Emergency Locator Transmitter is a battery operated Radio Transmitter, which specifically operates on the distress frequency on VHF that is 121.5 mhz/243 Mhz.
There are many types of ELT available in the market, in different sizes for different needs, but their function remains the same, some equipment might have different methods of activation.
It is very helpful for locating a crashed a/c over land or sea, since It helps search & Rescue team to locate the a/c by continuously transmitting the distress signal on the allocated 121.5 mhz/243 mhz, & improves the survival chances by helping expedite the Search & Rescue mission.
| 1. | Type A or AD | – |
Automatic Ejectable or Auto Deployable. Auto eject from a/c & turns on when a/c is subjected to a crash deceleration via inertia sensors. |
| 2. | Type F or AF | – |
Fixed or Auto fixed (Not Ejectable). Auto operation when subjected to crash deceleration force via inertia sensors. |
| 3. | Type AP | – | Automatic Portable. Similar to type F except that antenna is integral for the portable operations. |
| 5. | Type P | – |
Personnel. It has no fixed mounting & does not transmit automatically. A manual switch is used to start or stop the transmission |
| 5. | Type W or S | – |
water Activated or survival. It transmits automatically when immersed in the water. It is water proof, floats& operates on the surface of the water. It has no fixed mountings. It should be tethered to the survivors on life raft in case of a ditching (landing on water), for search & rescue tem to locate them. |