Enhance your aviation skills with the FAA Military Competency Exam quiz. Get ready with curated flashcards and multiple choice questions. Understand more with hints and detailed explanations. Ace your exam and advance your aviation career!

Practice this question and more.


What is the maximum cumulative time that an emergency locator transmitter may operate before needing a battery recharge or replacement?

  1. 30 minutes

  2. 60 minutes

  3. 90 minutes

  4. 120 minutes

The correct answer is: 60 minutes

Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELTs) are crucial safety devices used in aviation to assist in the location of aircraft in distress situations. The operational duration of an ELT before requiring battery recharge or replacement is established to ensure that it is functional during critical periods following an accident. The specified maximum cumulative operational time for an ELT is 60 minutes. This duration is set to balance the need for sufficient transmission time to facilitate search and rescue operations while acknowledging the limitations of battery life. If an ELT were to operate beyond this timeframe without maintenance, it might not be reliable when rescue services are attempting to locate an aircraft, which could jeopardize the effectiveness of emergency responses. Thus, understanding that the maximum operational time for these devices is 60 minutes is essential for compliance with safety regulations and for the effective use of aviation safety equipment.