GADSS
The Kannad GADSS ELT-DT is a fixed Emergency Locator Transmitter – Distress Tracking type, designed to meet the ICAO GADSS ADT requirement which will be applicable in January 2021. Adaptable to any commercial aircraft, its programmable trigger-in-flight capability detects imminent distress situations and automatically sends a secure 406MHz distress signal including the accurate aircraft position. The operator ground activation service ensures that the aircraft is autonomously tracked and reporting a notification of distress to the relevant authorities.
To give you more information about GADSS please find here the Webinar Orolia organized about GADSS Implementation in collaboration with Aviation Week and Air France Industries.
The Return Link Command Service
enables an activation from the ground in case of an incertitude about the aircraft status or if attempts to communicate with the flight crew are unsuccessful.
Trigger-in-Flight capability
Based on programmable criteria, the Kannad GADSS ELT-DT automatically detects an imminent distress situation (according to flight events) which triggers beacon activation (or deactivation) any time during the flight in all conditions.
Features
Compliant with the ICAO GADSS ADT regulation
Programmable trigger-in-flight capability
Remote ground activation via Return Link Service
Internal multi-GNSS providing accurate and independent aircraft position
Compliant with FAA/EASA special conditions for Lithium batteries
Post-flight localization capability through enhanced mechanical robustness
Easy avionics integration through compact design and direct connection to databus.
What is GADSS?
Following several accidents where downed aircraft could not be located at all, or only after long and expensive search efforts, the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) recommendations were adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in March 2016. In December 2015, the European Union (EU) also adopted the ICAO-GADSS global flight tracking initiative to improve the location of aircraft in distress anywhere in the world.
What are the main goals of GADSS?
The GADSS concept of operations is simple in its scope: provide autonomous global, end-to-end tracking of commercial flights so that an aircraft is never “lost.”
Its primary focus is the detection of aircraft in distress anywhere in the world, but also to provide more accurate tracking throughout the flight so the Search & Rescue (SAR) procedure can be initiated, if required, and rescuers directed to the right location. This process will also enable more efficient SAR operations as well as timely retrieval of the Flight Data Recorder.
What are the GADSS key components?
To make the tracking of all phases of an aircraft’s flight fool-proof, ICAO has based its recommendations on components and technologies which are all associated with various steps of a flight :
Aircraft Tracking during normal operations
The aircraft position information needs to be updated and available for Air Traffic Services (ATS) at least once per 15 min.
Autonomous Distress Tracking (ADT) during abnormal operations
The aircraft position information will be transmitted, without the need for flight crew action, at least once every minute
when an aircraft is in a distress condition.
Post-flight localization and recovery
The accurate aircraft position information (1 NM or better) is provided to SAR services.
When will the regulation be applicable?
The aircraft tracking function under normal operations will be applicable on November 8, 2018.
The aircraft tracking function under abnormal operations and for flight recorder data recovery will both be applicable on January 1, 2021.
Who is covered and which airplanes are impacted?
The three standards of GADSS will apply to all new-built aircraft with take-off weight greater than 27,000 kg. Other new aircraft with take-off weight greater than 5,700 kg are also recommended to comply with the GADSS requirement from the same date.
Retrofit – To cover aircraft delivered before this date to operate with Autonomous Distress Tracking systems, ICAO announced last year an incentive for operators willing to replace at least one of the two required Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT) on board of the aircraft.
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