Actually, this freq is monitored by aircraft/airliners continuously. Homeland Security rules tell pilots that if they have a second radio, one should always be tuned there so that the interceptors can talk to them before shooting them down for being in the wrong airspace.... (worst case).

The freq also gets used for finding flights who've gotten "lost" on the wrong radio channels to help them get back in touch with air traffic control. Happens at least daily over Denver.

And it's the universal aviation mayday freq.

But it is no longer monitored by satellites looking for distress beacons from aircraft.

So- 121.5 is still a valid aeronautical distress frequency. And there are many handheld aviation VHF transceivers on the market.

But the OP hasn't yet described what he's trying to accomplish with a "survival radio."


I have a LOT of radios and I don't know what is meant by the term.