Panasonic

Panasonic Avionics is marking the two-year anniversary of the launch of Arc, its 3D in-flight moving map platform, by unveiling a range of new and upcoming features.

Since its debut two years ago at Aircraft Interiors Expo 2019, Arc has experienced one of the highest adoption rates of any Panasonic Avionics digital service, with confirmed orders with 17 airlines globally on over 300 aircraft.

Andrew Mohr, Vice President of Digital Solutions at Panasonic Avionics, said: “Airline adoption of Arc has been beyond our initial expectations. Our airline customers have responded positively to the new value streams we’re bringing to the in-flight map experience. These include sophisticated design, innovative new features, and the cross-leverage with our other in-flight entertainment and communications services, including new monetization opportunities.”

“With Arc, we are enabling airlines to utilize in-flight maps as a primary tool for customer engagement and service. Its rapid adoption highlights the importance these new approaches represent to our customers.”

Panasonic Avionics has also launched the first new round of Arc features, including Arc for Young Explorers and OneMedia integration.

Arc for Young Explorers is the first in a series of features targeted to young travelers. It brings them back in time and enables them to fly and explore the world as a Jurassic-era flying dinosaur. Points of interest are replaced by oversized dinosaurs, revealing trivia, fun facts, and animations about the giant beasts that roamed Earth millions of years ago. Bright, cheerful colors and imaginations of prehistoric sounds and movement fill the screen.

Arc’s integration with OneMedia enables it to act as a new medium for monetization through its alignment with Panasonic Avionics’ in-flight advertising platform. It creates new advertising inventory across the wide range of Arc’s map views, and tie-ins to cross-IFE advertising campaigns.
In addition to these new releases, Panasonic Avionics is in the process of rolling out the new Arc Studio map designer’s tool. Arc Studio gives airlines direct control over a wide range of map features and content. It enables them to modify point of interest data and layers, map script configurations to add or modify media and promotional campaigns, along with the ability to deploy changes directly to their aircraft.

Mohr adds: “Arc Studio gives in-flight maps the flexibility and longevity expected out of today’s digital solutions. It puts Arc at the service of the airline to employ as a promotional tool, enabling them to create unique designs and configurations that can be deployed on a per flight or route basis. Airlines can easily leverage Arc to execute their overall IFEC value strategies.”
“We have designed Arc as a flexible, creative and evolutionary platform, and are developing further enhancements which we will be unveiling in the months ahead.”


Astronics

Astronics Corporation Reports 2021 First Quarter Financial Results.

  • Sales for the quarter were $105.9 million, slightly better than guidance
  • Net loss was $11.9 million
  • Adjusted EBITDA* loss was $0.5 million
  • Bookings for the quarter continued sequential improvement to $120.0 million
  • Backlog at the end of the quarter was $297.5 million

Lattitude Aero

Latitude Aero  announced they have received approval and designation by the European Aviation Safety Agency (“EASA”) as an EASA Part 145 Repair Station (EASA.145.6969). As a FAA and EASA-approved maintenance organization, Latitude Aero can now provide its customers a dual-release and return to service components that are for European, as well as domestic, aircraft. “We are excited to add dual-release capabilities to our existing suite of seating services and expand our global reach beyond the United States and into Europe,” says President & CEO Kelvin Boyette. “This coincides perfectly with our planned expansion into Europe later in 2021.” The dual-release designation process is extremely challenging to achieve, and this level of capability allows us to better support our current and future international customers.


SITA

SITA celebrates the 25th anniversary of its border management business, a journey that started in 1996 in readiness for the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney. A quarter of a century on, SITA’s border solutions are used by over 60 governments to seamlessly process two billion border crossings every year.

SITA’s extensive knowledge and experience in serving the air transport industry includes delivering solutions and services for airlines, airports and on aircraft. This has enabled the organization to diversify its portfolio over the last few decades into border management and security for governments worldwide with significant success.

Jeremy Springall, VP of SITA AT BORDERS, said: “We’re immensely proud to celebrate this 25-year milestone for our borders business. We started our journey in 1996 in Australia and since then our border solutions have processed over seven billion transactions. Our business is focused on the safe movement of people. Whether it is major events such as the Olympic Games in Sydney, the FIFA World Cup in South Africa or a family going on holiday, we have been there to make it easier and more secure.”

It is this expertise, as well as leveraging SITA’s wider air transport industry experience, that has enabled SITA to support governments with the latest challenges following the COVID-19 pandemic. SITA’s Health Protect solution was developed rapidly this year to help countries safely manage their borders. 

Jeremy Springall said: “We managed to bring Health Protect to market at great speed because of our substantial experience and knowledge of the industry’s challenges. We leveraged our existing and proven products to deliver a flexible solution that incorporates the new requirements for health with existing passenger processing systems while maintaining safety and security.”

Major events were key early on

In 1996 SITA pioneered an electronic travel authorization (ETA) system for the 2000 Sydney Olympics to give the authorities visibility into the millions of visitors planning to cross the border in advance and reduce bottlenecks at immigration checkpoints. The system successfully reduced immigration clearance to a matter of seconds. SITA supplemented the system with an interactive Advance Passenger Processing (APP) solution, which analyzes passengers in real-time at check-in to keep illegitimate travelers from boarding their flight and entering the country.

SITA went on to deliver these solutions for the 2004 Bahrain Grand Prix Formula 1 racing and at many other major events, such as the FIFA World Cups in South Africa in 2010 and Brazil in 2014.

The evolution of the portfolio over the years

The benefits experienced of using SITA technology to move large volumes of passengers safely and seamlessly during major world events have now been extended to the everyday management of borders. Through the 2000s and 2010s, many governments in the Middle East and Asia Pacific began adopting SITA APP, often along with other SITA solutions, to improve border security and make entry easier for legitimate travelers.

In the early 2000s, with security high on the agenda after 9/11, the Canadian government was first to engage SITA to enable them to assess potential threats to their country. SITA created a service to exchange passenger data, and the subsequent roll-out of this API PNR Gateway solution to other governments and airlines for passenger risk assessment purposes, has made it the most widely used data gateway service by governments and airlines. Today 600 airlines are connected to SITA’s ‘single window’ data gateway.

With the focus on security, the introduction of electronic passports and the challenge of increasing passenger throughput in the 2000s, SITA expanded its portfolio further. Using their early experience of delivering ETA systems, SITA designed an e-Visa solution for governments to ensure that visitors had the necessary electronic permission to travel. SITA also introduced more secure, user-friendly automated gates and kiosks using biometrics for identity management – including the US, Jamaica and Italy in the 2010s – as an alternative to traditional, manual border controls. Over the last few years, SITA has introduced various self-service biometric options to border control, including mobile apps, that automate identity verification.

Over the years, SITA has fine-tuned their intelligence and targeting capabilities and are helping governments detect suspicious activity and take the targeted steps to safeguard their borders.

Now with a complete end-to-end border management portfolio spanning the entire passenger journey, SITA has extended its aviation expertise to land and sea borders.

