1The transmitter is activated, either automatically in a crash or after sinking, or manually by survivors of an emergency situation.
2At least one satellite picks up the beacon's transmission.
3The satellites transfer the beacon's signal to their respective ground control stations.
4The ground stations process the signals and forwards the data, including approximate location, to a national authority.
5The national authority forwards the data to a rescue authority
6The rescue authority uses its own receiving equipment afterwards to locate the beacon and commence its own rescue or recovery operations