Story ID: 
Artex Unveils New Transport-grade ELT
By: James Wynbrandt
Caption: The retrofit ELT 4000 has an alkaline battery rather than a lithium-ion model.
Word Count: 197
Artex has introduced the ELT 4000 emergency locator transmitter (ELT), the only 406-MHz approved transport-grade alkaline battery-powered ELT, according to the safety and survival equipment manufacturer. It's also the first exempt from FAA non-rechargeable lithium battery special conditions, said Artex. The new ELT is “an immediate and innovative answer to the new regulations,” said Jeffery Geraci, director of aviation sales at the Fort Lauderdale, Florida, company, and promises OEMs, airlines, and operators reduced ownership costs through lower acquisition, installation, and maintenance expenses compared to other ELTs.

Featuring an advanced component structure that reduces power consumption while still meeting 406-MHz and 121.5-MHz performance standards, the ELT is designed for easy, low-cost retrofit. The mounting tray footprint matches the legacy Artex ELT installation to further reduce engineering costs. Moreover, the five-year replaceable alkaline battery doesn’t require additional protective housing or a containment vessel and is less expensive to ship than traditional ELTs, as it has no hazmat shipping requirements. The one-piece ELT 4000 features a built-in nav interface (Arinco 429) for connecting to on-board GPS, and as a single-output ELT, uses the same RF output and only one coax cable to transmit both 406-MHz and 121.5-MHz signals.