ATLANTA & SAO PAULO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--EMS Aviation, a division of mobile connectivity leader EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG), today announced that its Aspire family of satellite-based, in-flight connectivity systems — which includes the new Aspire Portable AirMail product, a portable Iridium-based e-mail product, and a color touch screen handset — will make its Latin American debut at the Latin American Business Aviation Convention & Exhibition (LABACE) in Sao Paulo, Brazil, August 11-13 (booth #2016).
“This is a great opportunity for us to present our Aspire in-flight connectivity solutions to the Latin American business jet market,” said John Jarrell, Vice President and General Manager, EMS Aviation. “Staying connected while in-flight is an essential element of aircraft operation and the Aspire system’s small installation foot-print, ease of upgrade and pricing structure make it a perfect solution for small- to medium-sized aircraft.”
The Aspire 200 LG system began shipping in North America in May. It was introduced in Europe earlier this year and was also chosen for a Cessna® Sovereign for Anderson Air, a Canadian business jet operator. Installations on other platforms, including the Hawker® 4000, Hawker 800/850/900 Series, Citation X, Citation XLS/XLS+ and the Challenger® 300, are expected in the coming months.
Designed to deliver feature-rich voice and data connectivity to owners and operators of small- and medium-sized business aircraft, Aspire products use standard wiring configuration and interfaces to support either Iridium or Inmarsat components. Users can easily change or upgrade systems without rewiring the aircraft or changing out the avionics racks. Options include the Aspire CSU Iridium (voice and low-speed data) transceiver, the Inmarsat HDU (voice and high-speed data) transceiver, and a higher gain Inmarsat antenna. Aspire’s Inmarsat system data rates range from up to 200 kbps with a low-gain antenna, to as much as 330 kbps with an intermediate-gain antenna and to as high as 432 kbps with a high-gain antenna. Additional Supplemental Type Certifications (STCs) for several other aircraft types, including the Bombardier Challenger 300, Gulfstream® GII and GIII, and Dassault Falcon® 2000 are also being pursued.
“Our Android™-based handset solution is a key feature of the Aspire line,” said Timothy Roberts, Director, Aspire Global Solutions, EMS Aviation. “Instead of using commercial, off-the-shelf components, we have developed an aviation-grade voice solution that will not only allow passengers and crew to make calls with the quality of a landline connection, but also provides the ability to check e-mail and to control the cabin management system. This is business aviation’s pioneering Smartphone platform and it offers significant and unique functionality.”
About EMS Technologies
As one of the world’s leading providers of wireless connectivity solutions, EMS Technologies, Inc. keeps people and systems connected — on land, at sea, in the air or in space. EMS offers industry-leading technology to support Aero Connectivity and Global Resource Management markets through a broad range of cutting-edge satellite and terrestrial network products; helping businesses, assets and people stay connected and promoting universal mobility, visibility and intelligence. EMS (NASDAQ: ELMG) serves customers through operations in 12 countries.
EMS Aviation, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc., is a leading supplier of connectivity and in-cabin infrastructure equipment for a broad range of commercial and military aircraft. EMS Aviation’s products and services are designed to enable reliable worldwide Internet connectivity and in-flight entertainment, satellite-based messaging and tracking, rugged data management and storage, and data record and replay. The division is a leader in Inmarsat®, Iridium, Ku band and air-to-ground mobile connectivity solutions, with proven commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) systems.
NOTE TO EDITORS: EMS Aviation will be exhibiting at LABACE in booth 2016 and will be presenting “Aspire: A Revolution in Airborne Connectivity” on Friday, August 12, at 18:00 – 19:00 in the Santos Dumont Auditorium on site at the Congonhas Airport, Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding the Company’s expectations for its financial results for 2011 and the potential for various businesses and products are forward-looking statements. Actual results could differ materially from those statements as a result of a wide variety of factors. Such factors include, but are not limited to economic conditions in the U.S. and abroad and their effect on capital spending in our principal markets; difficulty predicting the timing of receipt of major customer orders, and the effect of customer timing decisions on our results; our successful completion of technological development programs and the effects of technology that may be developed by, and patent rights that may be held or obtained by, competitors; U.S. defense budget pressures on near-term spending priorities; uncertainties inherent in the process of converting contract awards into firm contractual orders in the future; volatility of foreign currency exchange rates relative to the U.S. dollar and their effect on purchasing power by international customers, and on the cost structure of the our operations outside the U.S., as well as the potential for realizing foreign exchange gains and losses associated with assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies; successful resolution of technical problems, proposed scope changes, or proposed funding changes that may be encountered on contracts; changes in our consolidated effective income tax rate caused by the extent to which actual taxable earnings in the U.S., Canada and other taxing jurisdictions may vary from expected taxable earnings, changes in tax laws, and the extent to which deferred tax assets are considered realizable; successful transition of products from development stages to an efficient manufacturing environment; changes in the rates at which our products are returned for repair or replacement under warranty; customer response to new products and services, and general conditions in our target markets (such as logistics and space-based communications) and whether these responses and conditions develop according to our expectations; the increased potential for asset impairment charges as unfavorable economic or financial market conditions or other developments might affect the estimated fair value of one or more of our business units; the success of certain of our customers in marketing our line of high-speed commercial airline communications products as a complementary offering with their own lines of avionics products; the availability of financing for various mobile and high-speed data communications systems; risk that unsettled conditions in the credit markets may make it more difficult for some customers to obtain financing and adversely affect their ability to pay, which in turn could have an adverse impact on our business, operating results and financial condition; development of successful working relationships with local business and government personnel in connection with distribution and manufacture of products in foreign countries; the demand growth for various mobile and high-speed data communications services; our ability to attract and retain qualified senior management and other personnel, particularly those with key technical skills; our ability to effectively integrate our acquired businesses, products or technologies into our existing businesses and products, and the risk that any such acquired businesses, products or technologies do not perform as expected, are subject to undisclosed or unanticipated liabilities, or are otherwise dilutive to our earnings; the potential effects, on cash and results of discontinued operations, of final resolution of potential liabilities under warranties and representations that we made, and obligations assumed by purchasers, in connection with our dispositions of discontinued operations; the availability, capabilities and performance of suppliers of basic materials, electronic components and sophisticated subsystems on which we must rely in order to perform according to contract requirements, or to introduce new products on the desired schedule; uncertainties associated with U.S. export controls and the export license process, which restrict our ability to hold technical discussions with customers, suppliers and internal engineering resources and can reduce our ability to obtain sales from customers outside the U.S. or to perform contracts with the desired level of efficiency or profitability; our ability to maintain compliance with the requirements of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission, and with other government regulations affecting our products and their production, service and functioning; and costs associated with a recent announcement by one of shareholders that it intends to nominate four directors to our Board. Further information concerning relevant factors and risks are identified under the caption “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.