Press Release

Issued by Universal Avionics, an Elbit Systems company.

October 24, 2008

Demand for new technology in older aircraft is resilient, if sales of Universal Avionics Systems Corporation WAAS-enabled FMS were any indication. Despite recent economic news, Universal has not experienced a slow-down in demand for aircraft retrofit projects, especially when it includes products which improve safety such as the company’s WAAS/SBAS-enabled Flight Management System.

In an installation recently completed by Global Aviation, dual UNS-1Ew WAAS/SBAS-FMSs were installed and approved for Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS) approaches in an Astra aircraft. This is the first certification approval for the WAAS/SBAS-FMS in an Astra and adds yet another platform for Universal’s WAAS/SBAS-enabled FMSs.

The UNS-1Ew installation was approved for 3D coupled WAAS GPS approach types, including Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV) procedures. These approaches require the use of GPS signals broadcast from the Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), which include signal correction that significantly improve position accuracy and reliability. Operators of aircraft equipped WAAS-enabled avionics can take advantage of lower descent minima, greater airport options, and improved safety in poor weather conditions. Universal’s WAAS/SBAS-FMS provides significant safety improvements over older FMSs, which were replaced by the UNS-1Ew in this Astra.

Global Aviation, based out of Hillsboro, Oregon completed the modification while the Astra was in for other airframe maintenance and updates. “This installation demonstrates that upgrading to WAAS can be accomplished with minimal downtime, often during regularly-scheduled maintenance,” says Dan Reida, Vice-President of Marketing, “We are extremely pleased with the flexibility of Global’s installation processes and look forward to working with them on additional projects.”