Kannad ELT

Southwest Airlines has selected McMurdo’s emergency locator transmitters (ELTs) for its fleet of 636 Boeing 737 aircrafts.

Under the deal, McMurdo will install its Kannad Survival ELTs on the carrier’s Boeing 737 aircraft.

Kannad serves various aircraft and airline brands, including Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Pilatus, British Airways, United Airlines and China Airlines.

Beacons on ELTs are said to incorporate advanced technology, including pin-point positioning and location data for best rescue response time.

In case of an emergency, the distress beacon relays a signal to mission control centres and rescue coordination centres for a rescue team deployment.

"In case of an emergency, the distress beacon relays a signal to mission control centres and rescue coordination centres for a rescue team deployment."

McMurdo’s aviation partner Aviall Services provided the ELTs.

McMurdo Group CEO Jean-Yves Courtois said: "For over 25 years, Kannad has provided aircraft manufacturers and airlines with high-performing and highly reliable search and rescue technologies providing redundant transmission and GPS."

ELT is a key component of passenger safety, and is designed to allow first responders to locate the aircraft as soon as possible, in case of an emergency.

The component is removable from the aircraft and is stowed, to facilitate crew members in emergency situations.

McMurdo provides search and rescue solutions, including distress beacons aviation, maritime, military, and personal applications, satellite ground station communications and rescue response solutions.

Southwest Airlines’ contract comes after Embraer selected McMurdo’s ELT shipsets for E-Jets E2, E-Jets second generation aircraft.

Image: McMurdo’s Kannad Survival emergency locator transmitter. Photo: courtesy of McMurdo Group.