Kannad Aviation has today launched the NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav, a navigation interface providing a continual and ongoing source of GPS data to the revolutionary INTEGRA ELT (Emergency Locator Transmitter). This interface ensures the availability of location data when, for whatever reason, the INTEGRA ELT’s internal GPS cannot receive a signal. In this instance the interface provides back-up GPS position data taken from the aircraft’s own panel mounted GPS. This new product can be seen at Sun ‘n Fun, Lakeland, Florida from 27 March – 01 April 2012, on Kannad Aviation’s booth, C-003.

The NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav interface provides back-up GPS position data taken from the aircraft’s own panel mounted GPS, ensuring the availability of location data even when the INTEGRA ELT’s internal GPS cannot receive a signal.

Marking a major step forward in the development of aircraft safety equipment, the NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav ensures that when activated, the INTEGRA ELT always has GPS location data that can be transmitted to the COSPAS SARSAT* satellite network in an emergency. Whether the data is from the INTEGRA ELT’s unique built-in GPS receiver or from the NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav, the emergency services will be able to pin-point location within a few minutes of the beacon being activated.

The NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav enables a connection to the data output from the aircraft’s own panel-mounted GPS, using the NMEA0183 interface, with the aircraft’s position being continually recorded and updated inside the e-Nav during normal operations. In an emergency, the INTEGRA will first attempt to get a position fix from its internal GPS, as this is the current and therefore most accurate information. If this is unsuccessful, due to shielding of the metal fuselage, the position from the NMEA INTEGRA e-NAV will be used. This records the last known position (before the Master Switch is turned off on final approach during a forced landing), close to the aircraft’s eventual position.

Recognising the importance of this safety equipment, from summer 2012, INTEGRA ELTs with NMEA INTEGRA e-Nav will be installed on all Eurocopter, Germany, helicopters.