Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) frequencies are which of the following?

• A. 121.5 MHz / 243 MHz
• B. 406 MHz
• C. 2.4 GHz
• D. 88-108 MHz

Answer: (A)

ELTs are meant to broadcast distress signals to help rescuers find the aircraft in an emergency. The traditional distress frequencies for ELTs are 121.5 MHz for civil aviation and 243 MHz for military aviation. These frequencies are specifically set up so ground-based search-and-rescue teams can home in on the signal and guide responders to the crash site.

The other options aren’t used for standard ELTs: 406 MHz is the satellite-detected emergency beacon frequency used by newer beacons that transmit digital data about the aircraft and its registration, but the question focuses on the ELT’s traditional frequencies. The 88-108 MHz range is the FM radio band, and 2.4 GHz is a common wireless band for data and consumer devices, not aviation ELTs.