Which organization is notified when an ELT is heard by a terminal facility?

• A. ARTCC
• B. Airport Operations
• C. FAA
• D. Tower

Answer: (A)

When a terminal facility detects an ELT signal, the signal is elevated to the next level of airspace coordination, which is the Air Route Traffic Control Center. Terminal facilities handle local and terminal-area traffic, but the responsibility for coordinating search and rescue and managing en-route airspace rests with the ARTCC. The ARTCC gathers the alert, correlates it with aircraft and flight plans in the surrounding airspace, and coordinates with the appropriate search-and-rescue authorities to initiate a response. In contrast, airport operations or the tower focus on local airport duties, and while the FAA oversees the overall system, the formal notification channel from a terminal facility is to the ARTCC.