Spidertracks launches new tracking system

New Zealand based Spidertracks will launch a new aircraft emergency location system designed for general aviation pilots at AirVenture 2010 at Oshkosh.

Called Spidertracks Aviator, the new system turns on automatically, tracks the aircraft from takeoff to landing, with position reports sent via the Iridium satellite network to a dedicated website. It will automatically send emergency SOS messages within minutes of an accident, with guaranteed reliability because the alerts are generated by the system rather than the hardware in the aircraft.

Spidertracks marketing manager Rachel Donald says that the system can be used to locate an aircraft in the event of an accident much more precisely than an ELT. “The system knows when you have an accident, it knows where you are based on your last reported position, and sends SOS messages automatically within minutes to your friends and family. They can notify emergency services so you can be found quickly.”

Spidertracks Aviator is being launched in conjunction with a new tracking device, the S3, which is smaller, lighter and designed to sit on the dash of a light aircraft and still be portable with integrated antenna and keypad, and powered by auxiliary power. The S3 retails at US$995, with new pricing for the tracking service.