Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006

as amended

made under subsection 132 (1) of the

Radiocommunications Act 1992

This compilation was prepared on 7 January 2009
taking into account amendments up to Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence Variation 2008 (No. 1)

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra

Contents

Part 1 Preliminary 

 1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]

 2 When Class Licence comes into force 

 3 Definitions 

 3A Purpose of Class Licence 

Part 2 Effect of Class Licence 

 4 Application of class licence 

 5 Class Licence — satellite distress beacon 

 5A Class Licence — locating aid 

 6 Conditions — distress situation 

 7 Conditions — standards (device compliance day before 13 February 2002)             

 8 Conditions — standards (device compliance day on or after 13 February 2002)             

Schedule 1 Technical requirements 

Notes   

Part 1 Preliminary

1 Name of Class Licence [see Note 1]

  This Class Licence is the Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006.

2 When Class Licence comes into force [see Note 1]

  This Class Licence comes into force on the day after it is registered.

3 Definitions

 (1) In this Class Licence:

Act means the Radiocommunications Act 1992.

AS/NZS 4280.1 means AS/NZS 4280.1:2003, 406 MHz satellite distress beacons Part 1: Marine emergency position‑indicating radio beacons (EPIRB) (IEC 61097‑2:2002, MOD), published by Standards Australia International, as in force from time to time.

AS/NZS 4280.2 means AS/NZS 4280.2:2003, 406 MHz satellite distress beacons Part 2: Personal locator beacons (PLBs), published by Standards Australia International, as in force from time to time.

AS/NZS 4330 means AS/NZS 4330:2006: 121.5 and 243.0 MHz emergency position indicating radio beacons (EPIRBs) including EPIRBS, published by Standards Australia International, as in force from time to time.

AS/NZS 4869.1 means AS/NZS 4869.1:2005: Maritime Survivor Locating Systems (MSLS) – Operating on 121.5 MHz, published by Standards Australia International, as in force from time to time.

COSPAS‑SARSAT System means a satellite‑aided search and rescue system designed to locate activated radiocommunications devices transmitting on the frequency of 121.5 MHz, 243.0 MHz or within the 406‑406.1 MHz frequency range.

date of effect means the date an instrument mentioned in Schedule 1 took effect.

device compliance day, for a radiocommunications device to which this Class Licence applies, means the most recent of the following days:

 (a) if the radiocommunications device was manufactured in Australia — the day the device was manufactured;

 (b) if the radiocommunications device was manufactured overseas and imported — the day the device was imported;

 (c) if the radiocommunications device was altered or modified in a material respect — the day the device was altered or modified.

emergency locating device means:

 (a) a satellite distress beacon; or

 (b) an MSLS; or

 (c) an AIS‑SART.

homing signal means a radiocommunication intended to facilitate locating a transmitting device by aircraft, vessels or persons on the ground.

locating aid  means a station used for the purposes of search and rescue operations, and includes:

 (a) an MSLS; and

 (b) an AIS‑SART.

MSLS (maritime survivor locating system) means a safety system that has the following features:

 (a) it comprises:

 (i) an MSLS transmitter; and

 (ii) an MSLS receiver; and

 (iii) an MSLS locator;

 (b) it is not a satellite EPIRB;

 (c) it is intended for short‑range retrieval of individuals engaged in:

 (i) on‑deck activities on vessels; or

 (ii) on‑shore activities, where falling into the water is a risk; or

 (iii) other marine activities where a locating system may be required;

 (d) it is designed to sound an alert when a person has fallen into the water or has manually activated the device to signal a need for assistance from a vessel or facility;

 (e) it complies with AS/NZS 4869.1;

whether or not it includes some form of localising device.

Note 1   An MSLS may also be referred to as a man‑overboard (MOB) system.

Note 2   A localising device includes direction finding equipment designed to transmit a local alert primary to a receiver on a vessel or facility.

MSLS locator means a fixed device designed to assist the location of an MSLS transmitter, which may be in the form of:

 (a) a part of an MSLS receiver; or

 (b) a device that is separate from an MSLS receiver.

MSLS receiver means a fixed device designed to receive an alert signal to an MSLS transmitter.

MSLS transmitter means a portable transmitting device that sends an alert signal to an MSLS receiver.

satellite distress beacon means a radiocommunications device:

 (a) that is an earth station in the mobile satellite service, the emissions of which are intended to facilitate search and rescue operations; and

 (b) to which one or more of the following standards is applicable:

 (i) AS/NZS 4330;

 (ii) AS/NZS 4280.1;

 (iii) AS/NZS 4280.2.

 (2) A reference in this Class Licence to:

 (a) another instrument made under the Act; or

 (b) another document published by ACMA;

is a reference to the instrument, publication or other document as in force or existing from time to time.

Note 1   For the definitions of AIS‑SART, COSPAS‑SARSAT System and EPIRB, see the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.

Note 2   For the definition of other expressions used in this Class Licence, see the Act, the Radiocommunications Regulations 1993 and the Radiocommunications (Interpretation) Determination 2000.

3A Purpose of Class Licence

  The purpose of this Class Licence is to authorise the operation of a range of emergency locating devices that are satellite distress beacons and locating aids.

Note 1   Each type of emergency locating device has advantages and disadvantages that are usually associated with the circumstances of its use.

