EMS Technologies has introduced a new 406-1 Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) at the Aircraft Electronics Association's 47th Annual Convention and Tradeshow. EMS's advanced life-saving technology is now accessible to a wide range of aircraft operators, most notably, small aircraft owners. EMS's innovation brings the ELT to the aviation market at a more affordable price and in a smaller package than previously was available.

EMS's 406-1 ELT operates at 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz, and has been COSPAS - SARSAT certified. The transmitter weighs just 2.10 lbs, and has a six-year battery life cycle and an optional internal GPS interface. Included with the ELT are a remote switch, a whip antenna and an integrated buzzer to alert crews of accidental activation.

406 MHz beacons have been designed specifically for satellite detection and Doppler location, and provide: improved location accuracy and ambiguity resolution, increased system capacity, global coverage, and the unique identification of each beacon. The addition of a digitally encoded message enhances the ELT operation by providing the country of registration, ID of the aircraft, and position data from onboard NAV equipment.

EMS has provided ground equipment and management systems for use with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite system since its launch in 1981. The system has been credited with saving more than 14,000 lives by using spacecraft and ground facilities to detect and locate signals from distress beacons.

"Given our success with the COSPAS - SARSAT system, we are very pleased to extend our technologies into the ELT market. General aviation has been demanding a low-cost ELT, and EMS has once again responded. Our low-cost ELT will enable more operators, especially those with smaller aircraft, to acquire this potentially life-saving technology," says Mark van Berkel, director of Sales with EMS Technologies' SATCOM Aeronautical Group.

FMI: www.ems-t.com, AEA Booth 709