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  Astrium Services to study innovative satellite solutions to improve the monitoring and positional tracking of aircraft while in oceanic or remote airspace

  
  

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  Astrium Services to study advanced streaming services for flight data and cockpit voice (“Black Box”) recorders

  
  

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  Astrium Services to supply a comprehensive assessment of existing and future satellite infrastructure able to support such innovations

  
  

Paris, 2 November 2010 – Astrium, Europe’s leading space company, has been awarded a study to assess the provision of satellite services for accurately tracking aircraft over remote locations, particularly over the oceans.

Astrium Services will undertake the Satellite Oceanic Position Tracking Improvement and Monitoring Initiative (SAT-OPTIMI) to propose innovative satellite solutions for improving aircraft safety and optimising coordination between both air transit services and search and rescue services in remote or oceanic areas.

Eric Béranger, CEO, Astrium Services said:

“Astrium is a recognised expert in providing dependable satellite services worldwide with high availability. Through this study, Astrium is playing an important role in enabling Europe to develop a reliable and effective system using innovative solutions, such as advanced aeronautical services to improve the safety of flights.”

“By taking advantage of the fully-integrated resources and skills across the business and building upon the range of cutting-edge technologies already at our disposal, Astrium Services is determined to play a key role in developing solutions that in future will dramatically enhance the safety of air traffic across our skies”.

The five-month study has been awarded by the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Joint Undertaking, one of the most ambitious research and development projects ever launched in Europe, which is tasked with developing a modernised ATM system..

Astrium Services’ SAT-OPTIMI study will provide a comprehensive assessment of the satellite infrastructure that can enhance the positional tracking and monitoring of aircraft. The study will also consider cutting-edge solutions, such as satellite communications technologies able to provide continuous access to flight data and cockpit voice (“Black Box”) recorders.

Astrium Services will contribute to solutions that are both technically feasible and economically viable to access in-flight positioning and monitoring data. These solutions are intended to help speed up rescue reaction times and accident analysis and diagnosis over the oceans in the near term.

As part of the study, Astrium Services will work closely with France’s General Directorate for Civil Aviation (DGAC) and STAR Navigation Systems of Canada.

About Astrium

Astrium, a wholly owned subsidiary of EADS, is dedicated to providing civil and defence space systems and services. In 2009, Astrium had a turnover of €4.8 billion and more than 15,000 employees in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. Its three main areas of activity are Astrium Space Transportation for launchers and orbital infrastructure, Astrium Satellites for spacecraft and ground segment, and Astrium Services for comprehensive end-to-end value-added solutions covering secure and commercial satcoms and networks, high security satellite communications equipment, bespoke geo-information and navigation services worldwide.

EADS is a global leader in aerospace, defence and related services. In 2009, the Group – comprising Airbus, Astrium, Cassidian and Eurocopter – generated revenues of € 42.8 billion and employed a workforce of more than 119,000.

Press contacts:

Daniel Mosely (Astrium UK) Tel.: +44 (0)1 438 77 8180

Matthieu Duvelleroy (Astrium FR) Tel.: +33 (0) 1 77 75 80 32

Ralph Heinrich (Astrium GER) Tel.: +49 (0) 89 607 33971

Francisco Lechón (Astrium SP) Tel.: +34 91 586 37 41

www.astrium.eads.net