Discarded emergency beacon prompts landfill search

At about 6.00 pm on 4 June the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) in Wellington became aware that an emergency beacon was active in the Rotorua city area.

Due to its proximity to the Rotorua airport approach path every aircraft flying into the Rotorua area from the south was picking the signal up.

Enquiries with the registered owner of the beacon established that it had been disposed of after being replaced with a new model, and that he had discarded it in the weekly Council refuse collection earlier in the day.

The co-ordinates that the device was transmitting from indicated that it was in the area of the Rotorua landfill on State Highway 30.

Police were contacted to see if they could assist with tracking the beacon so that it could be recovered and turned off.

This morning two Rotorua Police Search & Rescue squad members and two Land SAR volunteers had the most unpleasant and onerous task of searching the land  fill to locate the beacon. 

Thankfully this was made easier with the assistance of landfill staff who could pinpoint the exact location where refuse had been dumped from the area where the beacon's owner lives.

Using specialist direction finding equipment the errant beacon was quickly found and switched off.

This serves as reminder to those disposing of old or unused beacons to be mindful that even though they may seem at the end of their useful life they can still be activated if there is any life left in their batteries.

The RCCNZ recommends the following procedure for discarding old beacons:

1. Old beacons must be deactivated before being dumped.

2. This means disconnecting the battery prior to disposal or taking the beacon to an approved place to be disposed of, such as a local Police Station, the Rescue Coordination Centre, or a beacon retailer.

If the beacon is not properly disposed of this can lead to a costly and time-consuming search, tying up resources that may be needed to respond to a genuine emergency.

More information on beacon disposal is available by visiting www.beacons.org.nz or by contacting the Rescue Coordination Centre on freephone 0800 406 111 or 0508 406 111.