Search and Rescue Beacon Exhibition

Apply your skills to life-saving humanitarian service

All competitors and local search & rescue teams are invited to compete in an exhibition search & rescue distress beacon contest to be held in the 2m band on 121.775 MHz after the 2m Classic championship concludes. 

This exhibition race is intended to raise public awareness about the practical applications of radio and navigation sports, increase the experience-level and proficiency of local search and rescue teams, build memorable comradery among search & rescue practitioners, and encourage radio orienteers to apply their skills in life saving humanitarian efforts. 

Competitors will form into teams of at least 3 persons and will be issued a start notice at which time a practice beacon will activate and official clock time will start.

Competitors will seek to find a simulated aircraft Emergency Locating Transmitter (ELT) beacon in the shortest amount of time possible while conducting the search safely and efficiently.  There is a 2-hour time limit for this contest and it is a mass start event. 

The team and individual that finds the beacon and then navigates to a directed checkpoint fastest will receive special recognition at the awards night plus a prize. 

As an exhibition event results will not count towards championship results, however results will count towards the “Paul Bunyan” trophy contest.  No registration fee will be charged for competing in this exhibition.

Teams will accomplish the following tasks for this contest:

• Hunt down and locate an emergency locating transmitter (ELT) practice beacon simulating a distressed hiker or crashed aircraft
• Communicate the geographic coordinates of the located ELT practice beacon
• Navigate an azimuth
• Navigate to a specific geocoordinate
• Employ effective ground-to-air signaling to attract attention
• Demonstrate safe and effective litter-carry procedures
• Complete the course safely without any injuries