The radio distress frequency is used for which service?

The radio distress frequency is used for which service?

• A. Radiotelephone
• B. Telex
• C. Fax
• D. Data link

Answer: (A)

Distress frequencies are reserved for emergency voice calls, so the service used is radiotelephone. In an aviation emergency, a transmission on the distress channel is a voice call to request assistance and coordinate search-and-rescue efforts. Telex, fax, and data link are data-transfer services, not for emergency voice communications, so they aren’t the proper use of the radio distress frequency. (Note: while 406 MHz beacons provide satellite distress alerts, the traditional radio distress channel for voice is the radiotelephone service on the designated frequency.)

Distress frequencies are reserved for emergency voice calls, so the service used is radiotelephone. In an aviation emergency, a transmission on the distress channel is a voice call to request assistance and coordinate search-and-rescue efforts. Telex, fax, and data link are data-transfer services, not for emergency voice communications, so they aren’t the proper use of the radio distress frequency. (Note: while 406 MHz beacons provide satellite distress alerts, the traditional radio distress channel for voice is the radiotelephone service on the designated frequency.)