SKYLink by ARINC Direct Enters Production; First Satellite Broadband for Business Aircraft.

Business Editors

ORLANDO, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 6, 2003

ARINC Incorporated today announced that SKYLink(SM) by ARINC Direct, the world's first satellite broadband data system for business aircraft, is in production following successful flight trials and final conformance testing. The company demonstrated its two-way broadband system this week at the 56th annual convention of the National Business Aircraft Association.

ARINC developed the SKYLink system with investment and technology support from its team member SES AMERICOM, a leading provider of global satellite communications. The SKYLink system is based on unique Ku-band satellite communications technology developed by ViaSat, Inc. who provides the aircraft transceiver and antenna as well as the ground earth station equipment. The first two production SKYLink units will be delivered to Gulfstream Aerospace in mid-October.

"SKYLink is the world's first production broadband data system for business aviation," stated Bob Thompson, Senior Director, ARINC Satellite Services. "We expect to complete our first customer installations later this month, and we'll launch full SKYLink service coverage of the continental United States at that time. The next regions to receive SKYLink service will be the North Atlantic flight tracks, Europe, and the Middle East. The SKYLink system will provide users with blazingly fast connections to the Internet, virtual private networks, and corporate Intranets. The SKYLink off-aircraft data rate is 128 kbps, and the data rate to the aircraft is up to 3.5 Mbps. This performance is even more remarkable considering the entire SKYLink system weighs just 35 pounds, including the 12-inch mechanically steered dish antenna."

SKYLink Broadband Service and SKYLink hardware will be offered by manufacturers as a factory option on new aircraft. In addition, ARINC Direct will work with aircraft owners, manufacturers and completion centers to retrofit SKYLink on in-service aircraft.

Unlike slower satellite services, SKYLink uses Ku-band satellite technology to achieve true broadband speeds. The system provides data to the aircraft up to five times faster than a land-based digital subscriber line. Once SKYLink service is installed on an aircraft it can be distributed to one or many onboard users via the aircraft's wired or wireless LAN. SKYLink changes today's corporate jet into a convenient, productive office in the sky, by providing a seamless, high-speed extension of company networks.

SES AMERICOM, Inc. is recognized as a pioneer and leading provider of global satellite communications services, currently providing capacity on 16 spacecraft serving the Americas, Europe, the Atlantic and Pacific Ocean regions, and Asia. As a member of the SES GLOBAL family, AMERICOM is able to provide end-to-end telecommunications solutions to any region in the world, through a combined fleet of 42 satellites. For more information, visit the SES AMERICOM web site at www.ses-americom.com.

ARINC Incorporated is the world leader in transportation communications and systems engineering. The company develops and operates communications and information processing systems and provides systems engineering and integration solutions to five key industries: airports, aviation, defense, government, and surface transportation. Founded to provide reliable and efficient radio communications for the airlines, ARINC is headquartered in Annapolis, Maryland, and operates key regional offices in London and Singapore, with over 3,000 employees worldwide. ARINC is ISO 9001 certified. For more information, visit the ARINC web site at www.arinc.com.