A new single-output ELT from ACR Electronics features GPS integration that doesn’t require aircraft power. The Artex ELT 1000 is a single-output ELT that is an affordable upgrade for general aviation aircraft, the company said July 28 at EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.
The unit utilizes a single antenna output for emergency transmissions on both 406 MHz and 121.5 MHz frequencies. The new remote switch requires two wires so that upgrading an older 121.5 MHz ELT is simple and affordable, the company said.
GPS integration enhances the unit’s positional accuracy, company representatives said. A standard 406 MHz transmitter produces a three-kilometer position (as compared with 15 to 20 kilometers for a 121.5 MHz transmitter). When coupled to the navigation system via the GPS interface, the accuracy improves to approximately 100 meters, the company said.
The $998 retail price includes a full kit, including a switch, ELT, and mounting tray. The unit is certified for either rod or whip antennas. The mounting tray includes multiple hole patterns to enable the unit to be bolted in without requiring modifications. The unit weighs 2.2 pounds. The company has type certificates for Bell, Boeing, Cessna, Diamond, Embraer, Eurocopter, Gulfstream, Hawker/Beechcraft, Learjet, and Piper aircraft.
ACR Electronics, based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, also manufactures rescue beacons and survival gear for boaters, hikers, hunters, and combat troops. The company offers SurvivorClub, an educational outreach program in which customers offer testimonies on how they used the company’s survival products. SurvivorClub members can receive a complimentary replacement beacon.
