With more than 25 000 ELTs installed since 1992 and providing more than 50% of world’s fleets with its ELT’s, ECA GROUP confirms its leading position on the onboard safety equipment market.
A trust built over the years
ADT 406 is the result of a solid experience in radio frequency and satellite transmissions since 1992. The product is a breakthrough technology and innovation when it comes to localization performances. It offers full operation through the international Cospas-Sarsat (C/S) Search & Rescue system.
With the ADT 406 RANGE, introduced in 2002, ECA GROUP starts to build its major position in commercial aviation market. With more than 25 000 ELTs installed since 2002 and providing more than 50% of world’s fleets with its ELT’s, ECA GROUP confirms its leading position on the onboard safety equipment market.
In compliance with international airworthiness requirements
Installed on aircraft, the Emergency Locator Transmitter ADT 406 allows, in case of real distress conditions, the activation of radio frequency signals to alert Search & Rescue (SAR) teams through the COSPAS SARSAT system. The international COSPAS-SARSAT programme provides accurate, timely and reliable distress alert and location datas to help (Search&Rescue) authorities assist persons in distress.
Such equipment is, from now on, compulsory onboard and abide by international aviation standards. Each aircraft must be fitted at least with 2 ELTs:
- One shall be of Automatic type, usually Fixed configuration (installed on primary A/C structure, connected to an External antenna and to a Cockpit remote Control Panel)
- The other one or several others are of Survival / Portable type (installed inside the cabin easily accessible and operated, closed to an exit door)
ADT 406, the current generation ELT, inheriting 10 years of R&D and field experience
Thanks to a long expertise and strong know-how in the design of Emergency Locator Transmitter, ECA Group offers ADT 406, an innovative ELT concept facilitating the ELT integration, fleet coding management on in service A/C (retrofit) and introducing the “Back-up antenna” concept.
Both automatic fixed and survival applications based on same sub-assemblies
ADT 406 is compliant with the international standards in terms of minimum operational performances. With two products using the same internal circuit boards and battery pack, ADT 406 benefits from a similar operation and maintenance management. It thus facilitates the ownership
Ergonomic design, easy installation and optimized maintenance
Inheriting from the first emergency locator transmitters developed in the early 93’s by ELTA, a company now merged into ECA GROUP, ADT 406 technological breakthrough in localization using Radio Frequency (RF) Transmission, integrates new features to ensure an easy installation and optimized maintenance.
Maintenance is made easy thanks to a comprehensive self-test functionality combined to a long-life battery with a lasting capacity of 5 years, when installed in ADT 406. The Activation and Identification Module (AIM) allows the mandatory coding information update to be done easily by exchange of the AIM present on the relevant ELT transmitter, therefore no recoding is needed when the hardware is replaced. Maintenance is thus cost-effective, quick and allows to save critical operational time for airlines.
Enhanced signal transmission capabilities
Back-up antenna to secure continuous signal transmission
In adition to the primary External Antenna access (BNC type), a Backup Antenna (TNC type) capability on 406 MHz is offered from the transmitter case ensuring optimized transmitting capabilities in Automatic Fixed configuration. Indeed, after an impact, the damaged cable and/or primary external antenna can greatly affect the transmitting capabilities.
general capabilities
Precise localization – impact resistance – extended battery life – operable in harsh environments
Once activated, automatically or manually, the battery capacity will allow to emit a long range redundant signal at -20°C for:
- The first 24 hours after activation on both 121.5 – 243 MHz and 406 MHz the COSPAS SARSAT "Search and Rescue" system
- A minimum of additional 24 hours (total 48 hours from activation) on 121.5 -243 MHz homing distress frequencies
to assist SAR teams to localize the beacons with a typical precision of 1 Nautical Mile (NM).
Shock resistant (up to 500 g in any direction) and robust to operate by harsh environments down to -20°C, up to +55°C.
Cospas-Sarsat system offers independent ELT localization capabilities.
For some “Automatic Fixed configuration”, availability of local GPS localization through A/C data bus offers an additional system redundancy.
benefits
ADT 406 solutions for more aviation safety, performance and reliability
Aircraft manufacturers and airlines equipped with ADT 406 will be able to:
- Use a complete range of ELT including Automatic Fixed and Survival/Portable models
- Use a robust and compact metallic ELT case
- Use Activation and Identification Module (AIM) for better Coding management
- Optimize signal transmission capabilities thanks to the backup antenna
- Reduce the cost of ownership with the 5 years Battery Service Life
Automatic fixed configuration includes remote control panel, external antenna and optional navigation interface
ELT external antenna to enable the transmission of emergency signals on 3 frequencies
In this configuration, ADT 406 is installed directly on A/C primary structure, placed in the rearmost position (AFT). It is connected to an external antenna installed on A/C primary outside structure, very close to the ELT transmitter. This installation, in close area of the transmitter, is intended to maximize the probability of correct radiation in case of activation. Such COTS external antenna selected by ECA GROUP are mandatory for getting the Cospas-Sarsat approval. They are compliant with the international standards in terms of radiation patterns performances. They are using a single BNC 50 ohms connector and are radiating at the same time the three distress frequencies 121.5-243-406 MHz.
Remote control panels (RCP) designed to fit all OEM cockpits
ADT 406 activation can be done both automatically, when an impact is detected (G-Switch Sensor), or manually. Manual activation can be achieved on the ELT front panel or from a Remote Control Panel (RCP) located in the A/C cockpit.
This RCP offers the remote access to the ELT:
- Manual Remote Activation,
- Manual Remote Selft-Test,
- Manual Remote RESET, restoring the ADT 406 in ARMED mode,
- Display of the ELT transmission state.
Optional navigation interface
Moreover, it can offer a link with the aircraft avionics data bus (ARINC 429) through an optional “Navigation Interface” equipment for getting additional primary source of A/C localization (one shot latitude & longitude information).
Simple to use and activate, information is accessible anytime upon request on the ADT 406 ELT front panel or Cockpit Remote Control Panel. ADT 406 can be implemented on any aircraft.
In survival / portable configuration
In case of aircraft crash, ADT 406, in its survival variant, can be carried and activated manually by survivors. This compact and lightweight beacon can be carried out by hand to be taken out of the plane.
It integrates an automatic water-activated system, ensuring the reliability of its activation and the localization of survivors of an aircraft in distress even in case of water landing. In that case, the signal will be automatically activated when in contact with water.
Waterproof, ADT 406 S is equipped with a floatability system.
standards
- COSPAS-SARSAT type approved
- TAC #131 [Automatic Fixed]
- TAC # 153 [Survival]
- JTSO 2C91a/2C126 / TSO C91a/C126 (per EUROCAE ED-62/RTCA DO-204/RTCA DO-183 ELT Minimum Operational Performance Standards[MOPS]).