FLYHT Gains Contract for Additional 100 AirAsia Aircraft


CALGARY, Alberta, Dec. 11, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX-V: FLY) (OTCQX: FLYLF) (the “Company” or “FLYHT”) is pleased to announce it has, as part of the acquisition of Panasonic Weather Solutions (PWS) (previously announced October 10, 2018), reached an agreement with AirAsia to increase its installation base at the airline by an additional 100 aircraft across multiple Airline Operations Control (AOC) centers.

This extension of the original hardware and service agreement with AirAsia signed in October 2015 brings the total number of equipped aircraft to 190. Installed in conjunction with the FlightLink aircraft tracking and flight deck communications system, Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) atmospheric sensors feed weather data from equipped AirAsia aircraft into AOC and Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) weather products that will have greatly improved accuracy as a result of the TAMDAR technology.

Key enhancements to the products and services in this extension include the addition of an A320neo Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), improvements to the AirMap suite of AOC applications, including a TAMDAR-enhanced weather overlay and partnered operational weather solutions empowering improved operational planning and flight optimization. These additions will also enable greater fleet management, communications and aircraft tracking, ensuring aircraft stay connected to the airline’s ground-based operations centers 24 hours a day with an improved awareness of weather throughout AirAsia’s network.

FlightLink uses Iridium’s global satellite-based communications system to support flight deck voice and data communication and autonomous GPS-based flight tracking everywhere AirAsia flies. Additionally, the system provides fully-integrated data communications for the aircraft’s ACARS (aircraft communications addressing and reporting system) and operational weather modeling needs. FLYHT acquired the FlightLink, AirMap and TAMDAR sensor product lines in October 2018 through its acquisition of the PWS assets.

AirAsia first installed the FlightLink system and activated AirMap services in 2016 and has since then installed the FlightLink system on nearly 80 aircraft. The financial impact of the remaining 110 installs was included in the press release noted above announcing the PWS asset acquisition. The services provided on these aircraft include:

  • ICAO-compliant (International Civil Aviation Organization) aircraft tracking and alerting capabilities tailored for Malaysian and other regionally-specific regulations.
  • Data and voice communications via global Iridium network, with aggregated voice and short burst data.
  • Flight tracking, flight plan deviation, and fuel alerting in the AOC via AirMap Aircraft Situational Display
  • Weather data downlink of relative humidity, temperature, winds, icing and turbulence

By installing the FlightLink system and TAMDAR sensors on its aircraft, as well as AirMap fleet tracking and innovative weather technology in its operations, Air Asia is leading the industry in IATA safety and fleet management initiatives.

The new amendment requires the following enhancements and improvements to the system currently in use as the primary AOC display for AirAsia: 

  • An A320neo STC for FlightLink and TAMDAR
  • Integration of real-time TAMDAR weather data into the AirMap display
  • Integration and delivery of an AOC weather display enhanced by TAMDAR data
  • Integration and delivery of Electronic Flight Bag (EFB) weather applications enhanced with TAMDAR data

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

2018 marks FLYHT’s 20th anniversary as a leader in real-time aircraft data streaming. FLYHT’s mission is to improve aviation safety, efficiency and profitability (located in Calgary, Canada; publicly traded as: FLY:TSX.V; FLYLF:OTCQX). Airlines, leasing companies, fractional owners and original equipment manufacturers have installed the Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS) on their aircraft. The solution is used to capture, process and stream aircraft data providing real-time alerts. AFIRS sends this information through satellite networks to FLYHT’s UpTime Cloud data center, which gives aircraft operators direct insight into the operational status and health of their aircraft, which in turn enables them to take corrective action to maintain the highest standard of operational control. The company recently acquired the assets of Panasonic Weather Services, including FlightLink Iridium Satellite Data Unit and Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR) sensor. For more information visit www.flyht.com.

Contact Information:
FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.
Alana Forbes
Chief Financial Officer
403-291-7437
aforbes@flyht.com
Adelaide Capital Markets Inc.
Deborah Honig
647-203-8793
deborah@adelaidecapital.ca

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