Jeremy Springall adds, “While our focus over the past 25 years has been on air borders, our experience and knowledge can and has been applied to land and sea. It is another step towards delivering a completely seamless and secure experience whether you travel by plane, train or automobile.”

“On behalf of the company, I would like to sincerely thank our employees all around the world, past and present, for their commitment and hard work, which has been critical to our longevity and success. As well, we are hugely grateful for the continued support and confidence of our members, customers, and partners.”

Employees mark 25 years with SITA Olympics

SITA’s 4500+ employees are marking the 25th anniversary by running, walking, cycling, or swimming as part of an Olympic-themed physical well-being challenge to collectively reach 50,000 kilometers while virtually traveling the globe and passing through some of the countries using SITA’s border technology. Should employees fulfil the challenge, the business will make a donation to the Gavi COVAX Advance Market Commitment (AMC), which gives over 90 lower-income economies access to COVID-19 vaccines.


Other News

SMARTSKY

SmartSky Networks announced that it has closed on more than $32 million in additional equity and debt funding as it prepares for the launch of its next-generation aviation Wi-Fi connectivity service later this year.

“In a display of confidence in the future of SmartSky’s groundbreaking technology and services, we received new funds from our institutional investors,” said SmartSky CEO David Helfgott.

SmartSky’s office-grade inflight Wi-Fi service for business and commercial aviation uses the pioneering company’s uniquely scalable, single-beam-per-aircraft approach, which is backed by a substantial patent portfolio and years of flight testing.  Building on this transformative capability, the company is enabling advanced new applications through Skytelligence®, its digital innovation platform, to improve safety and efficiency while providing the industry with new ancillary revenue sources.

 


ASTRONICS

Astronics Corporation Reports 2020 Fourth Quarter and Full Year Financial Results
* Fourth quarter sales of $114.8 million; full year sales of
$502.6 million
* Fourth quarter pre-tax loss of $7.5 million and net loss of $20.0 million due to the non-cash reserve of $14.1 million against deferred tax assets
* Fourth quarter Adjusted EBITDA* was $2.9 million
* Fourth quarter bookings were $116.0 million, demonstrating sequential improvement
Backlog at end of the year was $283.4 million


BOEING

Boeing Statement on United Airlines Flight 328:

“Boeing is actively monitoring recent events related to United Airlines Flight 328. While the NTSB investigation is ongoing, we recommended suspending operations of the 69 in-service and 59 in-storage 777s powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines until the FAA identifies the appropriate inspection protocol. “Boeing supports the decision yesterday by the Japan Civil Aviation Bureau, and the FAA’s action today to suspend operations of 777 aircraft powered by Pratt & Whitney 4000-112 engines. We are working with these regulators as they take actions while these planes are on the ground and further inspections are conducted by Pratt & Whitney. “Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.”

Also from Boeing:

The Boeing Company board of directors announced that directors Arthur D. Collins Jr. and Susan C. Schwab will retire from the board when their terms expire and will not stand for reelection at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders. The board also named chairs to its six board committees, to take effect following the yearly voting for the election of directors at Boeing’s annual shareholder meeting, which is scheduled to occur on April 20. “We are grateful for Art and Susan’s distinguished service on our board,” said Boeing Chairman Larry Kellner. “Boeing has benefited enormously from their committed and dedicated service.” Collins joined the board in 2007 and most recently chaired the Compensation Committee and served as a member of the Governance, Organization and Nominating Committee. Schwab joined the board in 2010 and most recently served as a member of the Compensation Committee, and the Governance, Organization and Nominating Committee. “It has been a privilege to serve alongside Art and Susan,” said Boeing President and CEO David Calhoun. “They made meaningful and lasting contributions to our company, and to the aerospace industry, which is foundational to the global economy.”
“In line with our thorough succession planning process, the board will continue to take steps to identify a pipeline of diverse candidates with appropriate expertise who bring qualified perspectives,” Kellner added.

In addition, the following directors were named committee chairs, effective upon their reelection to the board at the company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders:

  • Admiral Edmund Giambastiani Jr. will continue to chair the Aerospace Safety Committee
  • Akhil Johri was named chair of the Audit Committee
  • Lynn Good was named chair of the Compensation Committee
  • Robert Bradway was named chair of the Finance Committee
  • Ronald Williams was named chair of the Governance, Organization and Nominating Committee
  • Adm. John Richardson will continue to chair the Special Programs Committee.

 


OTHER NEWS

  • There are issues in aircraft manufacturing and you might want to read: Opinion: Will Boeing Become The Next McDonnell Douglas? | Aviation Week Network Be sure to read the reader comments …
  • AVIATION CYBERSECURITY – FAA Should Fully Implement Key Practices to Strengthen Its Oversight of Avionics Risks. Check it out here.
  • Do you read daily AXIOS Navigate? You might like it. Axios Navigate
  • If you don’t think aircraft noise is a concern, you might want to read this: How Noise Pollution Hurts the Heart – The Atlantic
  • George Denis Patrick Carlin (You know, George Carlin, the comedian) once said something very technical that is quite true: “Electricity is really just organized lightning.” (Editor’s Note: We are still trying to understand why we thought you needed to read this?)

East Aurora, NY | March 30, 2020– Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, today announced actions the Company has taken to address the impact the coronavirus, or COVID-19, is having on the aerospace industry and its business.

Peter Gundermann, Astronics Chairman and CEO, noted, “This is an unprecedented situation in our industry and we have to take measurable actions. First and foremost is the safety of our team members. We have implemented enhanced cleaning protocols, increased spacing of workstations, work-from-home wherever possible, minimization of visitors, meetings and travel as well as emphasizing the importance of personal hygiene and responsibility.”

He continued “The aerospace industry has been significantly impacted and airlines are dealing with a precipitous drop in passenger traffic. Accordingly, we are taking swift actions to address the reduction in demand we are likely to see in the aftermarket, which is approximately 25% of our business. These actions will be difficult for our Company and our employees, but they are necessary in the face of the COVID-19 threat.”

Operational Status and Actions Being Implemented

  • As an essential business serving the defense industry, the majority of Astronics operations remain functional except its Test Systems engineering center in India, which is closed by government mandate.
  • The Company has had four other locations closed temporarily for deep cleaning, but all have reopened as of today.
  • Astronics drew down $150 million from its existing line of credit to augment cash on hand, which was
    $31.9 million at December 31, 2019. The Company has also engaged in preliminary discussions with its agent bank around potential modifications to its loan agreement that may be required as a result of the COVID-19 impacts to the aerospace industry.
  • The Company is minimizing its planned capital expenditures, which are now expected to be less than
    $10 million for all of 2020, down from previous expectations of $22 million to $25 million.
  • In the area of employment costs, Astronics has frozen hiring, suspended all wage adjustments and bonus programs, and is adjusting its work force to align with demand.
  • The Company expects these initiatives will reduce its overhead and labor costs this year by approximately
    $55 to $60 million beginning in the second quarter.

