure beacon reliability and prevent false alerts that could divert Search and Rescue resources.

What changed

EASA SIB 2019-09R1 revises the original SIB 2019-09 issued on 17 June 2019 by reinforcing recommendations on annual ELT and PLB testing and inspection. It highlights the limitations of manual self-tests, the importance of verifying g-switch operation, antenna performance, and battery condition, and provides detailed guidance on avoiding false alerts during testing. The revision also stresses the need for affected Type Certificate and Supplemental Type Certificate holders to include appropriate maintenance instructions.

Why it matters

This bulletin matters because ELTs and PLBs are critical safety devices that remain dormant until needed, making their reliability essential for effective distress signaling. Proper annual testing and inspection help detect hidden defects such as g-switch failures, battery degradation, or antenna issues that manual self-tests may not reveal. For operators and maintenance organizations, following these recommendations reduces false alerts, ensures compliance with safety regulations, and supports efficient Search and Rescue operations.