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NewsPress release

Press release

AeroMechanical Services Ltd. announces successful completion of flight testing of FlyhtStream™ live air-to-ground data streaming aboard Skyservice Airlines Inc. aircraft

19/10/2009

Press releaseIssued by FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. and published as received — not written by Airframer’s editors.

AeroMechanical Services Ltd. ("AMA" or the "Corporation") in a press release dated August 11, 2009, announced that pre-deployment testing had been completed on a new communication technology that has the ability to stream data from aircraft to ground anywhere, anytime, in real-time, and that an aircraft-in-service evaluation would soon be accomplished with an airline customer. AMA is pleased to announce that flight testing has now been completed onboard a number of Skyservice Airlines Inc. ("Skyservice") aircraft, and has been a resounding success.

Under the brand FLYHT™, AMA manufactures the afirs 220, which when required can trigger a streaming mode to begin transmission of essential position and flight data recorder ("FDR") information. This service, branded as FlyhtStream, is based on patented technology, and provides a continuous automated link between onboard avionics (including GPS and FDR), the Iridium global satellite network and a ground-based web-server that automatically routes messages to any number of designated recipients within seconds. The afirs system also provides global satellite voice communications with the aircraft via the Iridium satellite network.

Streaming of data can be triggered by the cockpit crew, from the ground, or when a predetermined set of parameters has been exceeded. Ground staff are notified of the streaming event by urgent email, text message to their mobile phones, and visual and aural announcements in their flight operations center. Streaming mode can be used in a variety of applications, including maintenance troubleshooting and monitoring critical in-flight events.

Rob Giguere, President and CEO of Skyservice, reported, "With afirs installed, over the last 3 years Skyservice has benefitted from uninterrupted worldwide communications and aircraft position monitoring resulting in improved operational efficiencies, particularly fuel savings and the associated decreased emissions. With the introduction of FlyhtStream data streaming we will be able to substantially increase our level of Maintenance Situational Awareness."

AMA President Richard Hayden reported, "In flight testing of FlyhtStream was a spectacular success, and, since it can be implemented into our existing afirs solution, the more than 30 operators currently using afirs will be able to derive the added benefits of its capabilities when fully deployed. This will allow our customers to expand on the efficiencies they have already gained from using afirs."