OTTAWA, Jan. 9, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG), reported today that Transport Canada has selected the EMS SATCOM eNfusion Broadband(tm) high-speed data system to enhance marine pollution surveillance and detection on Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program (NASP) Dash 8 aircraft. Flight Acceptance Tests were completed in early November 2006.
EMS SATCOM's eNfusion system was installed and integrated with the Swedish Space Corporation's (SSC) Maritime Surveillance System (MSS 6000) to allow for real-time transmission and replay of data. The advantage is that evidence captured during the pollution patrol can be directly transmitted from the aircraft to command centers or marine safety inspectors in real-time, allowing authorities to respond and direct enforcement action more quickly, thereby protecting Canada's maritime environment. Moreover, the satellite-based equipment allows the aircraft to perform its surveillance duties more effectively where terrestrial systems are not available.
Ship-source marine pollution is an increasingly critical issue for Canada's marine environment. In this new initiative, Transport Canada installed specialized equipment from the Swedish Space Corporation and EMS SATCOM on one of its Dash-8 surveillance aircraft. The system allows the aircraft to more effectively monitor Canada's marine environment, day or night, while covering a wider geographical area than previously, in all weather conditions. Another Dash 8 will be outfitted in 2007.
Says Transport Canada's National Aerial Surveillance Program Manager Louis Armstrong: "The surveillance system will enable Transport Canada to detect very fine details on the sea's surface and provides excellent imagery for oil spill detection as well as information about currents and other environmental phenomena. This all-weather radar, that can be used day or night, will expand our surveillance capabilities, while also mitigating the limitations of poor weather. We are confident that the addition of the eNfusion satellite communications system to the suite of sensors will further enhance our ability to transmit evidence to appropriate enforcement personnel in real time, which will aid in successful prosecutions."
"This is an extremely important use of EMS SATCOM's system," says Vice President of Government and Military Sales Stephen Newell. "Transport Canada and indeed the environment will now be able to benefit from the transmission of evidence that is a result of the integration of Swedish Space Company's MSS 6000 surveillance equipment and our eNfusion Broadband satellite equipment."
More about the Technology
The state-of-the-art marine surveillance suite is a combination of EMS SATCOM's eNfusion Broadband system and SSC's equipment. EMS SATCOM provides its AMT-3800 High-gain Antenna, HSD-400 High-speed Data Terminal, and CNX-200 Network Accelerator. SSC provides its Side Looking Airborne Radar (SLAR), Infrared/Ultraviolet (IR/UV) line scanner, Airborne Automated Identification System (AIS) (for receiving ship identity information) and an electro-optical infrared camera system, along with a high-resolution digital photography and video camera system to document evidence. Combined, this equipment delivers GPS annotated data that is digitally stored in an onboard geographical database. The digital images are integrated with electronic nautical charts, and displayed on a console specifically designed for these types of maritime surveillance missions.
About EMS SATCOM
EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, specializes in the design and development of satellite-based terminals and antennas for the aeronautical, ground-mobile, maritime and emergency management markets. As the 2005 Frost & Sullivan Command and Control Enabling Technology of the Year award winner, EMS SATCOM is a leader in developing and supplying high-speed data communications equipment for enabling vital communications resources such as voice, e-mail and Internet capabilities to a broad variety of aircraft. Based in Ottawa, Canada, EMS SATCOM and has development and sales offices in the U.K., United States, Mexico and Europe.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a wireless and satellite solutions leader serving the aeronautical, defense, maritime, commercial space and supply chain markets. Through its LXE, EMS SATCOM, and Defense & Space Systems divisions, EMS keeps people and their data connected, wherever they are -- on the ground, in the warehouse, in the sky or in space. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, has approximately 1,000 employees worldwide and operates major manufacturing facilities in Atlanta and Ottawa, Canada. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ems-t.com.