Is the captain responsible for the ELT?

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Not specified
• D. Only in emergencies

Answer: (B)

The main idea is that the ELT is managed as a maintenance and operator responsibility, not as something the captain is personally accountable for maintaining. The ELT (emergency locator beacon) is a life-saving device whose serviceability, battery replacement, testing schedule, and overall compliance with regulations are handled by the aircraft’s maintenance organization and the operator. The captain’s role is to operate the aircraft safely and ensure flight readiness, which includes being aware of the ELT’s status and procedures, but not performing maintenance tasks or being personally responsible for keeping the ELT in serviceable condition. Activation in an emergency is a crew action, but it doesn’t make the captain the responsible party for the ELT’s ongoing maintenance or readiness.

That’s why the statement is false—the captain is not the person responsible for the ELT in the maintenance and regulatory sense.