Mr. Gundermann concluded, “These actions, combined with others we have taken in recent weeks, position us well to survive the COVID-19 market disruption that we anticipate. The earlier actions include the restructuring of our systems certification and antenna businesses, the launch of Avenir for the VVIP inflight entertainment/connectivity market, and the suspension of our share buyback program and acquisition activity. Collectively, these are significant steps that position the Company as well as possible for the immediate future, realizing that the future is not clear. We will continue to monitor the situation closely and make necessary course corrections as appropriate. We appreciate the collective efforts of our entire team in this trying time.”

Given the fluid nature of the situation and ongoing efforts, Astronics plans to provide further updates as more information is available.

  • Unaudited revenue of approximately $198 million for fourth quarter 2019 exceeded guidance
  • 2020 revenue guidance withdrawn due to uncertainty related to 737 MAX
  • New VVIP IFE platform “Avenir” successfully launched
  • Expects restructuring charges related to antenna business of $29 million to $35 million in fourth quarter 2019
  • Estimating intellectual property damages of an additional $18 million in fourth quarter; Company has filed appeal and is vigorously defending position
  • Temporarily pausing stock buyback initiatives

East Aurora, NY | February 3, 2020- Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, today provided an update on various projects and events impacting 2019 results and expectations for 2020.

Fourth Quarter Revenue and 2020 Guidance

The Company ended 2019 with unaudited preliminary revenue of approximately $198 million in the fourth quarter, slightly exceeding the high end of guidance that was issued on November 5, 2019. Preliminary bookings were
$156 million in the fourth quarter and preliminary backlog at year-end was $359 million. Bookings were negatively impacted by uncertainty in the market, which the Company believes is related to the ongoing 737 MAX grounding. In addition, the Company cancelled orders of approximately $7 million related to the restructuring and refocusing of its antenna business. Unaudited preliminary revenue for the full year totaled approximately $773 million.

Given the uncertain 2020 production schedule for the 737 MAX and timing of its return to service, along with the related impact on aftermarket spending by commercial airlines, the Company is rescinding its initial 2020 revenue guidance issued in November 2019. Astronics expects to issue revised revenue guidance as the outlook becomes clearer.

Peter Gundermann, Astronics Chairman and CEO, said, “The ongoing 737 MAX grounding affects our business both because of the production pause and because it leaves many of our airline customers short of capacity. This makes them reluctant to take planes out of service to install the types of products they buy from us. The situation is likely to persist until the 737 MAX returns to service. We will publish revenue expectations when we have more insight on the situation. In the meantime, we have taken actions to align our cost structure, anticipating a lower level of production and an extended disruption in the market.”

Astronics has line fit content of approximately $95 thousand on each 737 MAX as well as buyer furnished equipment, such as passenger power and connectivity hardware, that varies depending on aircraft configuration.

Completed Development of Avenir VVIP Inflight Entertainment and Connectivity Solution (“IFEC”)

Late in the fourth quarter, the Company delivered a functional Avenir shipset to its launch customer, completing the design and development phase of the Avenir platform for the VVIP inflight entertainment and connectivity (“IFEC”) market. This effort has required significant financial investment by the Company’s Custom Control Concepts (“CCC”) operating unit for the last two years. While the program will require limited additional refinement during launch, the substantial levels of investment are completed. The Company expects that CCC will be profitable in the second half of 2020 and substantially breakeven for the year.

The best-in-class Avenir solution provides significant increases in bandwidth and speed for IFEC applications both on and off the aircraft. Astronics is now actively promoting the Avenir system and recently secured an additional undisclosed customer.

Restructuring and Refocusing the Antenna Operation

Astronics has made significant progress with the restructuring of its antenna business. The plan narrows the initiatives for the business to focus primarily on near-term opportunities pertaining to business jet connectivity. As a result of the narrowed focus, the Company anticipates total restructuring charges of approximately $29 million to $35 million that will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019. Approximately $29 million of the charge will be non- cash, including the write-down of goodwill, intangible assets, fixed assets, inventory and other assets associated with the refocusing of the business activity. The emerging plan has a downsized manufacturing operation remaining in New Hampshire, with significantly reduced personnel and operating expenses. After restructuring, breakeven for the business will be approximately $10 million in revenue.

Mr. Gundermann commented, “We are putting an end to the high level of losses we have incurred in our antenna business the last few years. Simplifying the business and focusing more narrowly on the business jet market gives us the best chance of success. There remains some level of risk with our plan, but we have begun to lower annual fixed cost by about $11 million by reducing operating and R&D costs, while leaving the business positioned to pursue our best near-term opportunity.”

Intellectual Property Dispute

Late in the fourth quarter, the Company received an unfavorable ruling from a German court regarding the scope and calculation of damages in its long-running patent infringement suit. As a result, the Company estimates that an additional $18 million in damages will be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2019. The ruling pertains to shipments of in-seat power systems the Company directly or indirectly made into Germany between 2007 and 2014. Astronics believes the court’s ruling in this matter is deficient and has initiated an appeal that will likely extend resolution into late 2021.

The dispute was previously argued and resolved in the Company’s favor in the United States. Cases are now beginning in the United Kingdom and France. Astronics does not expect these cases to be resolved during 2020.

Pause in Stock Buyback Program

To conserve cash, the Company is cancelling its 10b5-1 trading plan for its share buyback program and is temporarily postponing initiatives related to stock buybacks until market conditions are clearer, especially the circumstances surrounding the 737 MAX. The Board authorized a $50 million share buyback program in September 2019, which remains in place. Under the plan, Astronics has repurchased approximately 310 thousand shares through Friday, January 31, 2020 at an average price of $27.47

Mr. Gundermann concluded, “While external factors are providing new challenges for 2020, we believe we have taken the steps to improve the operating performance of the business by addressing the losses incurred by our challenged operating units. We expect to face challenging market conditions until the 737 MAX situation improves, but we will continue to work on promising innovation and growth prospects in the meantime, maximizing our performance in the near term while pursuing growth and stronger earnings in the long term.”

 

(Today’s image is of the MTM Robotics facility in Mukilteo, Washington – recently purchased by Airbus.)

ASTRONICS

Astronics Corporation announced that Robert S. Keane has joined its Board of Directors, effective December 9, 2019. Mr. Keane is Chairman and CEO of Cimpress (Nasdaq: CMPR), which provides mass customization services through its group of companies and is strategically focused on investing in and building entrepreneurial, customer-centric businesses.
Peter J. Gundermann, Chairman, President and CEO of Astronics, commented, “Robert brings an entrepreneurial spirit, significant public company experience and deep business acumen, which are valuable attributes for our evolving Board of Directors. We believe he will be a solid ambassador for shareholders. We welcome Robert’s contributions as we advance our strategy for profitable growth to build shareholder value.”

Mr. Keane founded Cimpress in 1995 and has grown the group to $2.75 billion in revenue with a market capitalization of $3.3 billion. Prior to Cimpress, he was employed for seven years by Astronics. He began his career in business management consulting. Mr. Keane is a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned his B.A. in economics, and INSEAD (France), where he earned his M.B.A. Mr. Keane is a son of the late Kevin Keane, former Chairman of Astronics.

The addition of Mr. Keane brings the Astronics Board to nine directors, eight of whom are independent.


