Automatic Weather Delivery (AWD) to Provide Rapid In-Flight Weather to Pilots

Echo Flight, Inc., claiming the title of the first company to provide data link weather via satellite to General Aviation, announced at AEA 2003, the immediate release of Automatic Weather Delivery (AWD). AWD network upgrade represents the most substantial upgrade to the network since its inauguration in 1998. AWD is the latest capability to be added to Echo Flight's data link weather service and will be available to all Echo Flight customers using the Flight Cheetah Multi-Function displays and Echo Map software packages. This feature has been added to the network without any additional cost to current customers.

Ease of Automatic Weather Delivery and Power of Two-Way Communication Capability

With Automatic Weather Delivery, pilots have the best of both worlds, the convenience of a hands free broadcast weather stream and the freedom of personal two-way communications. Although the AWD function provides the rapid weather delivery typical of a broadcast each weather image is uniquely sent to the pilot and has its delivery confirmed by the network for maximum service assurance. Personal two way communications allow pilots to send position reports in remote areas as well as send and receive two-way email messages or access distant weather conditions.

Kurt Kalberer, Vice President of Echo Flight, stated, "We are thrilled to offer AWD to our customers further enhancing the capabilities of our network providing the most adaptable network in the market at the most affordable prices".

The Echo Flight network offers a unique position in the market:

1. Hardware Cost. The Echo Flight Network offers the lowest cost hardware solutions whether portable or certified in the market.
2. Service Cost The Echo Flight Network offers the lowest cost monthly service plans starting at just $9.95 a month.
3. Coverage. The network uses ORBCOMM's 35 satellite constellation. On average there are 2 1/2 satellites at any point over the US. Echo Flight's recent introduction of the latest generation satellite communicator provides a 4 times more powerful link with satellites making the communications link more robust than ever.
4. Reliability. Echo Flight is the first company to send weather graphics via satellite data link with nearly 1,000,000 messages sent to date. Unlike broadcast only systems, Echo Flight uniquely offers its customers the ability to track online after the flight every message sent by providing confirmed delivery information. This provides a far higher level of accountability to the customer.
5. Speed. AWD will enable Echo Flight customers to receive the fastest weather possible.

Echo Flight, Inc., located in Boulder, Colorado, introduced Satellite Data link Weather to the General Aviation market in 1998. Since then, the Echo Flight Network has sent nearly 1,000,000 in-flight messages. Echo Flight operates both as a content provider and as a reseller of ORBCOMM services.

FMI: www.echoflight.com