Note 2   A satellite distress beacon operating on 406 MHz, if properly maintained, is capable of alerting Search and Rescue authorities through the COSPAS‑SARSAT network of satellites from almost any open‑air location. The use of a satellite distress beacon is particularly appropriate if a vessel is located away from busy coastal shipping channels. The time taken to organise a rescue will depend on the locating of the satellite distress beacon and the availability of suitable search and rescue resources.

Note 3    A locating aid is a short range device that depends on the availability of shipping, aircraft or land resources that are both appropriately fitted and within radiocommunications range of the locating aid. A locating aid used in conjunction with a parent vessel receiving installation is particularly useful in a man‑overboard situation during which immediate rescue action involving the parent vessel is usually necessary.

Part 2 Effect of Class Licence

4 Application of class licence

 (1) This Class Licence authorises a person to operate the kinds of radiocommunications devices mentioned in subsection (2) for the purpose of facilitating search and rescue operations.

 (2) This Class Licence applies to the following kinds of radiocommunications devices:

 (a) a satellite distress beacon (other than an EPIRB that is on an aircraft and whose operation is authorised under the Radiocommunications (Aircraft and Aeronautical Mobile Stations) Class Licence 2006);

 (b) an MSLS;

Note   Subsection (2) does not authorise the operation of a device that may form part of an MSLS but which is operated independently of an MSLS.

 (c) an AIS‑SART.

 (3) This Class Licence does not apply to a radiocommunications device in respect of which an apparatus licence is in force if the apparatus licence authorises the licensee to operate the device for a purpose that is substantially the same as the purpose mentioned in subsection (1).

5 Class Licence — satellite distress beacon

 (1) This Class Licence authorises a person to operate a satellite distress beacon mentioned in paragraph 4 (2) (a) if the person meets either or both of the requirements mentioned in subsections (2) and (3).

 (2) A requirement is that the person operates the beacon:

 (a) for the purpose of transmitting to the COSPAS‑SARSAT System; and

 (b) on either of the following frequency ranges or frequencies:

 (i) 406 – 406.1 MHz;

 (ii) until 31 January 2009 — 121.5 MHz or 243.0 MHz.

 (3) A requirement is that the person operates the beacon for the purpose of transmitting a homing signal and if the beacon complies with:

 (a) either or both AS/NZS 4280.1 and AS/NZS 4280.2 — the person operates the beacon on either of the following frequencies:

 (i) 121.5 MHz;

 (ii) 243.0 MHz; and

 (b) AS/NZS 4330 — the person operates the beacon:

 (i)  on either of the following frequencies:

 (A) 121.5 MHz;

 (B) 243.0 MHz; and

 (ii) during the period starting at the commencement date of this Class Licence and ending on 31 January 2010.

5A Class Licence — locating aid

 (1) This Class Licence authorises a person to operate a locating aid mentioned in paragraph 4 (2) (b) if the person operates it on any of the following frequencies:

 (a) 121.5 MHz;

 (b) 156.8 MHz;

 (c) 156.525 MHz.

 (2) This Class licence authorises a person to operate a locating aid mentioned in paragraph  4 (2) (c) if the person operates the locating aid on either of the following frequencies:

 (a) 161.975 MHz;

 (b) 162.025 MHz.

6 Conditions — distress situation

 (1) A radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) must only be operated:

 (a) as an emergency signal; and

 (b) in response to a distress situation.

 (2) A distress situation is one in which:

 (a) there is risk of imminent or grave danger of injury to, or death of, a person; and

 (b) the person requires immediate assistance.

7 Conditions — standards (device compliance day before 13 February 2002)

  If the device compliance day for a radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) is after the day mentioned in column 3 of Schedule 1 and before 13 February 2002, the device must comply with any standard mentioned in column 2 of Schedule 1:

 (a) that applies to the device; and

 (b) took effect most recently before the device compliance day for the device.

8 Conditions — standards (device compliance day on or after 13 February 2002)

  If the device compliance day for a radiocommunications device mentioned in subsection 4 (2) is on or after 13 February 2002, the device must comply with any standard applicable to it as in force on the device compliance day for the device.

Note 1   Section 5 of the Radiocommunications Act 1992 provides that standard means a standard made under section 162 of that Act.

Note 2   The Australian Communications and Media Authority wishes to make it clear that if a standard mentioned in this section is amended or replaced by another standard after the device compliance day for the device, the device need not comply with the new or amended standard.

Note 3   Identical devices may have different device compliance days. A device is only required to comply with the standards that are in force on the device compliance day for that device.

Schedule 1 Technical requirements

(section 7)

Note 1   Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1987, No. 266) dealt with EPIRBs. Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 70) revoked that instrument on 27 February 1990.

Note 2   Ministerial Standard 241 (Statutory Rules 1990, No. 70) dealt with EPIRBs. The Radiocommunications Standards Revocation 1999 revoked that instrument on 29 June 1999.

Note 3   Ministerial Standard 309 (Statutory Rules 1990 No.71) dealt with 406 MHz satellite distress beacons. The Radiocommunications Standards Revocation 1999 revoked that instrument on 29 June 1999.

Notes to the Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006

Note 1

The Radiocommunications (Emergency Locating Devices) Class Licence 2006 (in force under subsection 132 (1) of the Radiocommunications Act 1992) as shown in this compilation is amended as indicated in the Tables below.

Table of Instruments

Table of Amendments