Inflight Labs LLC said it has developed the first autonomous distressed aircraft tracking system that communicates using a satellite-to-aircraft link, activated by air traffic control ground command under certain circumstances. The global aeronautical distress safety system (GADSS), Smart GADDS, could also meet ICAO requirements.
Smart GADSS weighs less than 2 pounds and is designed for plug-and-play installation. Air traffic control ground command can activate the system during loss of radio or transponder communication, after a pilot’s 7700-emergency message, or after a pilot broadcasts a “May Day Distress Call.” Smart GADSS continuously tracks the aircraft through the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and the global search and rescue constellation, COSPAS-SAT. Inflight Labs said tracking takes place in predetermined time increments of one minute or less, within moments of activation. The system also has an underwater locator beacon (ULB) system.
The company also has developed other “Smart” products, like Smart ELT (emergency locator transmitter), which can trigger the existing ELT during an inflight event automatically or by ground command. Inflight Labs has also created Smart ADS-B.