SITA

SITA is installing its Scan&Fly ( Scan&Fly | SITA ) self-service bag drop for LATAM Airlines Group at 18 airports in five countries in the Americas as part of its work to transform its airport experience. The first eight kiosks are up and running at Brasilia International Airport and the remaining 97 units will be gradually implemented at other airports over the coming months. The technology means passengers will be able to check in their bags in under 40 seconds.

The majority of the 105 bag-drop units will be deployed in Brazil with the other units being installed in other airports in the region. LATAM is Latin America’s leading airline group, flying around 72 million passengers annually. As passenger numbers increase, airports are having to become more efficient and the smart use of technology is the only way to make that happen. Many airports are faced with capacity constraints, which in turn can lead to long queues. For airports that don’t have either the resources or the space to expand, SITA Scan&Fly can be installed onto existing check-in desks and conveyor belts offering up to 60% increase in terminal capacity, a 40% reduction in operational costs and an improved passenger experience.

SITA is the leading provider of airport technology in Latin America, covering all areas, including passenger processing, airport operations, baggage, border management and aircraft communications. The combination of all these technologies drives efficiencies for airports, airlines, government agencies, ground handlers, and, most importantly, passengers.


AIRBUS

The Air France–KLM Group has decided to place a firm order for 10 additional widebody A350-900s, which will take its total order for the type to 38 aircraft. By acquiring the industry’s most efficient and technologically advanced widebody aircraft, the airline will benefit from a significant reduction in fuel burn and CO2 emissions. The A350s are intended to be operated by Air France. Airbus has acquired industrial automation company, Air France-KLM currently operates a fleet of 159 Airbus aircraft. The A350 XWB features the latest aerodynamic design, a carbon fiber fuselage and wings, plus new fuel-efficient Rolls-Royce engines. Together, these features translate into unrivaled levels of operational efficiency with a 25 per cent reduction in fuel burn and emissions. The A350 XWB’s Airspace by Airbus cabin is the quietest of any twin-aisle and offers passengers and crews the most modern in-flight products for the most comfortable flying experience. By the end of November, the A350 XWB Family had received 959 firm orders from 51 customers worldwide, making it one of the most successful widebody aircraft ever.

Airbus has acquired industrial automation company, MTM Robotics, for an undisclosed sum – (see today’s rectangle). The move deepens Airbus’ commitment to expanding advanced robotics capabilities within its manufacturing processes. The MTM business will retain its current leadership and 40-person staff, as well as its facility in Mukilteo, Washington, near Seattle. “We are pleased and excited to become a part of the Airbus family and look forward to further integrating our products and approaches into the Airbus industrialization chain,” said MTM founder, Mike Woogerd.

The acquisition is the latest chapter in a trusted, ten-year-plus relationship between the companies, with multiple MTM light automated robotics systems currently in use at Airbus manufacturing facilities. While MTM will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of Airbus Americas, Inc., headquartered in Herndon, Virginia, it will continue to serve other customers in the aerospace industry. Since 2003, MTM has deployed more than 40 aerospace manufacturing systems comprised of machines, tools, machine software, enterprise software and support throughout the United States, Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The acquisition marks the latest step for Airbus in its industrialization roadmap, aimed at leveraging the time- and cost-saving benefits associated with using robotics in the manufacture and assembly of its commercial aircraft.
“The competitiveness of tomorrow will be determined by both designing the best aircraft and by building the most efficient manufacturing system, in parallel,“ said Michael Schoellhorn, Airbus Chief Operating Officer.“ Automation & robotics are central to our industrial strategy. We are very happy to welcome MTM Robotics as a family member and take a step forward on this exciting endeavor together.”

“MTM perfectly fits Airbus’ ambition for engineering and innovative manufacturing solutions while maintaining agility,” explained Patrick Vigié, Head of Industrial Technologies at Airbus. “Airbus and MTM Robotics each believe that tomorrow’s automation in aircraft manufacturing can and must be lighter, more portable and less capital intensive,” explained Vigié. “By joining our efforts and skills, we are well positioned to establish industry wide standards for the factory of tomorrow, “he said.


BOEING

JUST IN: Boeing announced on 12/16/19 that it is temporarily halting the assembly lines in Renton, Washington from January, with no timeline defined for a restart. Good news for the 12,000-strong Renton workforce: Boeing will preserve their jobs by keeping some on 737 work and redeploying the rest to other facilities in the region. (Editor’s Note: At this time, Boeing has not stated when the manufacturing line of the 737 MAX will restart. This may be dependent on FAA approval.)

Boeing Statement: Safely returning the 737 MAX to service is our top priority. We know that the process of approving the 737 MAX’s return to service, and of determining appropriate training requirements, must be extraordinarily thorough and robust, to ensure that our regulators, customers, and the flying public have confidence in the 737 MAX updates. As we have previously said, the FAA and global regulatory authorities determine the timeline for certification and return to service. We remain fully committed to supporting this process. It is our duty to ensure that every requirement is fulfilled, and every question from our regulators answered. Throughout the grounding of the 737 MAX, Boeing has continued to build new airplanes and there are now approximately 400 airplanes in storage. We have previously stated that we would continually evaluate our production plans should the MAX grounding continue longer than we expected. As a result of this ongoing evaluation, we have decided to prioritize the delivery of stored aircraft and temporarily suspend production on the 737 program beginning next month. We believe this decision is least disruptive to maintaining long-term production system and supply chain health. This decision is driven by a number of factors, including the extension of certification into 2020, the uncertainty about the timing and conditions of return to service and global training approvals, and the importance of ensuring that we can prioritize the delivery of stored aircraft. We will continue to assess our progress towards return to service milestones and make determinations about resuming production and deliveries accordingly. During this time, it is our plan that affected employees will continue 737-related work, or be temporarily assigned to other teams in Puget Sound. As we have throughout the 737 MAX grounding, we will keep our customers, employees, and supply chain top of mind as we continue to assess appropriate actions. This will include efforts to sustain the gains in production system and supply chain quality and health made over the last many months. We will provide financial information regarding the production suspension in connection with our 4Q19 earnings release in late January.

On Another Note: Boeing delivered 24 aircraft in November vs 79 in Nov 2018, and has now delivered 345 in 2019. Boeing President and Chief Executive Officer Dennis Muilenburg reports that the board of directors today declared a regular quarterly dividend of two dollars and five and one-half cents ($2.055) per share. The dividend is payable March 6, 2020, to shareholders of record as of February 14, 2020.

