Two type of paortable ELTs are installed on Air France fleet :
CEIS S06 : http://www.ceis.com/uk/fiches/03SO6/1SO6/f_1SO6.html
or
ADT 406S :
http://www.elta.fr/uk/emergency-locator-transmitters-elt/1/emergency-locator-transmitters/9/survival-portable-type-adt406-s/8
Both ELTs need to be switched ON manually to begin transmission.
The CEIS S06 has an ON/OFF switch that needs to be used.
The ADT 406S has an ON/ARMED/OFF switch.
The ARMED position is arming the hydraulic switch that allows the ELT to transmit once the switch is activated by some kind of liquid.
So the ADT 406 can be water activated only after it has been put in the ARMED mode.
This is video (french) showing the ADT406S :
Dailymotion - Julie CFS - une vidéo Vie pratique