Class Description
Personal Locator Beacons or PLBs.
If you are involved in Search and Rescue, you will become familiar with 406 Personal Locator Beacons or PLBs. Just as the recreational marine industry has embraced the COSPAS-SARSAT system through the purchase of the 406 EPIRBs, the outdoorsman's, whether professional or amateur has become aware of the PLB.
Over 35% of the 406 beacons registered are now PLBs. 50% are recreational Marine and the remaining commercial marine and aviation. 34 people in 20 incidents used PLBs and were rescued in 2005. So far this year 18 people in 8 incidents have used a PLB and been rescued.
Our most recent Washington rescue was in Olympic National Park on March 22. 2 teens fell into Mosquito creek and activated a rental PLB. Almost 1000 beacons have been sold to individuals or organizations so far this spring in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska.
Learn how the system works, how they are registered and what you will know when a 406 PLB is activated in your area.
Instructed by Charles Bond and Tom Peterson.