Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System Selected By Simplex Aerospace for Helicopter SkyCannon

Nov. 4, 2013
The Simplex SkyCannon is a helicopter-mounted firefighting system that enables firefighters to reach fires in high-rise buildings more quickly and effectively than traditional ground-based systems.

EAST AURORA, N.Y., Nov. 4, 2013 — Astronics Corporation’s Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System has been selected by Simplex® Aerospace as standard equipment for its SkyCannon™ and Fire Attack™ Systems. Astronics (NASDAQ: ATRO) is a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries. 

The Simplex SkyCannon is a helicopter-mounted firefighting system that enables firefighters to reach fires in high-rise buildings more quickly and effectively than traditional ground-based systems. Complemented with the Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System, operators of Simplex firefighting equipment will be able to see through smoke while fighting high-rise fires. 

“The capabilities of the Astronics Max-Viz, which allows an operator to see through smoke, haze, light fog and darkness, is ideally coupled with Simplex Aerospace’s breakthrough SkyCannon to make high-rise buildings safer from fire,” said Astronics Executive Vice President, Elliott Troutman. “This application demonstrates the diversity of our installations, which increase pilot safety and situational awareness.”   

The new Simplex system will be compatible with viewing Max-Viz images on the aircraft multifunction display or on a dedicated display. In addition to enhanced vision images, newly designed Simplex Aerospace Fire Attack systems will support data acquisition of door operation, hover pump activation and foam pump activation, all correlated with aircraft GPS position. 

Simplex Aerospace President and CEO Mark Zimmerman said, “Our new agreement with Astronics for the Max-Viz Enhanced Vision System is another step toward our goal of supplying Simplex customers with state-of-the-art systems that enable them to be more effective in fighting fires and saving lives.” Simplex offers the SkyCannon on the Avicopter AC313, Bell 412/212, AgustaWestland AW139, Eurocopter EC225 and Kamov Ka-32 firefighting helicopters.

ABOUT SIMPLEX AEROSPACE

Founded in 1946, Simplex has built a reputation as the leader in design, manufacturing, and certification of aerial application systems and mission equipment for helicopters. Simplex maintains its industry leadership by incorporating the latest technology in designing and manufacturing systems from high-strength, low-weight composite materials to produce reliable and cost-effective solutions for firefighting, agriculture, utilities maintenance and other aerial applications. For more information, please visit www.simplex.aero.

ABOUT ASTRONICS MAX-VIZ ENHANCED VISION SYSTEMS

Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision Systems are designed for turbine and piston fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. The systems use infrared sensors, signal processing and advanced cockpit display to show terrain, runways, taxiways, aircraft and obstacles in poor visibility conditions, including light fog, haze, smoke, brown/whiteout, light precipitation and darkness. Astronics Max-Viz Enhanced Vision Systems are small, reliable and affordable.  For more information go to www.max-viz.com.

ABOUT ASTRONICS CORPORATION

Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO) is a leader in advanced, high-performance lighting, electrical power and automated test systems for the global aerospace and defense industries. Astronics’ strategy is to develop and maintain positions of technical leadership in its chosen aerospace and defense markets, to leverage those positions to grow the amount of content and volume of product it sells to those markets and to selectively acquire businesses with similar technical capabilities that could benefit from its leadership position and strategic direction. Astronics Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp., Ballard Technology, Inc., DME Corporation, Luminescent Systems Inc., Max-Viz, Inc., AeroSat and PECO, Inc., have a reputation for high-quality designs, exceptional responsiveness, strong brand recognition and best-in-class manufacturing practices. The Company routinely posts news and other important information on its Web site at www.astronics.com