New Boeing Media Relations Director – (12) Michael Friedman | LinkedIn

 


OTHER NEWS

  • Whether you know it or not, times for technology development are changing and Ms. Sarayu Srinivasan is well aware of them. WIRED notes: “Sarayu Srinivasan is a venture capitalist, operating executive, and founder. Srinivasan is currently a White House Presidential Innovation Fellow detailed to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, where she is a senior adviser and private sector/venture capital expert working on the Cross-Agency Priority Goal Lab-to-Market.” Her opinion article in WIRED is one of the scary ones. Correct, but scary. She writes about industry and government co-working, and while she amplifies the US need for national and government teaming, her message is probably worldwide. She notes: “We can no longer wait for serendipitous ingenuity to flow downstream. There is no time for the fortuitous experiments of Darpa and Rand to organically develop into the commercial internet decades later.” I guess we never realized the extent of government funding of technology development because her message about Apple blew us away. See what you think – Industry Must Team up With Government to Keep America on Top | WIRED
  • No doubt, you know that runway numbering systems use the world magnetic field as a reference. They use numbers from 1 to 36 as compasses point the runway direction to the nearest 10 degrees. Guess what, the earth’s magnetic field is moving fast (2.5 degrees in the last 22 years). It gets worse – the poles reverse about every 500,000 years, and the present switch is some 280,000 years late! Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Is Hightailing It Toward Siberia The folks at Interesting Engineering just ruined my day!
  • Sales for the quarter were $177.0 million
  • Consolidated orders for the quarter were $176.6 million
  • Backlog at the end of the quarter was $379.4 million
  • Initiates 2020 sales guidance in the range of $770 million to $820 million
  • Announces restructuring plan for antenna business

East Aurora, NY | November 5, 2019–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense and other mission critical industries, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended
September 28, 2019. Financial results include the divestiture of the Test Systems’ semiconductor business on February 13, 2019.

Peter J. Gundermann, President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, “As expected, third quarter revenue was light, due in part to the continued grounding of the 737 MAX and the resulting capacity challenge affecting the global airline industry. Beyond this, we faced some headwinds that impacted our bottom line significantly. The headwinds included continued losses from the three struggling businesses discussed in previous quarters, higher tariff costs, a non-cash loss on the sale of the airfield lighting product line, and an increased reserve for a legal proceeding in Europe. In total, the detrimental impact of these issues on the quarter’s results was $15.4 million.”

He added, “We are implementing a number of strategic initiatives to alleviate several headwinds and to set up for a successful 2020. We are consolidating operations, rearranging supply chains and pushing development programs to completion. We expect our actions will begin to show positively in the first quarter, and become even more evident as the year progresses.”

For comparability purposes, in addition to reporting consolidated and segment results of operations on a basis consistent with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), this press release also contains certain financial information regarding consolidated sales, operating income and net income, as well as Test Systems segment sales and operating profit, adjusted to remove the sales and direct expenses of the divested semiconductor business from all periods presented. Management believes these non-GAAP measures are useful to investors in understanding the performance of the ongoing business. The reconciliation of GAAP measures to non-GAAP measures is contained in the section labeled “Reconciliation to Non-GAAP Performance Measures”.

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Provides engineering scale, broader range of solutions and strong market position in expanding mass transit opportunity

East Aurora, NY | October 4, 2019–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced today that it has acquired the primary operating subsidiaries from mass transit and defense market test solution provider, Diagnosys Test Systems Limited (Diagnosys). Diagnosys is a developer and manufacturer of comprehensive automated test equipment (ATE) providing test, support, and repair of high value electronics, electro-mechanical, pneumatic and printed circuit boards focused on the global mass transit and defense markets.

Astronics has acquired 100% of the equity of the three primary operating subsidiaries of Diagnosys, which are Diagnosys Holdings, Inc., Diagnosys Ferndown Limited and Diagnosys Electronics (I) Private Limited for $7 million in cash. The terms of the acquisition allow for a potential earn-out of up to an additional $13 million over the next three years based on achievement of new order levels of over $70 million during that period.

Peter J. Gundermann, Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer commented, “Diagnosys is a leader in test solutions with a heavy focus on mass transit and defense markets, which is very much aligned with the strategy of our Test segment. The acquisition gives us a strong position in the growing mass transit test market as well as providing component-level solutions to our aerospace & defense test business. We expect that the company’s advanced technologies and customer base will provide us opportunities for continued growth into mission-critical test markets by enabling us to offer a broader range of solutions to our customers. We are pleased to welcome the employees of Diagnosys to the Astronics family.”

The acquired business has operations in Westford, Massachusetts as well as Ferndown, England, and an engineering center of excellence in Bangalore, India. Diagnosys has approximately 120 employees. Founded in 2008, the company offers complete ATE and bench test equipment solutions for support and maintenance of high value electronic circuit boards and modules in mission-critical reliability sectors. Diagnosys also provides an extensive range of service capabilities, including the overhaul and repair of electronics systems. Sales for the trailing twelve months ended September 30, 2019 were approximately $9.0 million.

East Aurora, NY | September 13, 2019– Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced that it recently executed an agreement with Collins Aerospace’s to provide its Ku-band tail-mounted satellite communications (SATCOM) antenna technology for the Collins Aerospace KuSAT-2000 solution. Astronics AeroSat, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astronics Corporation, will supply the technology for this system.

“We are excited to provide our industry-leading tail-mounted antenna technology to Collins Aerospace as it teams with leading satellite operator SES to offer LuxStream, a high-speed broadband connectivity service for the business aviation market. Astronics is committed to supporting Collins Aerospace’s world-class sales and support teams,” said Matthew Harrah, President of Astronics AeroSat.

Collins Aerospace will be the primary point of contact for all sales and technical support requirements, giving dealers and customers an expedited and unified response to all questions concerning the LuxStream service and hardware solution. Collins Aerospace will receive direct support from Astronics’ technical team to address any customer requirements.

The PPS is a new, high-current power system for experimental and light sport aircraft.

East Aurora, NY | July 24, 2019–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced the release of the new Vertical Power Primary Power System (PPS) for use on aircraft flying with an airworthiness certificate in the experimental and light-sport categories.

The PPS offers an entirely new approach to the master, starter, and charging circuit for experimental and light-sport aircraft. It combines the functions of multiple high-current, electro-mechanical components into a single solid-state device that installs in minutes with plug-and-play simplicity. The PPS improves system reliability, saves space, and eliminates the need for the builder to research and design a homemade solution. For light-sport aircraft manufacturers, the PPS will improve customer satisfaction and lower costs through reduced installation time, weight savings, and increased reliability. The PPS is suitable for both new and retrofit installations.
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Facility opening celebrated with a ribbon cutting ceremony and will serve as the new operational base for Astronics CSC

Waukegan, IL | July 19, 2019–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certifications (CSC), has moved its operations to a new office and manufacturing facility in Waukegan, Illinois.

The new facility enables the expansion of manufacturing capacity and certification services. The facility officially opened on July 18, 2019 with a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Astronics senior executives along with representatives from the City of Waukegan.

“We are very excited to move into this beautiful new space. The combination of office space and manufacturing capability will help us meet increasing demand now and in the future,” said Michael Kuehn, President of Astronics CSC. “Astronics CSC now has the ability to develop, produce and certify products all within one location, which enables a faster, more efficient production process to satisfy customer product needs. We were also honored to have Sam Cunningham, the mayor of the City of Waukegan, join us to cut the ribbon during our ceremony, officially opening this wonderful facility.”

Waukegan is located approximately 20 miles north of Astronics CSC’s Lake Zurich Design Center. Both locations are linked by close proximity to I-94, a major interstate highway.

