Which procedure is recommended to verify that the ELT has not been activated?

• A. Monitor 406.0 before engine shutdown
• B. Monitor 121.5 before engine shutdown
• C. Check the emergency frequencies after shutdown
• D. Turn off transponder before shutdown

Answer: (B)

Listening on the emergency frequency before you shut down is the practical way to confirm an ELT status. ELTs send a distress beacon on two paths: a 406 MHz signal to satellites, and a 121.5 MHz signal for homing by search-and-rescue crews. If the beacon activated during flight, you’ll hear a 121.5 signal, so tuning in to that frequency just before engine shutdown gives you a clear, audible check. If nothing is heard on 121.5, you can be reasonably confident the ELT wasn’t activated.

Monitoring 406 MHz isn’t as helpful for a quick pre-shutdown check because that signal is the satellite transmission and isn’t something you routinely “listen for” in a cockpit setup. The idea is to have a simple, reliable audible cue on the emergency frequency. Checking after shutdown isn’t ideal because you’ve already stopped monitoring, and turning off the transponder doesn’t relate to confirming ELT status.