US safety and survival technologies company ACR Electronics has confirmed that its parent company Drew Marine UK Holdings has acquired Canadian provider of flight data monitoring, flight following, satellite data link and voice communications equipment and services Latitude Technologies. Latitude joins ACR's growing aviation brand portfolio that includes Canada's SkyTrac real-time flight data and communications technology, Australia-headquartered Flight Data Systems airborne data acquisition and data analysis solutions as well as Artex emergency locator transmitters.

Latitude designs and manufactures versatile aeronautical communications devices and a robust web-based aircraft tracking and flight data analytics platform. Its solutions allow aviation operators to monitor fleet geo-positioning, telematics data, crew safety and fleet performance from anywhere around the globe.

Latitude will continue to operate business as usual from its headquarters in Victoria, British Columbia. The company will retain its existing brand and executive management and will operate in accordance with its regulatory approvals.

“With our mutual focus on safety, real-time monitoring and in-flight communications, Latitude products and services are highly complementary to the ACR brand family,” says founder and president Mark Insley. “This is a natural acquisition path for us as we look to combine our expertise and cement the market position we have worked to develop over the past 17 years.”

ACR vice president of aviation and government businesses Michael Wilkerson adds: “Latitude brings strong technology and a talented team to help us access new markets. Along with SkyTrac Systems, Flight Data Systems, Artex and ACR Electronics, Latitude Technologies further strengthens our portfolio of aviation monitoring, air-to-ground communications and situational awareness solutions for fixed and rotary wing sectors.”