Boeing Selects Artex Distress Tracking Emergency Locator Transmitter for GADSS Compliance on Commercial Aircraft

ACR Electronics has signed an agreement with The Boeing Company to supply its new distress tracking ARTEX ELT 5000 (DT) with crash survivability, enabling compliance with the new Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) regulations.

The next generation ARTEX ELT will be available to support Boeing production aircraft to meet the new International Civil Aviation Organization’s (ICAO) GADSS initiative recommendations that are being adopted into regulations by various regulatory bodies, such as EASA. Triggered by a potential distress condition from independent aircraft monitoring, the 406 MHz ARTEX ELT 5000 (DT) intelligently activates and will automatically begin transmitting 406 MHz distress messages with the current location in real time while the aircraft is in-flight. The distress tracking provides the precise location of the aircraft to assist the relevant monitoring bodies in order to respond to the alert quickly and effectively.

The ICAO standard for the distress tracking element of GADSS is applicable as of January 2023 for new-build aircraft. Prompted by the disappearance of the Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, the mandate requires certain aircraft to autonomously transmit position information once every minute or less when an aircraft is in distress. In addition to in-flight distress tracking, with next generation ELT technology installed, the final location of an aircraft can be more accurately determined. This enables rescue services to reach downed aircraft faster and helps to ensure prompt recovery of flight recorders.

John Nguyen, president of ACR Electronics, said: “We are excited to announce the agreement with The Boeing Company for our new distress tracking ELT program, confirming that the ACR equipment will be offered on Boeing aircraft starting late in 2022. This has been a multi-faceted program to develop a next generation ELT solution that will future proof our customers’ aircraft with a state-of-the-art emergency distress signaling and tracking solution. We have one of the industry’s most experienced and knowledgeable engineering teams who understand and strive to exceed our customers’ needs and expectations.”

The ELT 5000 (DT) delivers an existing First-Generation Beacon (FGB) packaging solution that allows easy migration to Second-Generation Beacon (SGB) technology. When the supporting SGB satellite infrastructure is available, ACR will be ready to migrate easily with the existing ELT 5000 (DT). The ELT 5000 (DT) will also support Return Link Service (RLS).

The ARTEX ELT 5000 (DT) is also offered to the market in combination with SKYTRAC’s Autonomous Distress Tracking (ADT) system as a complete GADSS solution.

ACR Electronics, Inc. designs and manufactures an array of ARTEX ELT’s, battery packs, and ELT accessories. ARTEX ELT’s serve a wide category of aircraft ranging from general aviation to the world’s leading airframe manufacturers, large commercial airlines, and government aircraft.

This device has not been authorized by the rules of the Federal Communications Commission, FAA, EASA or Cospas-Sarsat. This device is not, and may not be, offered for sale or lease, or sold or leased, until authorization is obtained.