Key features of the newly leased facility include:

  • 123,000 square feet for factory production
    • 4,400 square foot FAA-approved repair station, where products can be repaired without need for third-party recertification
    • 11,200 square feet of warehouse storage
  • 44,000 square feet for office, divided between two stories for research and development, engineering, product support and administration

Astronics CSC serves as the global market leader for inflight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions for aircraft, specializing in connectivity hardware, integration engineering, and certification services. Together with other Astronics subsidiaries, Astronics CSC offers the most complete set of IFEC hardware solutions available from a single vendor.

Augments radio test solution offerings

East Aurora, NY | July 1, 2019– Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced today that it has acquired Freedom Communication Technologies, Inc. (FCT) a developer and manufacturer of communication test equipment for the land-based mobile radio test market providing innovative solutions to Long-Term Evolution (LTE) high-speed wireless communications customers globally. Astronics has acquired 100% of the equity of FCT for $22 million in cash.

Peter J. Gundermann, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer commented, “FCT is a leader in wireless communications testing, primarily for the civil land mobile radio market. Their market focus and technology complements those we already have, and together, we will offer a broader range of test solutions to an expanded market. The acquisition gives us a stronger market position in the radio test arena, a strong brand for our offerings and a larger addressable market. We are excited to expand our test capabilities and to bring FCT on board with our Test business.”

Based in Kilgore, TX, FCT was founded in 2015 and offers communications analyzers for testing and maintaining Land Mobile Radio (LMR) communications systems. FCT also provides an extensive range of capabilities, including automated radio testing and alignment, coverage mapping, and interference analysis.

In 2018, FCT had $11 million in revenue and is expected to contribute approximately $10 million in revenue in the second half of 2019.

The ME1000 family of Mini PCI Express interfaces delivers the most avionics I/O in the smallest form factor for the embedded aerospace market

East Aurora, NY | June 10, 2019–Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced the release of the new ME1000 family of mPCIe avionics interface cards for embedded aerospace applications. The ME1000 provides the highest amount of 1553 I/O in the compact mPCIe form-factor and is the only line to offer a concurrent RS-422/485 serial interface.

The ME1000 is a new mPCIe card designed and built by Astronics Ballard Technology, a wholly owned subsidiary of Astronics Corporation. These rugged cards interface with MIL-STD-1553 databuses and enable host devices, such as small form factor mission computers, to reliably communicate with and monitor avionics equipment.

East Aurora, NY | June 11, 2019–Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for global aerospace, defense, and other mission critical industries, announced today with great sorrow that Kevin T. Keane, a member of its Board of Directors for nearly 50 years and Board Chairman for 45 years, passed away on June 10, 2019 in Buffalo, NY.

Peter J. Gundermann, President and Chief Executive Officer, was appointed Chairman of the Board. He commented, “We are deeply saddened by this loss and our thoughts and prayers are with his family. Kevin played a pivotal role in the history of Astronics, joining soon after our founding. He worked tirelessly throughout his nearly five decades to transform Astronics and left a remarkable legacy that will benefit the Company well into the future. His extraordinary leadership, vision and enthusiasm will be deeply missed.”

Mr. Keane joined the Board and began his career with Astronics in 1970, and was named the Chairman in 1974. He served as the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company from 1974 to 2002. He was actively involved in the community, serving on several boards and volunteering his time with numerous organizations.

East Aurora, NY | February 14, 2019–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq:ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, announced today that it has closed the previously announced sale of the intellectual property and certain assets associated with its semiconductor test product line to Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857).

The terms of the transaction were renegotiated due to a change in business conditions related to the product line. The new terms include an upfront payment of $100 million in cash, plus a potential earn-out payment of up to $35 million based on certain performance milestones over the next 4 years. This compares with the previously announced $185 million purchase price, plus an earn-out payment of up to $30 million based on certain performance milestones. The renegotiated sales agreement does not include a manufacturing service contract as previously announced.

Peter J. Gundermann, President and CEO of Astronics, commented, “We have strong confidence in Advantest’s ability to further the adoption of these solutions across the semiconductor industry and expect that the team and competencies we have developed will achieve new highs under their ownership. We will continue to develop and advance our aerospace & defense test solutions while employing our multi-system test software capabilities in a variety of applications.”

East Aurora, NY | December 19, 2018–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, today announced the appointment of Mark Moran to its Board of Directors, effective December 14, 2018. The addition of Mr. Moran as an independent director brings the Astronics Board to nine directors, eight of whom are independent. He will serve on the Compensation Committee and the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

Kevin T. Keane, Chairman of the Board, commented, “Mark’s leadership and extensive world-class aerospace experience enhances our already strong board. His operational insights, developed across global and regional airlines, will add valuable perspectives, especially as the Company enhances its position in the connected aircraft market.”

Mark Moran, age 62, brings significant aerospace engineering and operations experience spanning nearly 40 years. He spent 17 years with Continental Airlines prior to its acquisition by United. During his tenure, which included eight years as the head of Operations, Continental grew to the fifth largest airline with 2,600 daily flights to over 260 airports. He retired from his position as Chief Operating Officer with Continental in 2012. Prior to that, Mr. Moran served ten years with USAir/Piedmont, and before that, five years with Boeing Corporation (NYSE: BA). He is a graduate of Marquette University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering.

The award winning new product, the ATS-6100 Wire Fault Tester, will be featured at the Defense Maintenance and Logistics Exhibition

East Aurora, NY | December 17, 2018– Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Astronics Test Systems received an Innovators Award for its ATS-6100 WFT (Wire Fault Tester) from Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine. The judging panel consisted of a group of senior, expert professionals in the field of military & aerospace technology.

Introduced in September 2018, the ATS-6100 WFT received platinum level honors in the test
equipment category. Combining patented low energy, high voltage (LEHV) and spread spectrum
time domain reflectometer (SSTDR) technologies, it safely and precisely locates both hard and soft faults in wiring and insulation. The Windows-based tablet platform helps prevent catastrophic failure and unnecessary replacement of aging equipment for both military and commercial applications.

This is Astronics’ second Platinum Innovators Award from Military & Aerospace Electronics; the CTS- 6010 Tactical Radio Test Set received a 2017 award.

“We’re honored to be recognized for the second year in a row with a Platinum Innovators Award from Military & Aerospace Electronics,” commented Brian Price, Executive Vice President of Astronics Test Systems. “I congratulate our team on another phenomenal product as we continue to protect lives through optimal performance of mission-critical equipment.”

Alan Bergstein, publisher of Military & Aerospace Electronics said, “This prestigious program allows Military & Aerospace Electronics to celebrate and recognize the most innovative products and services in the military electronics industry. Our 2018 honorees are outstanding examples of companies who are making an impact.”

The Innovators Awards are judged based on the following criteria:

  • Innovation
  • Value to the user
  • Sustainability
  • Meeting a defined need
  • Collaboration
  • Impact

The 2018 Military & Aerospace Electronics Innovators Awards honorees are featured in the December issue of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine as well as on militaryaerospace.com.

