Emergency Locator Beacon Signal Tracked to Rubbish Tip

The Wellington base Westpac Rescue Helicopter tracked an emergency locator
beacon signal to the Wainuiomata tip late this afternoon.

Rescue Co-ordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) tasked the helicopter to search for
the source of the old 121.5 beacon just after 4 pm.

The old 121.5 beacons are no longer picked up by satellites circling the
earth, but planes flying into and out of Wellington were hearing the beacon
quite strongly.

The helicopter team tracked the signal to the Wainuiomata tip. The
helicopter landed and then using a hand held radio have narrowed the area
where the beacon is located to a few square metre area.

"Unfortunately the beacon is buried beneath the rubbish so RCCNZ will not be
able to get the beacon switched off until workers at the tip are able to get
in there with a digger" says Dave Greenberg, Westpac Rescue Helicopter
crewman. "This should serve as a good reminder to people that when they
dispose of their old 121.5 beacons they need to ensure the battery is
removed, or the beacon is taken to a local police station where the beacon
can then be sent away for proper disposal".

For more information please contact RCCNZ or:

Dave Greenberg
Westpac Rescue Helicopter
029 233 8284