Universal Avionics Selects Thales SkyNav GG12W OEM GPS Boards for New-Generation Flight Management Systems for Business Jets.

SANTA CLARA, Calif. & TUCSON, Ariz. -- Thales and Universal Avionics Systems Corporation (UASC) today announced that Universal Avionics will use the Thales SkyNav(TM) GG12(TM)W OEM GPS boards in the company's new generation flight management systems, designed for business jets around the world. The selection entails a $6.39 million commitment to Thales GPS boards over three years.

"Thales has developed expertise in the stringent DO178B FAA certified software development requirements and procedures," said Chuck Edmondson, executive vice president at Universal Avionics. "This expertise along with our long-standing successful relationship with Thales provided us with the confidence we needed to make this selection."

"Our goal is enabling market leaders like Universal Avionics to continue advancing in their fields. To accomplish that, we offer a breadth of technology, product solutions, world-class customer service and navigation domain expertise," said Hubert Canuet, vice president of the OEM business unit of Thales' navigation activities. "Universal Avionics has been a valued strategic partner for more than eight years, and we are excited about the opportunity to continue working with them to bring leading flight management systems to the avionics market."

About the SkyNav GG12W

The SkyNav GG12W meets the stringent requirements of the FAA, leveraging more than 10 years of experience in high-precision receiver design. In the SkyNav GG12W, Thales has developed an OEM GPS and GPS+GLONASS(TM) receiver explicitly for the aviation industry. With WAAS capabilities, the SkyNav GG12W meets FAA DO229C and DO178B Level B requirements, making it ideal for Universal Avionics application.

While many previous designs have been successful with aircraft and aircraft systems manufacturers for test flight applications, the SkyNav GG12W is ideally suited for integration within Technical Standard Order (TSO) Flight Management Systems (FMS), ground-based reference stations for GPS aircraft landing systems (SCAT I and LAAS) and other avionics.

Certification

The SkyNav GG12 software has been developed in accordance with the requirements for RTCA DO-178B Level B (Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification). The hardware has been developed to conform to the RTCA DO-208 (MOPS for Airborne Supplemental Navigation Equipment Using GPS) requirements. The hardware and navigational accuracy has been developed in accordance with the RTCA DO-217 (MASPS DGNSS Instrument Approach System: SCAT-I) requirements.

The receiver capably operates in autonomous or differential mode, making it ideal for all phases of flight, including precision approach. It also provides code and carrier data for ground reference station operation.

In addition to its certification, the SkyNav GG12W receiver features extensive anti-jamming capabilities in the RF hardware and incorporates all-in-view tracking of up to 12 satellites with a loss of lock re-acquisition time of less than 3 seconds. It also meets the Continuous Wave Interference (CWI) specification from RTCA DO-208 and DO-229 (WAAS, MOPS).

Through its OEM business, Thales aims to provide electronics customers around the globe a broad range of reliable and competitive OEM IP/technology, product solutions and customer service to enhance their leadership position in existing and emerging markets. Customers include leaders in such markets as avionics, agriculture, vehicle navigation, and consumer electronics.

About Universal Avionics

Universal Avionics Systems Corporation, with corporate offices located in Tucson, Arizona, employs 450 people worldwide. Universal Avionics occupies clean modern state-of-the-art facilities designed for Research and Development, Manufacturing, Customer Support, Certification and Marketing. Universal Avionics complete line of flight management systems and cockpit instrument displays are used on a large number of aircraft types from helicopters to business turbine aircraft to large commercial airliners. UASC offers systems designed for the cockpit from the pilot's perspective and products that meet or exceed emerging communications and navigation requirements.

Universal Avionics President and CEO Hubert L. Naimer, known for his innovative ideas for modernization of cockpit flight instrumentation, founded Universal Avionics Systems Corporation in 1981. As early as 1976, Mr. Naimer had a vision of a Master Navigation System that would compute the input of a variety of sensors on an aircraft and provide guidance throughout all phases of flight. With his personal conception and vision, Mr. Naimer introduced the first Flight Management System (FMS) in 1982 to the corporate aircraft market.

You can learn more about Universal Avionics Systems Corporation, its history, facilities and people, by visiting www.uasc.com.

About Thales

Thales is an international electronics and systems group serving the defense, aerospace and security markets. The group employs 61,500 people worldwide and generated revenues of EUR 10.6 billion in 2003.

Thales' navigation business is one of the world's leaders in positioning, navigation and guidance equipment with global operations. Thales markets its Magellan(R) brand GPS solutions in the consumer electronics, recreation, and automotive markets, and its GPS and GNSS professional products in the survey, GIS/Mapping, and OEM markets. Through its joint venture with Hertz, Thales has developed the Hertz NeverLost(R) vehicle navigation system. Thales key innovations include the first U.S. commercial hand-held GPS receiver for positioning and navigation, and the first handheld GPS with industry standard Secure Digital Memory Card capabilities.

Thales' navigation business is headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif. with European headquarters in Carquefou, France. For more information, visit www.thalesnavigation.com.

(C) 2004 Thales SA. All rights reserved. Magellan is a trademark of Thales. Hertz NeverLost is a registered trademark of Hertz System, Inc.