General Aviation Pilots Can Now Fly Safer When Their SPOT Products Are Linked to Aircraft Alerting and Surveillance Services
Globalstar have announced that Lockheed Martin Flight Service (LMFS) will integrate and provide automated position monitoring for VFR (Visual Flight Rules) flights.
Using a SPOT Gen3 or a SPOT Trace, GPS tracking reports are generated and forwarded to LMFS. The system keeps track of the aircraft and if the aircraft stops moving or stops sending position reports, an alarm is triggered immediately at LMFS. The aircraft's most recent GPS coordinates are available to be forwarded to Search and Rescue (SAR) authorities, significantly narrowing the search radius and providing faster SAR response.
The SPOT Gen3 also features an SOS button that can send an instant distress message along with GPS position information to GEOS International Emergency Response Coordination Center, immediately initiating SAR operations.
"We are pleased that SPOT devices are now integrated into our Surveillance-Enhanced Search-and-Rescue services," said Jim Derr, Director, Lockheed Martin Flight Service. "Pilots now will be able to leverage additional tracking and rescue services that are crucial to their flight planning."
"We are excited to work with Lockheed Martin, as together their services and our products will become even more powerful emergency notification and tracking devices," said Jake Rembert, VP of Sales. "Our units have helped initiate over 3,500 rescues worldwide, which has included aviation rescue operations. Being able to get help fast in the event of an emergency is critical and we offer friends and family on the ground peace of mind by knowing where you are."