The standard practice for ELT status verification involves listening to which frequency?

• A. 121.5
• B. 123.75
• C. 406.0
• D. 121.0

Answer: (A)

Listening on 121.5 MHz is the standard practice for verifying an ELT because this frequency is the traditional distress channel monitored worldwide by search-and-rescue and many aircraft. When you perform an ELT check, you want to hear the beacon’s signal on this widely monitored frequency to confirm the transmitter and antenna are working and that the signal can be received by ground stations in case of real distress. Modern ELTs that transmit on 406 MHz go to satellites and are part of a separate alerting system, but they don’t provide the immediate, ground-based audible verification that 121.5 does. The other frequencies aren’t used for routine ELT status checks: 406 MHz is satellite-based, and the remaining options aren’t designated distress-monitoring frequencies for ELT ground verification.