What does ELT mean in AIRCRAFT & AVIATION

What Is an ELT?

An ELT is a type of emergency beacon designed to transmit location and other vital information about an individual in distress or an accident site. It operates on either 406 MHz or 121.5 MHz radio frequencies and can be triggered manually or automatically when the user is in trouble. Once activated, the ELT will continuously transmit the user's exact coordinates and other relevant data until deactivated or until it runs out of power. The transmitted information will then be received by search and rescue satellites operating within range, allowing responders to effectively pinpoint the individual’s exact location.

Who Uses ELTs?

ELTs are typically used by aircraft pilots, military personnel, search and rescue teams, law enforcement officials, campers, hikers and travelers who may find themselves in dangerous situations away from civilization. They are also commonly installed on boats and life rafts to provide further security for those embarking on marine journeys. In some areas of the world such as North America, regulations dictate that all registered aircraft must carry an ELT along with their standard safety equipment.

Benefits of ELTs

The main benefit of using an ELT is that it ensures help can arrive more rapidly than if no help was available at all. If activated correctly, responders can easily locate individuals in need even if they don't know where they are located geographically otherwise. Other advantages include the ability to use GPS coordinates for navigation purposes so that rescuers can identify their target’s exact whereabouts before arriving at the scene; increased likelihood of being found due to the powerful signal emitted by the transmitter; and more reliable long-term tracking options due to its intrinsic redundancy features such as multiple frequency channels for transmitting signals over different frequencies simultaneously.