New AquaLink Personal Locator Beacon from ACR

ACR Electronics Introduces The Next Generation of PLBs Bouyant, Lighter and now with a Strobe Light and Multi-Use GPS Acquisition Testing!

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL – ACR Electronics introduces its newest generation of Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs) – the AquaLink™ 406 MHz GPS PLB.

The AquaLink™, which recently received FCC approval, features a new strobe light function and multi-use GPS acquisition testing. The AquaLink™ represents one of the smallest, lightest 406 GPS PLBs in the world. The rugged, one-button activated, emergency signaling device is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts heading into remote areas.

The AquaLink™ has all new high performance features such as:

• Built-in, super bright LED strobe light increases visibility to Search and Rescue.

• Onboard 66-channel parallel GPS acquires then transmits LAT/LON when the unit is activated, dramatically saving valuable time for the distress message to reach local rescue centers, and provide rescue agencies with exact position to within 110 yards (100 meters).

• In addition to full functional self testing of internal circuitry, battery voltage and power, the AquaLink™ allows for an increased number of long GPS acquisition tests—up to 12 times per life of battery.

• More efficient design uses less power, making it smaller and lighter.

• Inherently buoyant.

Suggested MSRP for the AquaLink™ is $499.00.
Street Price ranging around $399.99

Specifications

Size: 2.25 x 5.88 x 1.49” (5.72 x 14.94 x 3.78 cm)

Weight: 8.9 oz (252 g) with lanyard

Battery: Lithium battery packs, meets DOT and IATA rules for safe transport, 5-year replacement life Deployment: Manual

Activation: Manual

Operation: 2 steps: deploy antenna, press ON button, giving clear view to the sky

Waterproof: 16.4’ (5 m) @ 1hr., 33’ (10 m) @ 10 min

Operational Life: Exceeds required 24 hours @ -4º F (-20º C)

Certification: Cospas-Sarsat, FCC, and RTT&E Europe Approved

About ACR Electronics, Inc. ACR Electronics, Inc. www.acrelectronics.com, designs and manufactures a complete line of safety and survival products including EPIRBs, PLBs, AIS, SART, Strobe Lights, Life Jacket Lights, Search Lights and safety accessories. The quality systems of this facility have been registered by UL to the ISO 9001:2000 Series Standards. Recognized as the world leader in safety and survival technologies, ACR has provided safety equipment to the aviation and marine industries as well as to the military since 1956. The company is headquartered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida and employs 200 at its manufacturing facility.

About Cobham plc Cobham plc is an international company engaged in the development, delivery and support of advanced aerospace and defense systems for land, sea, air and space. The company has four divisions that collectively specialize in the provision of components, subsystems and services that keep people safe, improve communications and enhance the capability of aerospace and defense platforms.

A Whale of a Rescue

A four-member sailboat crew was rescued after a whale reportedly rammed their boat and caused it to sink 415 miles north of Hawaii. Their lives were saved by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) after the sailors activated their Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

At 7:35 a.m. on July 25, the 40-foot Mureadrittas XL was severely damaged by a whale that crashed into them, according to the captain, Nick Barran. The lateral hit opened a hole in the starboard side and caused the vessel to take on water. The crew attempted to control the leak but saw that it was futile. They assessed their situation as life threatening and set off their ACR Electronics RapidFix™ 406 EPIRB.

Then, at 8:35 a.m., having launched the life raft loaded with essential survival water, food, clothing, communications gear and personal identifications, they boarded it to await rescue. Within minutes, an orbiting satellite picked up the EPIRB’s distress signal, and vital information pinpointing their location was relayed to the USCG District 14 Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) in Honolulu. Authorities made contact with next of kin and determined that the yacht was returning to California after completing the Pacific Cup sailing race.

A C-130 CG aircraft was launched from Honolulu and arrived on scene at 10:55 a.m. All four survivors were spotted in a covered life raft, and the CG plane circled overhead until a cargo ship 90 miles away could arrive to render assistance. The container vessel, Maersk Darwin, took the survivors aboard and, later, transferred them to the commercial fishing boat, Cammie M, which was heading to port in Honolulu. This allowed the freighter to continue on its voyage to China.

CG Petty Officer Michael De Nyse said credit for the successful rescue goes to teamwork and the sailors’ prior safety training. “Preparation is key to getting yourself out of trouble. They were very well prepared with food, water, a raft, a satellite phone and an EPIRB that offers dedicated information, in addition to their location,” De Nyse said. “It’s a great thing when you have fellow mariners work so well together. The Good Samaritans were instrumental in this rescue.”

Barran also praised the “perfect execution” of the rescue. “It was a textbook coordination by the Coast Guard. It doesn’t get any better than this. We were 415 miles away and ended up back on land in Honolulu within three days – amazing!” he exclaimed.