July 20, 2011
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL- ACR Electronics today
announced that ResQLink™, the world's smallest 406 MHz Personal
Locator Beacon (PLB), is FCC approved and is now being shipped to
dealers and is for sale to consumers in the U.S. International
approvals to follow.
Manufactured by ACR Electronics, part of Cobham Commercial
Systems, the ResQLink™ is
small and light enough to hold comfortably in one hand yet
powerful enough to guide rescuers to within 100 meters or less of
the user's position in a life-threatening emergency.
At just 4.6 oz (130 g) and 3.9 in (10.0 cm) tall, the ResQLink™
offers a lot of punch in the smallest and lightest package
available today. It combines ease of use and ACR technology to give
pilots, boaters, and outdoors enthusiasts a powerful and accurate
safety companion, ready for action at the simple push of a
button.
Add the 406Link.com™ subscription service (www.406link.com) and
ResQLink™ can be tested through the Cospas - Sarsat satellite
system, assuring owners their beacon is ready when needed.
With three levels of integrated signal technology-GPS
positioning, a powerful 406 MHz signal, and 121.5 MHz homing
capability-the ResQLink™, with its reusable antenna, quickly and
accurately relays critical emergency position to the Cospas-Sarsat
International worldwide network of rescue satellites.
The waterproof ResQLink™ broadcasts a unique registered distress
signal that not only tells rescuers where the sender is, but who
they are. The onboard 66 channel GPS can quickly fix the
sender's position to within 100 meters and then utilizes a powerful
406 MHz signal to relay the distress call to orbiting satellites.
As local Search and Rescue is deployed, a separate homing signal
and integrated LED strobe light guide rescuers to the sender's
exact position.
Two built-in tests allow users to routinely verify that the
ResQLink™ is functioning and ready for use-with the push of a
button, users can easily test internal electronics and GPS
functionality.
Advances in circuit board design and power management have
allowed for a smaller battery pack and continuously operating
strobe.
A PLB is a satellite-signaling device of last resort, for use
when all other means of self-rescue have been exhausted and where
the situation is deemed to be grave and imminent, and the loss of
life, limb, eyesight or valuable property will occur without
assistance. All beacons must be registered. There are no monthly
service fees required for 406 MHz beacons.
The MSRP for the ResQLink™ is $325.00. For more information
please contact Chris Wahler at chris.wahler@cobham.com or go to www.acrelectronics.com.
ACR designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and
survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SART, Strobe Lights,
Life Jacket Lights, Search Lights and safety accessories. The
quality systems of this facility have been registered by UL to the
ISO 9001:2008 Series Standards. Recognized as the world
leader in safety and survival technologies, ACR has provided safety
equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the
military since 1956. The company is headquartered in Fort
Lauderdale, Florida and employs 147 at its manufacturing
facility.
Specifications: 3.3 x 4.8 x 9.9 cm (1.3
x1.9 x 3.9 in)
Weight: 130 g (4.6 oz) with lanyard
Battery: Class 2 (non-hazmat) lithium
batteries, meets DOT and IATA rules for safe transport, 5-year
replacement life
Deployment: Manual
Activation: Manual
Operation: 2 steps: deploy antenna, press ON
button, giving clear view to the sky
Waterproof: 5 m (16.40 ft) @ 1 hr. 10 m (33
ft) @ 10 min. Factory tested at 21º C (70º F), exceeds RTCM
waterproof requirements
Operational Life: Exceeds required 24 hours @ -20º
C (-4º F); 30 hours typical
Certification: Cospas-Sarsat and FCC, Canada
and R&TTE (Pending). This equipment may not be marketed
or put into service in the EU until it is in compliance with the
R&TTE Directive
Accessories: PN 9521 Flotation Pouch
About Cobham
Cobham specializes in meeting the insatiable demand for data,
connectivity and bandwidth in defence, security and commercial
environments. Offering a technically diverse and innovative range
of technologies and services, the Group protects the lives and
livelihoods, responding to customer needs with agility that
differentiates it. The most important thing we build is
trust. Employing more than 11,000 people on five continents, the
Group has customers and partners in over 100 countries, with annual
revenue of £1.9bn/US$3 billion.
About Cobham Commercial Systems
Cobham Commercial Systems is a leading provider of integrated
avionics systems, emergency locator systems and radar and missile
electronics for military and civil customers. Cobham's
avionics systems can be offered individually or integrated to
provide an entire cockpit. Its synthetic vision Electronic
Flight Instrument System (EFIS) revolutionised safety in low-level
flight operations and is now approved on more than 700 aircraft and
helicopter models. Cobham's new Helicopter Stability
Augmentation System (HeliSAS) adds to its extensive range of fixed
wing auto-pilot solutions and brings added safety within the reach
of a host of operators for whom such systems were previously too
expensive and heavy.
Cobham Commercial Systems is also an acknowledged expert in
Emergency Locator Transmitter and Personal Locator Beacon
technologies, from personal units to Original Equipment
Manufacturer mounted systems on airliners and helicopters.
Its radar and missile RF front end electronics are part of many
radars, missiles, and space and commercial radar systems as well as
leading edge Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA)
solutions.
ACR Public Relations:
Chris Wahler
+954 862 2174
chris.wahler@cobham.com
Cobham Media Relations
Monica Hallman
+ 1 703 414 5300
Monica.hallman@cobham.com
