Flight Explorer, Satellink Technologies Announce Agreement For Aircraft Situation Display

Communications Today, Nov 13, 2001

Flight Explorer, a global provider of Internet-based, real-time flight tracking information, will team up with Satellink Technologies Inc. to offer an aircraft situation display for subscribers in the cockpit.

The new service, called "FE InFlight," will provide live flight tracking and decision tools to pilots in the cockpit to enhance situational awareness during ground and in-flight operations. Specifically, pilots will be able to view, in real-time, air traffic and weather along their routes and at their destinations to help them make decisions about the route and timing of flights.

Merlin uses satellite broadcast technology to provide a suite of flight information, weather data and other capabilities directly to pilots in the cockpit. The service will be available in the first quarter of 2002.

With a personal computer and Internet access, can use Flight Explorer Professional to track, in real time, aircraft anywhere over the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii. The service also can be used for aircraft above Canada, the United Kingdom and portions of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. Flight Explorer Professional information is updated every 10 seconds.

Harlan Hamlin, vice president and general manager of aviation services for Satellink Technologies, said, "The addition of Flight Explorer's aircraft situation display to Merlin's broad range of high-quality, real-time graphical and text weather products is exciting news for all pilots. The combination of real-time weather and air traffic information provides pilots, for the first time, with a vast array of flight-safety and mission-critical information. We believe this system will significantly improve flight safety and reduce the cost of operations." >TK Gilat Satellite Networks Ltd [GILTF]: