ACR Electronics has announced an important milestone for aviation safety with its ARTEX ELT 5000, a next-generation Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) that has now achieved type certification on the Boeing 787 aircraft. This development strengthens compliance with the Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) and highlights growing industry momentum in the adoption of advanced distress tracking solutions.
The ARTEX ELT 5000 distress tracking (DT) Emergency Locator Transmitter has obtained type certification on the Boeing 787 Aircraft.
Enabling compliance with Global Aeronautical Distress and Safety System (GADSS) requirements for commercial aircraft, the latest approval on a Boeing platform marks another significant milestone in the trouble-free Entry into Service of ACR Electronics’ next-generation ELT solution.
The ELT 5000, which has logged several thousand successful flight hours to date, is the only approved and selectable ELT-DT option for Boeing 787 and Boeing 737 aircraft, with certifications for the 767 and 777 expected in the coming months.
With FAA TSO and Cospas Sarsat approval since 2024, the type-certified ARTEX solution now offers a future-proof emergency distress signalling and tracking option for operators planning retrofits for aircraft delivered from 1 January 2024, to comply with local regulatory mandates.
Jeff Geraci, Vice President and General Manager of ARTEX, said: “Further advancing global standards in aircraft distress tracking and safety, the new milestone is the latest achievement in Boeing and ACR Electronics’ shared mission to meet new GADSS requirements. We are proud to lead the industry into a future of enhanced aviation safety.
“The Distress Tracking ELT is part of a complex avionic system with sensitive triggering criteria, so its robust design and our extensive flight testing are critical. With many thousands of successful flight hours now logged without any inadvertent activations or operational challenges common to initial product launches, ELT 5000’s Entry into Service performance has exceeded expectations.
“As ACR Electronics obtains certification on more aircraft types in 2025, we anticipate the continuation of the smooth entry into service for the ELT 5000 selected by key airlines as we strive to meet the evolving needs of the industry.”
Purpose-built to meet GADSS requirements, the ARTEX ELT 5000 delivers industry-leading performance and reliability, featuring advanced satellite tracking capabilities to support autonomous distress tracking (ADT).
The ELT 5000 is designed, manufactured, and tested in the United States by ACR Electronics. It builds on decades of experience in aviation emergency technologies and supports seamless integration into today’s advanced aircraft systems.
The certification of the ARTEX ELT 5000 on the Boeing 787 marks a pivotal step towards enhanced global aviation safety. With further certifications expected across Boeing’s fleet and wider industry adoption anticipated, the system’s proven reliability and performance reinforce its role as a vital technology for the future of flight.
