Emergency locator transmitters (ELT)14 CFR 91.207 Emergency locator transmitters
U.S.-registered civil airplanes must have an approved, operable emergency locator transmitter attached, with the exceptions listed in the rule. The ELT must be inspected within 12 calendar months of the last inspection, and its batteries replaced or recharged after more than 1 cumulative hour of use or when 50 percent of their useful life has expired.
By the ATIS Alerts team · Updated October 15, 2026 · Regulation text current as of October 14, 2026. A study aid based on the official regulation text, not legal advice or an FAA interpretation.
At a glance
- For operations other than the Part 121, 125 and 135 operations listed in (a)(1), an approved personal type or automatic type ELT must be attached and operable (a)(2).
- Batteries: replace (or recharge) after more than 1 cumulative hour of use, or when 50 percent of useful life has expired (c).
- The new battery expiration date goes on the outside of the transmitter and in the maintenance record (c).
- Inspection within 12 calendar months for installation, battery corrosion, controls and crash sensor, and signal (d).
- Exceptions include training conducted entirely within 50 nautical miles of the airport where the local flight operations began, and aircraft equipped to carry not more than one person (f)(3) and (f)(9).
In plain English
Section 91.207 requires an emergency locator transmitter on U.S.-registered civil airplanes, with exceptions. For the air carrier and commercial operations listed in (a)(1) the ELT must be an approved automatic type. For all other operations, including private flying, (a)(2) allows an approved personal type or automatic type, as long as it is attached to the airplane and in operable condition. ELTs meeting TSO-C91 may not be used for new installations after June 21, 1995.
Paragraph (b) says the ELT must be attached so that the chance of crash damage is minimized, and fixed and deployable automatic types must be mounted as far aft as practicable. Paragraph (c) sets battery replacement (or recharging, for rechargeable batteries): when the transmitter has been in use for more than 1 cumulative hour, or when 50 percent of the battery's useful life as established by the manufacturer has expired. The new expiration date must be legibly marked on the outside of the transmitter and entered in the aircraft maintenance record.
Paragraph (d) requires an inspection within 12 calendar months after the last one, covering proper installation, battery corrosion, operation of the controls and crash sensor, and the presence of a sufficient signal radiated from the antenna.
Paragraphs (e) and (f) list when the requirement does not apply. A newly acquired airplane may be ferried to where the ELT will be installed, and an airplane with an inoperative ELT may be ferried from a place where repairs cannot be made to a place where they can, with only required crewmembers aboard. Paragraph (f) exempts, among others, training operations conducted entirely within a 50 nautical mile radius of the airport where the local flight began, aircraft equipped to carry not more than one person, and an aircraft whose ELT has been temporarily removed for inspection, repair, modification or replacement. That last exception requires a records entry, a placard in view of the pilot reading "ELT not installed" and no operation more than 90 days after the ELT was first removed.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the battery triggers: more than 1 cumulative hour of use, or 50 percent of useful life (c). Either one requires replacement or recharging.
- Forgetting the ferry limit in (e): no one other than required crewmembers may be carried.
- Treating the temporary removal exception as open-ended. It ends 90 days after the ELT is initially removed, and it needs the records entry and the "ELT not installed" placard (f)(10).
The official text
14 CFR 91.207 as published on the eCFR, current as of October 14, 2026.
(a) Except as provided in paragraphs (e) and (f) of this section, no person may operate a U.S.-registered civil airplane unless—
(1) There is attached to the airplane an approved automatic type emergency locator transmitter that is in operable condition for the following operations, except that after June 21, 1995, an emergency locator transmitter that meets the requirements of TSO-C91 may not be used for new installations:
(i) Those operations governed by the supplemental air carrier and commercial operator rules of parts 121 and 125;
(ii) Charter flights governed by the domestic and flag air carrier rules of part 121 of this chapter; and
(iii) Operations governed by part 135 of this chapter; or
(2) For operations other than those specified in paragraph (a)(1) of this section, there must be attached to the airplane an approved personal type or an approved automatic type emergency locator transmitter that is in operable condition, except that after June 21, 1995, an emergency locator transmitter that meets the requirements of TSO-C91 may not be used for new installations.
(b) Each emergency locator transmitter required by paragraph (a) of this section must be attached to the airplane in such a manner that the probability of damage to the transmitter in the event of crash impact is minimized. Fixed and deployable automatic type transmitters must be attached to the airplane as far aft as practicable.
(c) Batteries used in the emergency locator transmitters required by paragraphs (a) and (b) of this section must be replaced (or recharged, if the batteries are rechargeable)—
(1) When the transmitter has been in use for more than 1 cumulative hour; or
(2) When 50 percent of their useful life (or, for rechargeable batteries, 50 percent of their useful life of charge) has expired, as established by the transmitter manufacturer under its approval.
