SKYTRAC Systems and ACR Electronics are to provide Embraer with a novel autonomous distress tracking and emergency locator transmitter with distress tracking technology to satisfy the European operational requirements and ICAO recommendations relating to global aeronautical distress and safety system (GADSS), due to begin in January 2023. SKYTRAC and ACR Electronics are both brands of the ACR Group.

The recommendations, in response to the loss of flights Malaysia Airlines 370 and Air France 447, provide rescue coordination centres and airline operational control centres with advanced warning as well as an aircraft's precise location if a distress scenario is detected. Embraer will install the system on E2 jets as a line fit, factory installed solution. It will use technology from both SKYTRAC and ACR making it possible to track and locate aircraft in distress, ensuring compliance with GADSS recommendations set forth by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO).

SKYTRAC was requested to participate in a special multidisciplinary meeting on global flight tracking which convened at the ICAO headquarters in Montreal, Canada. Since then, SKYTRAC and ACR Electronics have participated in numerous committees, advisory groups, and general sessions, leading to a compliant autonomous distress tracking (ADT) and emergency locator transmitter with distress tracking (ELT-DT) system with novel technology.

SKYTRAC's ADT 5000 captures aircraft parameters such as position, altitude, and other critical system data and runs it through distress detection logic. Its dual redundancy system ensures that both data acquisition devices within the unit detect a distress condition before generating a triggering command in the event of a distress scenario.

The ADT 5000 solution is capable of interfacing with a variety of ELTs, including ACR's ARTEX ELT 5000 (DT), to initiate a distress tracking transmission relaying high resolution 4D positions of the aircraft in real time.

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, which meets FAA TSO-C126C and EASA ETSO-C126C for aircraft ELTs, provides the aircraft's precise location to assist relevant monitoring bodies to respond to the alert quickly and effectively using the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite network. Pilots can also trigger the ELT manually from inside the cockpit if necessary.

The joint solution alerts airline stakeholders and search and rescue or accident investigation authorities in cases of distress through a distress report to relay 4D positions to the ICAO location of aircraft in distress repository. With its autonomous distress tracking solution, aircraft manufacturers aim to solve three of the key GADSS concept of operations objectives.

"Our innovative solution is the work of years of collaboration between leading regulatory bodies, ICAO, various working groups, and our sister companies," says Malachi Nordine, president, SKYTRAC. "Everything from the Distress Triggering logic, ELT-DT, redundant hardware design, and the required Aircraft System interfaces were developed in house by SKYTRAC and ACR Electronics."