We received a petition asking:
“We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to change the licensing laws for Personal Locator Beacons.”
Details of Petition:
“Personal Locator Beacons are currently only licensed to marine users and hobby air pilots ten minutes from land. There are many people enjoying the countryside who could suddenly become ill or need assistance due to an accident. Mobile phones do not always have reception and battery life is limited. The person requiring the Search and Rescue services do not always know their exact location. Personal Locator Beacons, if legalised for use on land, use a GPS locating signal via satellites that pin-point a users location once activated. This could save lives by saving time searching for the casualty and also save money for the rescue services. The use of a PLB could allow a companion to stay with an injured person and apply first aid. The mis-use of Personal Locator Beacons on land is very unlikely to happen if the same rules apply in registration of the beacon with the PLB registry and the licensing with OFCOM.”
· Read the petition
· Petitions homepage
Read the Government’s response
The Government recognises the value of Personal Locator Beacons (PLB) in saving lives in the maritime and aeronautical sectors. We have also seen how PLBs have been used successfully on land.
With these successes in mind and an increasing lobby in the UK demanding permission to use PLBs on land, the UK Search and Rescue Strategic Committee is set to consider the use of PLBs. It’s deliberations will include arrangements for registration and where that responsibility lies as well as who will be responsible for receiving PLB alerts and for mobilising, organising and tasking the appropriate response to such alerts.
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