Astronics Test Systems will demonstrate the ATS-6100 WFT in booth 205 at the Defense Maintenance and Logistics Exhibition this week in Tampa, Florida. Astronics will also demonstrate its radio test solutions and VIPER/T system. For complete ATS-6100 WFT product details, to view the solution sheet, or to request a quote, please visit Astronics.com.

Astronics Test Systems leverages nearly 60 years of experience to offer automatic test expertise to electronics manufacturers in the aerospace, military, medical, space, mass transit, and automotive industries. Astronics’ test solutions ensure the world’s most advanced electronic products perform as designed, every time.

Tail-mounted connectivity solution certified to provide high-throughput Ku-band connectivity

East Aurora, NY | December 4, 2018–

Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics AeroSat Corporation, has certified its next generation FliteStreamTM T-310 SATCOM connectivity solution for business aircraft.

Astronics AeroSat has received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (“STC”) and Parts Manufacturer Approval (“PMA”) for installation onto a Gulfstream GIV-SP business aircraft.

The FliteStream T-310 is currently offered in partnership with
Satcom Direct (“SD”) as part of its SD Xperience end-to-end
solution. The FliteStream T-310 SATCOM solution includes the next generation iDirect CX780 modem, providing compatibility with both Ku-band wide beam and HTS spot beam satellite networks.

Matthew Harrah, President of Astronics AeroSat, said, “We are excited to achieve an FAA STC and PMA for the new FliteStream T-310 product line. This new product variant will provide an improved business aviation connectivity experience to passengers, making an ‘office-in-the-sky’ dream a reality. We look forward to continuing and expanding our relationships with Satcom Direct and Intelsat. We expect the FliteStream T-310 will be an important part of the SD Xperience package now and in the future.”

Astronics AeroSat’s FliteStream T-Series includes its patented Rexolite Lens technology, which creates the most efficient, reliable and highest-performing SATCOM antenna system available. The FliteStream T-Series provides high-speed internet & IPTV in a single antenna.

Astronics AeroSat keeps people connected no matter where they fly. For over a decade, Astronics AeroSat has provided fuselage- and tail-mounted SATCOM solutions for general aviation, business aviation, commercial transport, VVIP and military aircraft around the world. Learn more at Astronics.com.

East Aurora, NY | November 14, 2018– – Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, today announced it has entered into an agreement for the sale of the intellectual property and certain assets associated with its semiconductor test business to Advantest Corporation (TSE: 6857) for $185 million in cash. The sale additionally includes a $30 million earn-out opportunity based on achieving certain levels of revenue in 2019.

Astronics will enter into an agreement with Advantest to continue to manufacture the semiconductor test solutions for Advantest upon closing of the transaction.

Peter J. Gundermann, President and CEO of Astronics, commented, “We acquired this product line in January of 2014 and it has since generated about $365 million in revenue through the third quarter this year. We have invested heavily in the technology and believe it has an exciting future. We came to the conclusion that this future will be better realized with a company that is focused on the semiconductor space. We will continue to be involved as a manufacturing partner with Advantest, which will provide continuity for our customers and employees. We look forward to continued success in the market.”

Approximately 45 personnel from Astronics, primarily in engineering, sales, and program management, will be offered positions with Advantest. The remainder of the Astronics workforce will be unaffected by the transaction. This transaction is subject to clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act and other customary closing conditions. It is expected to close by the end of the year.

Astronics’ will continue to operate its aerospace and defense test business and report in two segments.

Expects 2019 Aerospace revenue of $710 million to $745 million

East Aurora, NY | November 14, 2018– Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, today provided initial 2019 revenue guidance for its Aerospace segment and affirmed recent Aerospace 2018 revenue guidance.

“In our third quarter press release, we revised our Aerospace segment revenue guidance for 2018 to $670 to $675 million, which we are affirming today. The midpoint of this range would show 26% growth over 2017,” commented Peter J. Gundermann, President and CEO.

He continued, “We are also issuing initial Aerospace segment revenue guidance for 2019 of $710 to $745 million, which suggests organic growth next year of approximately 6% to 11%. We are encouraged by our strong booking performance of $617 million in the first nine months of 2018, and the continued strength of our aerospace markets.”

The Company also announced today the sale of assets related to its Semiconductor Test business, which is subject to usual closing conditions including a Hart-Scott-Rodino review.

Mr. Gundermann stated, “We are not issuing 2019 guidance today for our Test segment, given the pending sale and other developments in the business. We anticipate doing so by the end of the year. We have a backlog of $72 million, most of which is Aerospace and Defense, and are in negotiations for a large program expected to be worth $30 to $50 million, as previously announced. We expect the next 45 days will bring clarity about our Test segment in 2019.”

The Company also affirmed its Test segment revenue guidance of $120 million to $125 million for 2018. The Company expects to release its fourth quarter and full year 2018 financial results in late February 2019.

EAST AURORA, USA | November 5, 2018 – Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading supplier of advanced technologies and products to the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, today reported financial results for the three and nine months ended September 29, 2018. Results for the quarter and the first nine months of 2018 include the results of Telefonix PDT, which was acquired on December 1, 2017 and Custom Control Concepts (“CCC”), which was acquired on April 3, 2017. Earnings per share for all periods are adjusted for the 3 for 20 (15%) distribution of Class B Stock for shareholders of record on October 12, 2018.

Read the full release here.

Astronics Will Highlight ATS 5034 SLT Platform at the Upcoming International Test Conference

East Aurora, USA | October 30, 2018– Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary, Astronics Test Systems, has received the Global SMT & Packaging Journal’s 2018 Global Technology Award in the test equipment category for its ATS 5034 System-Level Test (SLT) Platform.

The Global SMT & Packaging Journal presented the award on October 17, 2018 at the SMTA International 2018 conference in Chicago, Illinois. The ATS 5034 SLT Platform received the award based on the following criteria: innovation, speed/throughput improvements, quality contribution, cost benefits, environmental consideration, ease of use/implementation, and maintainability. Jon Sinskie, Astronics Test Systems’ Executive Vice President of Semiconductor Test, accepted the award on the company’s behalf. Astronics will highlight the ATS 5034 SLT Platform at the International Test Conference (ITC) in Phoenix, Arizona, October 30 through November 1.

“Our goal is to help customers reduce cost of test and ensure optimal performance of their critical electronics,” commented Sinskie. “We are honored to receive this recognition and I congratulate our team on developing such a groundbreaking solution. This platform’s capabilities to test a variety of devices for a myriad of applications are simply unmatched in the industry.”

About the ATS 5034 SLT Platform

The ATS 5034 SLT Platform uses system-level test to examine at-speed and functional performance characteristics of the device under test (DUT) to find defects missed during traditional ATE functional testing. Essentially, it tests the device in “mission-mode” or its end-use environment.

Next-gen lights approved to bring improved reliability and long life operation to commercial and business aircraft

East Aurora, USA | October 15, 2018–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, announced today that the FAA recently granted Parts Manufacturer Approval (PMA) for the next generation of LED Landing and Taxi Lights, provided by its wholly owned subsidiary Astronics Luminescent Systems Inc (LSI). With this designation, these advanced LED lights are approved for use on commercial, business, and general aviation aircraft.

