FLYHT Forges Weather Alliance with Synoptic

CALGARY, Alberta , Oct. 24, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSX-V: FLY) (OTCQX: FLYLF) (the “Company” or “FLYHT”) today announced that it has signed a semi-exclusive, Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR^™) weather observation sales and distribution agreement with Synoptic Data PBC (“Synoptic”).

The non-guaranteed contract is valued at a minimum of USD$15 million, assuming the Company delivers an annually increasing number of weather-related soundings¹ over the full term of the five (5) year contract. Under the agreement, FLYHT will focus on achieving the required minimum sounding targets. If these are met, Synoptic is then obligated to produce the quoted minimum revenue to preserve contracted exclusivity.

FLYHT acquired the assets of Panasonic Weather Solutions (“PWS“) from Panasonic Avionics Corporation (“PAC“) in October, this year (previously announced on October 10, 2018). The assets, based in Littleton CO, include TAMDAR, a unique proprietary sensor package that is now transforming weather forecasting, and a commercial aircraft installation base of more than 200 sensors which collect real-time weather data from a dozen airlines in North America, Europe and Southeast Asia. The assets also include an existing contract with Synoptic, a data hub and contracting service that now licenses TAMDAR data for sub-license to NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). The NOAA contract is consolidated into this new agreement.

As FLYHT integrates the PWS assets, FLYHT anticipates growing the number of TAMDAR aircraft significantly through new customer installations, new agreements with existing customers and through PWS backorders. FLYHT must effectively double the average daily number of soundings over this five-year period to realize the full revenue potential of this contract.

This expansion of TAMDAR installations will increase the value of the data and the quality of the resultant forecasts that use this data. Neither FLYHT nor Synoptic will produce weather models from this TAMDAR data; rather, FLYHT will work through Synoptic to make TAMDAR data more widely available to targeted weather forecasting efforts catering to various vertical markets.

“FLYHT will focus on increasing the number of TAMDAR installations and world-wide weather data sets and let weather industry insiders like Synoptic market these data sets in the broadest possible way,” said Thomas R. Schmutz, Chief Executive Officer of FLYHT.

Buck Lyons, Chairman of Synoptic, added, “We are pleased to be part of a great team, with everyone focusing on their strengths. FLYHT is committed to growing the number of aircraft with TAMDAR sensors and adding value in many ways for their airline customers. Synoptic will help grow and market the data set in a manner that maximizes the benefit to users throughout the Global Weather Enterprise. NOAA and other TAMDAR users will continue to focus on improving Numerical Weather Prediction, with help from this growing and ever more powerful data set.”

¹ A TAMDAR sounding is a vertical profile collected during an aircraft take-off or landing and is analogous to a weather balloon sounding which is collected during a balloon’s ascent. In addition, TAMDAR soundings include turbulence and icing measurements.

About Synoptic Data PBC

Synoptic is a data aggregation and distribution service, providing a suite of products and services delivering geophysical time series data to users in a variety of sectors and applications. Originating with work begun by the University of Utah more than 20 years ago, Synoptic has operated as an independent entity since 2012. In addition to performing a technical aggregation and quality control service, the company adds value through contracting and by providing global exposure for various data sets, including TAMDAR. Synoptic provides access to millions of observations via its API as well as its download and push services. Synoptic also serves as the Prime Subcontractor for NOAA’s National Mesonet Program. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Synoptic is structurally committed to improving the environment by providing high quality data to multiple stakeholders, including shareholders, data providers, data users, and global citizens. For more information visit synopticdata.com.

About FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd.

2018 marks FLYHT’s 20^th anniversary as a leader in real-time aircraft data streaming. FLYHT’s mission is to improve aviation safety, efficiency and profitability (located in Calgary, Canada; publicly traded as: FLY:TSX.V; FLYLF:OTCQX). Airlines, leasing companies, fractional owners and original equipment manufacturers have installed the Automated Flight Information Reporting System (AFIRS^™) on their aircraft. The solution is used to capture, process and stream aircraft data providing real-time alerts. AFIRS sends this information through satellite networks to FLYHT’s UpTime^™ Cloud data center, which gives aircraft operators direct insight into the operational status and health of their aircraft, which in turn enables them to take corrective action to maintain the highest standard of operational control. The company recently acquired the assets of Panasonic Weather Services, including FlightLink^™ Iridium Satellite Data Unit and Tropospheric Airborne Meteorological Data Reporting (TAMDAR^™) sensor. For more information visit flyht.com.

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