Press Release

Issued by Astronautics Corp of America.

March 1, 2016

Astronautics Corporation of America has announced a partnership with Globavia's LEAT SpA to supply its new RoadRunner electronic flight instruments (EFIs) to upgrade LEAT customers' legacy helicopter cockpits. The announcement was made during a press conference at the 2016 HAI Heli-Expo.

Astronautics' RoadRunner is a form-fit-function upgrade for helicopters that increases reliability and offers operators the choice of moving from electromechanical instruments to digital displays, eliminating obsolescence.

The new EFI offers operators enhanced safety, reduction in operating costs, and low installation downtime. The new EFI expands flight sensor capability with its Helicopter Terrain Awareness and Warning System (HTAWS) and Synthetic Vision System (SVS).

The two companies have agreed to partner on helicopter model upgrades to address the AW109, AB212, and AB412 helicopters.

LEAT, a Globavia business unit that operates as a stand-alone company, will design and build the cable adapter kit for RoadRunner upgrades in addition to selling, installing, and completing future repairs on the EFI units.

LEAT will also be responsible for supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for RoadRunner on AW109 aircraft. STC approval is expected by late 2016 or early 2017.

“Astronautics is pleased to provide the new, state-of-the-art RoadRunner to our long-time customer LEAT,” said president Chad Cundiff. “The RoadRunner will provide LEAT with a faster way to upgrade their customers' existing EFIs or electromechanical instruments, givings these operators lower cost of ownership through significantly higher reliability and fewer parts on the aircraft.”

Astronautics has worked with Globavia for over 35 years. The company serves as Astronautics' exclusive distributor to Finmeccanica for products, including instruments and air transport indicator (ATI) EFIs.