406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test Request Form - Instructions - Submission Deadlines, Contacts, and Activation Details

Sep 4, 2026

Instructions for completing the 406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test Request Form, including eligibility checks against SARSAT policy on non-distress transmissions and required coordination steps. The guide specifies submission deadlines for different numbers of beacons, disallows testing for 7+ beacons, and lists the responsible program points of contact for USAF, USCG, and NOAA. It details required page 1 information: requester contact data, reason and alert distribution justification, activation planning, on-site coordinator data, and beacon identifiers (15- or 23-hex IDs) plus technical fields per beacon.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryTechnology

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test Request Form - Instructions

Eligibility and submission deadlines

Requestor contact information

Reason for request and alert distribution

Activation details and beacon identifiers

Beacon-by-beacon technical information

Agency validation and coordination/approval

406 MHz Emergency Beacon Testing Instructions for Completing the Test Request Form Please complete the test request form only after you have read the SARSAT Policy on Non-Distress Transmissions and determined that you have a requirement to test that fits within one of the exceptions noted in the Policy. Submission deadlines: 1-3 beacons-72 hours (3 business days) prior to first event 4-6 beacons-30 days before first event 7+ beacons-Test/training not allowed Use email to submit your request to the relevant agency: USAF: [AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil](AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil) The USAF Program POC will be responsible for coordinating all USAF, other uniformed services, Civil Air Patrol, state, test, training, and exercise requests. USCG: [HQS-DG-M-406-TEST-Request@uscg.mil](HQS-DG-M-406-TEST-Request@uscg.mil) The USCG Program POC will be responsible for coordinating all USCG and USCG Auxiliary test, training, and exercise requests. NOAA: [beacon.test@noaa.gov](beacon.test@noaa.gov) The NOAA Program POC will be responsible for coordinating all other requests for test, training, and exercise. The requestor should complete all required information on Page 1 of the form, including: • Requestor Contact information: All pertinent contact information should be included as noted. • Reason for Request: Provide justification on why the test should be conducted and details on if and how the alert should be distributed. This information is vital to ensuring that the proper coordination can be made with the USMCC and test coordinator. If more space is needed than is available on the form, please attach a separate page. • Activation Details: Provide on-site coordinator contact info, proposed start/end time, duration and location of test. Most importantly, provide the 15-or 23-hex ID and other identifying information for the beacon(s) being tested. If more space is needed than is available on the form, please attach a separate page. NOTE (Added December 2020): For DOD agencies not located within the United States Area of Responsibility, including the continental United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and their surrounding waters, please provide the details of your beacon test (using the referenced test request form) to the MCC responsible for the location in which the planned test will occur. MCC contact information is located on this COSPAS-SARSAT Contact Lists webpage under “Mission Control Centers.” Send a courtesy copy of the test details to the AFRCC[at](at AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil)[ AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil](at AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil), as they function as the worldwide DOD beacon notification point of contact. FRM MCC-051 v04 406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test Request Form Instructions 406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test Request SUBMISSION DEADLINES 1-3 beacons: 72 hours (3 business days) before first event 4-6 beacons: 30 days before first event 7+ beacons: Not allowed REQUESTOR CONTACT INFORMATION Requesting Agency/Organization Requestor Name Email Telephone Date Submitted REASON FOR REQUEST (attach separate page if more space required) Should an alert message be distributed to a Rescue Coordination Center (RCC)? ☐ Yes ☐ No If yes, provide RCC name RCC Point of Contact Name Telephone If an exception is required, please explain ACTIVATION DETAILS On-Site Coordinator Name Phone Email Proposed Date Start Time (UTC) Duration of Activation HH MM Location Latitude Longitude ddd mm. m ddd mm. m Additional activation information (attach separate page if more space required) Complete the following for each beacon: | 15-OR 23-HEX ID | BEACON
TYPE | MANUFACTURER | MODEL | FREQUENCY | TEST
CODED?
(Y/N) | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Request for 406 MHz Emergency Beacon Test AGENCY VALIDATION Reviewed By: Name Email

FAQs

When can the 406 MHz emergency beacon test request be submitted, and what are the deadlines?

Deadlines depend on the number of beacons: 1-3 beacons require submission 72 hours (3 business days) before the first event, and 4-6 beacons require submission 30 days before the first event. For 7+ beacons, the request is not allowed.

Which points of contact should be used to submit the test request?

Submit requests by email to the relevant agency: USAF (AFRCC.Console@us.af.mil), USCG (HQS-DG-M-406-TEST-Request@uscg.mil), and NOAA (beacon.test@noaa.gov). Each program point of contact coordinates the corresponding test, training, and exercise requests.

What key information must be completed on Page 1 of the form?

Page 1 requires requester contact information, the reason for the request (including justification and details on how/if alerts should be distributed), and activation details such as on-site coordinator contacts, proposed start/end time in UTC and duration, location, and the beacon 15- or 23-hex IDs.

Sep 4, 2026

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