“Our newest generation of LED landing and taxi lights
deliver a host of unprecedented advantages over
filament-based lights (incandescent and halogen) in
terms of performance and value,” explained James Kramer, President of Astronics LSI. “Airframe manufacturers, airlines, and private owners can now incorporate these lights onto new and retrofit aircraft to take advantage of the lifecycle cost savings these lights deliver through high efficiency, low power, and long life operation.”

About the Astronics LED Landing and Taxi Lights

The Astronics LED lights replace the traditional filament-based lighting systems used for landing and taxi lighting on aircraft, delivering a MTBUR (mean time between unscheduled removal) in excess of 30,000 hours compared with some traditional incandescent configurations that are rated at only 100 hours, saving maintenance time and effort and plane down time. Additional features include:

  • 3 standard sizes – PAR 36, PAR 46, and PAR 64
  • Maximum performance – shock and vibration resistant with no filaments to break and a robust glass lens construction with special anti-fog coating
  • Power savings – comparable luminance at 80% less power than legacy systems
  • All aircraft use – approved for use on hundreds of aircraft models from Airbus and Boeing to Embraer and Gulfstream
  • RTCA DO-160 certified
  • Versions of these lights already flight proven on aircraft around the world

Astronics Luminescent Systems Inc. (LSI) is the supplier of choice for lighting systems for aircraft cockpits, cabins, and exteriors. With products ranging from avionics panels and light plates to anti-collision and formation lights to emergency cabin lighting and passenger information signs, Astronics LSI collaborates with customers to create reliable, optimal solutions. Forerunners in the industry with the innovative use of LED, HID and electroluminescent lighting technologies, LSI products provide illumination and safety for commercial and military aircraft worldwide.

 

 

Astronics will collaborate in the mission to enable seamless in-cabin connectivity experiences

East Aurora, USA | October 11, 2018– Astronics Corporation, a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced that it has joined the Seamless Air Alliance as an “Adopter Member.”

The Seamless Air Alliance is a consortium of companies dedicated to
the development and promotion of aircraft connectivity standards to
facilitate a simple, delightful experience for passengers. The goal of
the organization is to create standards that ensure continuous
connectivity from gate-to-gate anywhere in the world with the
additional potential benefit of reducing the hurdles associated with the acquisition, installation and operation of inflight connectivity systems.

“By joining the Seamless Air Alliance, Astronics continues to take a leading role in aircraft In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFE&C) system development and certification by shaping next generation IFE&C hardware technology explorations and advancements,” explained Matt Harrah, President of Astronics AeroSat. “With next- generation satellite technologies coming on board, it is important to look across network technologies to optimize the on-board connectivity architecture for providing the most appropriate system configurations for airlines’ business models. Astronics looks forward to collaborating with the other Seamless Air Alliance members to develop new connectivity standards that will improve the passenger experience.”

“We are very pleased to have Astronics join the Seamless Air Alliance and contribute their expertise alongside other market leaders defining the next generation of inflight connectivity,” said Jack Mandala, Seamless Air Alliance Chief Executive Officer.

Astronics AeroSat provides aircraft IFC antenna and radome systems and Astronics CSC provides aircraft inflight entertainment hardware systems, as well as certification services.

Astronics will collaborate in the mission to enable seamless in-cabin connectivity experiences

East Aurora, USA | October 11, 2018– Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense and semiconductor industries, announced that it has joined the Seamless Air Alliance as an “Adopter Member.”

The Seamless Air Alliance is a consortium of companies dedicated to
the development and promotion of aircraft connectivity standards to
facilitate a simple, delightful experience for passengers. The goal of
the organization is to create standards that ensure continuous
connectivity from gate-to-gate anywhere in the world with the
additional potential benefit of reducing the hurdles associated with the acquisition, installation and operation of inflight connectivity systems.

“By joining the Seamless Air Alliance, Astronics continues to take a leading role in aircraft In-Flight Entertainment and Connectivity (IFE&C) system development and certification by shaping next generation IFE&C hardware technology explorations and advancements,” explained Matt Harrah, President of Astronics AeroSat. “With next- generation satellite technologies coming on board, it is important to look across network technologies to optimize the on-board connectivity architecture for providing the most appropriate system configurations for airlines’ business models. Astronics looks forward to collaborating with the other Seamless Air Alliance members to develop new connectivity standards that will improve the passenger experience.”

“We are very pleased to have Astronics join the Seamless Air Alliance and contribute their expertise alongside other market leaders defining the next generation of inflight connectivity,” said Jack Mandala, Seamless Air Alliance Chief Executive Officer.

Astronics AeroSat provides aircraft IFC antenna and radome systems and Astronics CSC provides aircraft inflight entertainment hardware systems, as well as certification services.

Milestone affirms Astronics’ position as the leading provider of wireless access points for commercial aircraft

East Aurora, NY | September 24, 2018–Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries, announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary Astronics Connectivity Systems and Certification (CSC) has shipped more than 10,000 cabin wireless access points (CWAPs) to enable inflight connectivity systems on aircraft. With this milestone, Astronics’ CWAPs serve as the most broadly accepted 802.11ac CWAPs in the market today.

“We started this product line in 2015 under the former company name of Telefonix, and in just 3 years have become the world leader in enabling entire fleets of aircraft to provide fast, reliable inflight connectivity access for improved passenger experiences,” said Michael Kuehn, President of Astronics CSC. “We work with the major inflight entertainment providers, and by listening closely, we’ve been able to deliver streamlined, high-performance CWAPs with the features they need to augment today’s advanced IFE systems.”

About the CabinACe-2 Cabin Wireless Access Point

Part of the Summit Line of inflight entertainment hardware systems from Astronics CSC, the CabinACe-2 is the most recent version of its CWAP with a design that leverages the market leading access point from Aruba Networks, Inc. The CabinACe-2 is currently in production and has undergone extensive testing in compliance with Boeing Line Fit (BLF), Airbus Interior Services (AIS), as well as DO-160G retrofit testing. Extremely efficient in design and easy to install, features include:

  • Linefit offerable for Boeing and Airbus aircraft
  • Aruba/HPE Wave 2 Support, providing enterprise class security and control features
  • Exclusive worldwide radio support firmware, enabling the regulatory domains to be changed dynamically based on geo/location data
  • 200,000+ hour MTBF
  • DO-160G certified with Astronics-provided Parts Manufacturing Approval (PMA) through its own FAA/EASA STCs
  • FCC, ISED, CE and Chinese MIIT regulatory approval.

Astronics CSC provides current system configuration testing and creates performance enhancements in its Wi-Fi System Integrations Lab. Customers can purchase the CabinACe-2 as a standalone component or as part of a complete Summit Line of inflight connectivity hardware from Astronics.

Astronics CSC serves as the experienced, global market leader for in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) solutions for aircraft. The Company specializes in connectivity hardware, integration engineering, and certification services. Together with other Astronics subsidiaries, Astronics CSC offers the most complete set of IFEC hardware solutions available from a single vendor.