Canada Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) Mandate Now In Effect (Starting November 25, 2020) – Upgrade to a 406 MHz ELT

On November 25, 2020, Canada put into place new regulations to ensure all aircraft flying in the country are safer with the now required digital 406 Megahertz (MHz) Emergency Locator Transmitters or ELT.  All aircraft with very limited exceptions that include gliders, ultra-lights, gyroplanes, balloons, and airships will be required to have a properly registered ELT that is satellite detectable on the 406 MHz distress frequency.  All commercial air operators, foreign aircraft and private operators will need to be upgraded to a 406 MHz ELT, like the ARTEX ELT 345 no later than November 25, 2021.  Recreational operators have 5 years to comply with the new regulations, however the cost of service to maintain the legacy 121 ELTs required on their aircraft with annual battery replacements make upgrading to a digital 406 MHz ELT more attractive. 

Why Upgrade Now? 
With any mandate, waiting until the last year and especially the last months of the year before the mandate is enforced comes with a few common risks to keep in mind when deciding upon a date to make the upgrade. 

First, product and installation availability.   
The closer you get to the deadline, the more in-demand the product is going to become, the harder it is going to be to purchase, and the harder it is going to be to schedule the installation. 

Second, pricing.   
Avionics in a mandated market typically do not decrease in price, especially with the current shortfall of electronic components in the global market.  As demand increases, price typically also increase.  So, you will likely pay more for the product and the installation. 

Third, Legacy Support.   
The older 121.5 MHz have been discontinued years ago and supporting an old product with batteries and repair becomes very costly for the manufacturer as well as the aircraft owner.  If a manufacturer discontinues support for the equipment, your aircraft could be grounded until a new ELT can be installed.  Additionally, a general rule of thumb should always be the older the product, the more expensive support and replacement parts become.  The cost to replace a 121.5 MHz ELT battery can range as high as $200-$250 every 2 years, while a new 406 MHz ELT comes with a 5-year user replaceable battery which will save you more money in the long run by upgrading today. 

---

---

Resource Center

• Transport Canada: Requirements for Emergency Locator Transmitters (ELT)

• Canada Gazette, Part 2: Regulations Amending the Canadian Aviation Regulations (Parts I, V and VI — ELT)

• Canadian Beacon Registration: Online Registration

• Canadian Owners & Pilots Association (COPA): Regulator strengthens requirements for digital ELTs on Canadian aircraft

• AeroNews Network: Transport Canada Updates Requirements For ELTs

ELT Installation Costs?

121.5 MHz vs 406 MHz?

The ELT 345 Advantage

The ELT 345 Kits

There are now three comprehensive kit options available that provide users with access to the ELT 345, the world’s most popular ELT.  Each option features a 2-wire remote switch, coax cable, antenna, and ELT installation kit.  The primary difference between the kits pertains to the antenna and/or switch offering.  Our most economical option (part number 8102), comes with our standard black whip antenna and standard 2-wire remote switch.  The other two kits include a lower profile antenna option featuring a black whip antenna designed for installations where a shorter form factor is required.  Lastly, while the 8102 and 8107 kits include the standard 2-wire remote switch, the 8108 kit features a new slim profile switch.  The new slim switch is perfect for ACK and Ameri-King ELT retrofits as it requires no modification to the switch panel cut-out when replacing a legacy phone cord style switch.  As an added benefit, the slim switch requires no batteries and operates using 2 wire connectivity for dependable cockpit panel operation.

• 

• 

•