DO-160 qualified crash sensors that activate when it matters while avoiding nuisance triggers.
When your ELT system needs a reliable ELT Crash Sensor for precise crash detection, Select Controls delivers precision-engineered sensors that get it right when it counts. Our aircraft ELT crash sensor designs and Aircraft “G” Switches feature multi-axis inertial sensing with calibrated thresholds that distinguish actual crash events from hard landings, supporting TSO-C126 (the FAA technical standard for ELT equipment) while helping prevent nuisance triggers through rapid prototyping and custom calibration solutions.
Category Overview: DO-160 Qualified ELT Activation Components
Select Controls' ELT activation components combine multi-axis inertial sensing with calibrated threshold discrimination to support Aircraft Emergency Locating Transmitters (ELTs) across certified platforms. Whether you require an ELT activation sensor, an ELT crash switch, or a G-switch ELT as part of an automatic ELT activation system, our portfolio is engineered for dependable inertial crash detection aircraft applications.
Our Aircraft “G” Switches and activation modules undergo rigorous RTCA DO-160 environmental qualification as a DO-160-qualified crash-sensor family, delivering documented compliance paths for TSO-C126 architectures. These crash switches reduce integration complexity through rapid prototyping and custom engineering support, built for precision, availability, and on-time delivery across your certified aviation programs.
Explore ELT Centric Sensor Models and Integration Paths
Our ELT crash sensors and activation switches are organized around compliance requirements, installation timelines, and reliability specifications that align with your certification workflow. Each model addresses specific DO-160 environmental profiles while supporting rapid implementation into TSO-C126 architectures. The following models provide targeted solutions for different phases of your development process and broader crash detection module aerospace needs.
Multi-Axis Crash Detection Switches
Precision-calibrated sensors with configurable thresholds for crash vs. hard landing discrimination across three sensing axes. These devices support aircraft inertial crash-detection requirements, where accurate event characterization is critical for automatic ELT activation.
DO-160 Environmental Qualification Sensors
Pre-qualified designs meeting DO-160 vibration, temperature cycling, and operational shock requirements with documented test reports. Each ELT impact sensor and crash switch is engineered for consistency across the full environmental envelope.
TSO-C126 Installation-Ready Modules
Direct-mount activation switches designed for seamless implementation with certified ELT architectures, reducing system-level qualification time. These modules support automatic ELT activation system architectures where repeatable sensing performance and streamlined certification are priorities.
Custom Threshold Calibration Services
Application-specific sensor tuning based on your platform's operational envelope and false-trigger prevention requirements. Whether you need a hard landing sensor aircraft configuration or highly sensitive crash thresholds, our team calibrates response profiles to balance sensitivity and nuisance prevention.
Rapid Prototype Development Kits
Evaluation modules with adjustable parameters for concept validation and design verification before production commitment. These kits allow ELT system integrators and avionics engineers to quickly evaluate aircraft ELT crash sensor behavior within their own test regimes.
Each model includes comprehensive documentation, including DO-160 test data, mounting guidelines, and procurement specifications. Our engineering team provides rapid prototyping support to accelerate your design validation process while maintaining full traceability for certification authorities. For projects that require a combined view of environmental and certification constraints, our RTCA DO-160 crash sensor TSO-compliant ELT sensor options support clear documentation paths through qualification and approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our engineering team determines optimized thresholds and timing parameters based on your platform specifications, flight profiles, and mounting locations. Multi-axis calibration helps prevent false triggers while maintaining reliable crash detection across all phases of operation, from taxi and takeoff to landing and emergency events.
Three-axis monitoring captures the complex force patterns of real crashes while filtering out isolated single-direction impacts and short-duration hard landings. This multi-axis approach improves the selectivity of the ELT activation sensor, supporting dependable automatic activation without increasing nuisance events.
TSO-C126 governs ELT system-level requirements, while RTCA DO-160 covers environmental qualification for onboard equipment. Our aircraft switches meet the TSO-C126 specification requirements and DO-160-qualified crash-sensor designs support both frameworks, with documented test reports that streamline certification and system-level integration.
Our sensors use calibrated g-force thresholds and duration filters that distinguish between sustained crash forces and short-duration hard landings. Multi-axis sensing helps ensure that a single-axis shock event does not drive an unintended activation, supporting the role of the hard landing sensor aircraft configuration within your safety and maintenance strategy.
Need technical specifications for your ELT activation sensors? Contact our engineering team for custom ELT sensor calibration and integration support across your certified automatic ELT activation system architectures.
Confidence Backed by Results
Select Controls proven ELT crash sensors demonstrate reliability through documented testing, long-term field use, and repeat program adoption. Our ISO 9001:2015 manufacturing processes and DO-160-qualified designs provide a strong foundation for dependable emergency detection systems that aerospace teams can count on.
Built for precision, tested for reliability, delivered on time.
Custom Engineering
Rapid Prototyping.
Precise to Your Spec.
With over 40 years of engineering depth, we customize every parameter to match your mission profile and event envelope.
- 100% testing on all manufactured switches
- Custom activation levels and specifications
- High-volume production capabilities
- Rapid prototyping and turnaround
Next Steps
Need technical specifications
for your application?
Contact our engineering team for custom switch solutions.
