Signature Industries Limited announced today that it has finalised negotiations with BAE Systems to supply SARBE Advanced Aircrew Personal Locator Beacons.

The beacons will be issued to each of BAE’s own team of pilots as well as to visiting pilots and aircrew from the UK and overseas. The AAPLB and will form an essential part of the standard survival equipment to be used in the event of having to abandon a stricken aircraft.

In an emergency the AAPLB is activated to transmit a distress message containing the exact GPS co-ordinates and identity of the survivor. The distress signal is received by the COSPAS-SARSAT global satellite network which then alerts the rescue authorities

Aircraft that the AAPLB is likely to be carried on include Typhoon, Tornado and Hawk. BAE Systems has a long history of using SARBE Personal Locator Beacons and the AAPLB’s will be replacing equipment rendered obsolete due to satellite monitoring changes.

A spokesman said, “BAE have been a loyal SARBE customer for many years. We are pleased to be supplying them with the latest generation beacons that will be in service for many years to come”