UAE
launches unique project to test Emergency Locator Transmitter on aircraft to
save time
UAE’s National Search and Rescue Center, the General Civil
Aviation Authority and Bayanat, a leading provider of AI powered geospatial
solutions, have announced the launch of the emergency locator transmitter (ELT)
project to save time.
In the past, the ELT device was removed from the aircraft
and transferred to a maintenance workshop to carry out the testing process in a
closed environment. Utilising special testing devices, the electrical circuit
in the ELT was tested and reports were sent to the concerned authorities
manually. The total testing process took anywhere from 1 to 3 days, and the aircraft
couldn’t fly till the completion of the test.
The new process, which is unique in the field of global
aviation safety, is carried out at the press of a single button, and the total
time is reduced to less than 5 minutes. The ELT device is never removed from
its operational state, and thus it is not required to halt flight operations.
The testing process starts from the ELT device to the transmitter antenna in
the aircraft, on to the satellites, and ends with the ground receivers at the National
Search and Rescue Center, where the distress call system is fully tested.
His Excellency Dr. Stephen Tomajan, Director General of the
National Center for Search and Rescue commented, “This smart technical
initiative reflects the cooperation and coordination of the authorities in the
United Arab Emirates to provide the best services in the aviation safety
sector.” He also stressed that this service would constitute a quantum leap in
this field, as it will save a lot of time compared to the previous process.
Hassan Al Hosani, CEO of Bayanat said, “This initiative, in
cooperation with the National Center for Search and Rescue, represents the
benefit of modern techniques and technology, which contributes to the
development of the aviation safety sector and the improvement of productivity.”
The process of receiving test signals is governed through the electronic cloud to provide the highest standards of cyber security and facilitate the passing of information to the relevant authorities. The system also provides additional services to airlines through which the devices in the aircraft fleet are inventoried and monitored, and the due dates for tests and basic data for device registration are determined, which helps in improving the performance of asset management for airlines. It also reduces human error resulting from the use of paperwork in the previous procedure.
Source: https://www.zawya.com/