About Elbit Systems



September 30, 2014

Significant milestone for Elbit Systems in the Commercial Helicopter field:

Elbit Systems Performs Successful Demonstration Flights Using SkyVis™ Onboard Swiss Air-Rescue Rega

AW-109SP Helicopter

Improving flight safety and situational awareness SkyVis enables flight in limited visibility conditions, increasing the total number of rescue missions and potentially saving more lives

Among the unique capabilities tested, some of them using only the SkyVis while the pilot’s window was covered, were landing on helipads (such as a hospital rooftop) and more

Elbit Systems recently completed a series of successful helicopter flight tests in Zurich, using the SkyVis Day/Night Head Mounted Display (HMD) onboard an AW-109SP helicopter of the Swiss air rescue company Rega.

Adverse weather can prevent an air rescue team from executing their life saving missions – searching for and rescuing survivors. By improving flight safety and situational awareness, SkyVis enables flight in limited visibility conditions, increasing the total number of rescue missions that can be safely executed and potentially saving more lives. Elbit Systems teamed with Rega to demonstrate this capability and to support this highly important task.

The flight tests demonstrated the “out of the window” display concept, presenting flight and navigation data overlaying the real world by using two and three dimensional symbols, enhanced degraded visual landing applications and head tracking capabilities.

Among the unique capabilities tested during the flights were landing on helipads, such as a hospital rooftop. During some of the landing tests the pilots used only the guidance of the system while the cockpit window was covered (in this maneuver, a safety pilot served as the captain of the aircraft for safety purposes).

The flight tests were performed in both day time and night to test the system in different flight conditions.

The flights were successful, and the Rega pilots emphasized the contribution of the system to flight safety and the enhanced situational awareness gained in different flight phases due to the use of the system.

The companies will work together to integrate the capability in Rega’s future platforms.

To view the SkyVis test flights onboard the AW-109SP helicopter of the Swiss air rescue company Rega, click here

Background Information on SkyVis:

SkyVis provides helicopter pilots with a conformal “head out” view, displaying flight, vehicle and navigation symbology for day and night operation, in limited weather conditions. An add-on to the pilot’s own helmet, SkyVis is easily integrated with minimal footprint in the cockpit. The pilot is able to fly “eyes out” due to the wide field of regard display, relying on the data displayed in front of his/her eyes. The system assists during maneuvers close to the ground and in limited visibility conditions such as transition from Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) to Visual Flight Rules (VFR) without the need to look inside the cockpit, thus improving flight safety and situational awareness.

Increased navigation capabilities are achieved by displaying obstacles, traffic, waypoint and any navigation and aeronautical data as well as flight path markers, in correlation with real-world terrain, assisting in orientation and reducing workload. In addition, the system reduces the pilot’s head and eye motion during cockpit scanning, thereby increasing in-air safety levels.

One of the system’s unique advantages is its head tracking capability which assists in preventing disorientation during low visibility maneuvers in any field of regard. The head tracking system is a dual redundant hybrid technology suitable for the commercial aviation word.

SkyVis has both day and night displays mounted on the TSO-C164 certified NVG, offering a single, seamless solution for round-the-clock operations.

The system is expected to gain airworthiness certification by end of 2016.

About Rega

Emergency medical assistance by air: Rega comes to the aid of people in distress, providing swift, professional medical assistance by air. In order to do this, it employs state-of-the-art operating resources, such as helicopters and air-ambulances. Rega’s workforce comprises qualified, experienced staff.

In the service of its patients: Rega acts according to medical necessity and in the service of its patients. It is a privately run, non-profit foundation, which operates independently of the State or of financial interests. Rega's task is to rescue, not to pass judgement on right or wrong, guilt or innocence.

Funded by its patrons: Rega is supported and funded by its patrons. In grateful acknowledgement of this support, Rega can waive the costs of rescue missions carried out on patrons’ behalf, providing that these costs are not covered by a health or accident insurance

For additional information, visit rega.ch

About Elbit Systems

Elbit Systems Ltd. is an international defense electronics company engaged in a wide range of programs throughout the world. The Company, which includes Elbit Systems and its subsidiaries, operates in the areas of aerospace, land and naval systems, command, control, communications, computers, intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance ("C4ISR"), unmanned aircraft systems ("UAS"), advanced electro-optics, electro-optic space systems, EW suites, signal intelligence ("SIGINT") systems, data links and communications systems and radios. The Company also focuses on the upgrading of existing military platforms, developing new technologies for defense, homeland security and commercial aviation applications and providing a range of support services, including training and simulation systems.

For additional information, visit: or follow us on Twitter.

This press release contains forward-looking statements (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) regarding Elbit Systems Ltd. and/or its subsidiaries (collectively the Company), to the extent such statements do not relate to historical or current fact. Forward-looking statements are based on management’s expectations, estimates, projections and assumptions. Forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve certain risks and uncertainties, which are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual future results, performance and trends may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors, including, without limitation: scope and length of customer contracts; governmental regulations and approvals; changes in governmental budgeting priorities; general market, political and economic conditions in the countries in which the Company operates or sells, including Israel and the United States among others; differences in anticipated and actual program performance, including the ability to perform under long-term fixed-price contracts; and the outcome of legal and/or regulatory proceedings. The factors listed above are not all-inclusive, and further information is contained in Elbit Systems Ltd.’s latest annual report on Form 20-F, which is on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this release. The Company does not undertake to update its forward-looking statements.

Elbit Systems Ltd, its logo, brand, product, service and process names appearing in this Press Release are the trademarks or service marks of Elbit Systems Ltd. or its affiliated companies. All other brand, product, service and process names appearing are the trademarks of their respective holders. Reference to or use of a product, service or process other than those of Elbit Systems Ltd. does not imply recommendation, approval, affiliation or sponsorship of that product, service or process by Elbit Systems Ltd. Nothing contained herein shall be construed as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any license or right under any patent, copyright, trademark or other intellectual property right of Elbit Systems Ltd. or any third party, except as expressly granted herein.

Contact:

Dalia Rosen, VP, Head of Corporate Communications

Tel: 972-4-831-6784

Cell:972-549996784

E-mail: dalia.rosen@

Dana Tal, Corporate Communications

Tel: 972-4-831-8809

Cell: 972-54-9998809

E-Mail: dana.tal@

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download