Avionics News November 2022 - 34

ELT 4000S: Antenna deployed
ELT TECHNOLOGY SOLUTIONS
Continued from page 33
as the world's first 406 MHz alkaline
battery-powered ELT. Now Artex is changing
the game for ELTs again with the 4000S as the first survival
provide, " Medeiros added.
By complying with
the GADSS mandate, all
new-built aircraft delivered
from January 2023 will be able to automatically report their
location from anywhere in the world and determine their
end-of-flight location to enable rescuers to find the aircraft.
" What's important about ELT DTs is that it can send a
signal before the end of flight, " Hunter said. " Traditional
ELTs would send a signal after the end of the flight, but with
an ADT monitoring the aircraft, it can understand if
the current trajectory of that aircraft would
continue, it would end up in an accident.
If the ADT does trigger a DT in flight, if
the aircraft recovers, it can reset it. "
The ELT DT maintains continuous
powered-on communications with aircraft
avionics, including status reports, periodic selfdiagnostics
and maintenance logs, and offers
safety assurance through EASA NPA 2020-03
" integrity " requirement compliance, DO178C
software improvements and redundant
communications to prevent false alarms.
Hunter also reported that some OEMs
are looking at utilizing the Artex ELT DT as a
stand-alone because it has compliance with
RTCA DO-227A, a standard that applies to
non-rechargeable lithium batteries that are
permanently installed on aircraft, which is of
interest to legacy operators.
Survival: Artex ELT 4000S
ACR Electronics is also introducing nextgeneration
non-lithium survival ELTs to the market
in the form of the new portable Artex ELT 4000S.
Harnessing 35 years of ELT expertise, this survival
ELT provides an innovative response to the changing
regulatory requirements around lithium batteries.
" About four years ago, we changed the game for ELTs when
we came out with the non-lithium-based ELT 4000, " Medeiros
said. " Because it was alkaline-based, for airframe designers,
integrating it into the aircraft design was very simplified because
there were no issues with lithium, so installation could be
anywhere they wanted it without the risk of lithium. "
Upon its launch in 2018, the ELT 4000 product was heralded
34 avionics news * november 2022
beacon to offer a cost-effective, lithium-free solution for airliners
and commercial aircraft OEMs.
It offers cost savings due to reduced hazmat shipping and a
low acquisition and maintenance cost. The on-wing five-year
user replaceable alkaline battery system represents further
ownership cost savings.
" The five-year battery life is identical to current lithium-based
solutions, but costs far less per unit to purchase and maintain, "
Medeiros said. " It is also a very simple retrofit installation with
minimal engineering required. "
The ELT 4000S serves as a dual-frequency distress
beacon, transmitting both 121.5 and 406 MHz
signals. The fact that the 4000S is based on the
same technology as the 4000 makes it exempt
from lithium battery special conditions, and it
exceeds FAA and EASA requirements.
Designed for installation in the main cabin of
a commercial aircraft, the buoyant beacon has
an integrated GPS (Galileo GNSS) receiver to
acquire aircraft position data. The GPS receiver
embeds latitude and longitude location in
digital transmissions, reducing the search radius
to 100 meters.
It is water-activated but can also be activated
using a manual activation switch. On activation,
the ELT's 406 MHz signal is transmitted to the
global Cospas-Sarsat satellite network and
routed to the nearest search-and-rescue agency.
The ELT 4000S has a mounting bracket
offering lightweight and multi-axis release
for location flexibility for left- or right-hand
installations. The beacon is compatible with
existing Artex hand-held ground service
equipment programmers.
A 15-foot lanyard is stowed in the top housing
for attachment to a life raft, and a foldable antenna
suitable for one-handed deployment is secured in a
dedicated mounting system. The beacon also has an easyto-read
test system, utilizing green and red LED indicators to
indicate a successful self-test or when service is required.
The ELT 4000S is fully certified and began customer
deliveries in September according to plan, according to
Medeiros. q
To learn more about ACR Artex, visit acrartex.com.
http://acrartex.com
Avionics News November 2022

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