CPC G01S 5/0231 (2013.01) [B64D 45/00 (2013.01); G01S 19/17 (2013.01); G08G 5/0013 (2013.01); G08G 5/0021 (2013.01); G08G 5/0056 (2013.01); B64D 2045/0065 (2013.01); G01S 2205/006 (2013.01)] | 21 Claims |
3. A system for activating a radio beacon on an aircraft, comprising:
a transponder with trigger logic located in a first location of the aircraft;
a first antenna coupled to the transponder and configured to communicate with a first satellite;
an RF detector installed in the aircraft at a second location, the RF detector coupled to an Emergency Locator Transmitter-Distress Tracking (ELT-DT) unit and a second antenna for communicating with a second satellite; and
wherein the system is configured to execute functions comprising:
detecting aircraft operations for an aircraft;
identifying an abnormal event has occurred based on the aircraft operations;
determining if the abnormal event was intentional; and
activating a locator beacon if the abnormal event was not intentional;
determining if at least one transponder is in an ON state;
activating the locator beacon if no transponder is in the ON state;
determining if the at least one transponder was properly operating as it exited the ON state; and
activating the locator beacon if the at least one transponder was properly operating as it exited the ON state.
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