Les Echos: Future distress beacons will activated before aircraft crash

From 2021, airlines will have to equip their aircrafts with autonomous Cospas-Sarsat beacons, which activate in situation of distress. Aircraft will be located in real time with an accuracy of 100 meters by positioning satellites.

Published on Les Echos, March 2018.
 
Written by Laurent Marcaillou
 
Currently, aircraft distress beacons do not activate until the crash happens. But, all the aircrafts built from 2021 onwards will have to be equipped with autonomous beacons which will send the signal from the once a distress is detected, to immediately know their position and organize the rescue. The signal will be emitted automatically in the event of abnormal speed, altitude or attitude and loss of power.