The new expiration date for replacing (or recharging) the battery must be legibly marked on the outside of the transmitter and entered in the aircraft maintenance record. Paragraph (c)(2) of this section does not apply to batteries (such as water-activated batteries) that are essentially unaffected during probable storage intervals.
(d) Each emergency locator transmitter required by paragraph (a) of this section must be inspected within 12 calendar months after the last inspection for—
(1) Proper installation;
(2) Battery corrosion;
(3) Operation of the controls and crash sensor; and
(4) The presence of a sufficient signal radiated from its antenna.
(e) Notwithstanding paragraph (a) of this section, a person may—
(1) Ferry a newly acquired airplane from the place where possession of it was taken to a place where the emergency locator transmitter is to be installed; and
(2) Ferry an airplane with an inoperative emergency locator transmitter from a place where repairs or replacements cannot be made to a place where they can be made.
No person other than required crewmembers may be carried aboard an airplane being ferried under paragraph (e) of this section.
(f) Paragraph (a) of this section does not apply to—
(1) Before January 1, 2004, turbojet-powered aircraft;
(2) Aircraft while engaged in scheduled flights by scheduled air carriers;
(3) Aircraft while engaged in training operations conducted entirely within a 50-nautical mile radius of the airport from which such local flight operations began;
(4) Aircraft while engaged in flight operations incident to design and testing;
(5) New aircraft while engaged in flight operations incident to their manufacture, preparation, and delivery;
(6) Aircraft while engaged in flight operations incident to the aerial application of chemicals and other substances for agricultural purposes;
(7) Aircraft certificated by the Administrator for research and development purposes;
(8) Aircraft while used for showing compliance with regulations, crew training, exhibition, air racing, or market surveys;
(9) Aircraft equipped to carry not more than one person.
(10) An aircraft during any period for which the transmitter has been temporarily removed for inspection, repair, modification, or replacement, subject to the following:
(i) No person may operate the aircraft unless the aircraft records contain an entry which includes the date of initial removal, the make, model, serial number, and reason for removing the transmitter, and a placard located in view of the pilot to show “ELT not installed.”
(ii) No person may operate the aircraft more than 90 days after the ELT is initially removed from the aircraft; and
(11) On and after January 1, 2004, aircraft with a maximum payload capacity of more than 18,000 pounds when used in air transportation.
Test yourself
Practice questions from our free FAA written test prep that cite 14 CFR 91.207.
Commercial Pilot
An emergency locator transmitter's batteries must be replaced or recharged after the transmitter has been in use for more than:
- A. 1 cumulative hour, or when 50 percent of their useful life has expired.
- B. 2 cumulative hours, or when 25 percent of their useful life has expired.
- C. 30 cumulative minutes, or annually.
- D. 1 cumulative hour, or every 12 calendar months.
Show answer
A. 1 cumulative hour, or when 50 percent of their useful life has expired. One cumulative hour of use, or 50 percent of useful life (or useful life of charge). The ELT itself must be inspected every 12 calendar months, and a fixed-wing aircraft may be operated up to 90 days with the ELT removed for repair, with a placard and a logbook entry.
More Commercial Pilot practice →CFI Airplane
Required inspections for VFR day flight include the ELT every 12 calendar months and the transponder every:
- A. 24 calendar months.
- B. 12 calendar months.
- C. 30 days.
- D. 6 calendar months.
Show answer
A. 24 calendar months. Transponder 24 calendar months, and for IFR the static system and altimeter also 24, with the VOR check every 30 days. Teaching students a single memorised list of intervals prevents the common conflation of the 24-month and 12-month items.
More CFI Airplane practice →
Questions pilots ask
How often does an ELT have to be inspected?
Within 12 calendar months after the last inspection, for proper installation, battery corrosion, operation of the controls and crash sensor, and a sufficient signal from the antenna (91.207(d)).
When do ELT batteries need to be replaced?
When the transmitter has been in use for more than 1 cumulative hour, or when 50 percent of their useful life (or useful life of charge, for rechargeable batteries) has expired as established by the manufacturer (91.207(c)). Paragraph (c)(2) does not apply to batteries, such as water-activated batteries, that are essentially unaffected during probable storage intervals.
Can I fly without an ELT?
For a U.S.-registered civil airplane, only under an exception in the section, such as the ferry flights in 91.207(e), training conducted entirely within a 50 nautical mile radius of the airport where the local flight operations began (f)(3), aircraft equipped to carry not more than one person (f)(9), or a temporary removal with the required records entry and placard for up to 90 days (f)(10).