ATFS-400 II Authentic Tactical Flight Simulator Completes Factory Acceptance Testing

Environmental Tectonics Corporation announced on Friday that is has released the production of the next generation ATFS-400 Authentic Tactical Flight Simulator, the ATFS-400 II.

Production of the ATFS-400 II follows successful completion of comprehensive Factory Acceptance Testing over a two year period involving customer experts. The first G-FET II / ATFS-400 is now being installed at the customer's site and will begin training pilots this year.

Due to significant interest both in the USA and internationally, ETC is initiating production of the ATFS-400 II. This initiative positions ETC as the world's premier High Performance Human Centrifuge and full fidelity tactical flight simulator manufacturer. Strategic benefits include having a flight platform to:

• Continually advance the ATFS technology
• Offer potential customers shorter delivery times
• Allow potential customers to see the latest technology before they make a purchase decision
• Offer the customer a fully factory tested High Performance Human Centrifuge at time of contract award

This initiative also supports ETC's ongoing marketing efforts to promote Authentic Tactical Flight Simulation to the US DoD and militaries worldwide.

The ATFS-400 II builds on previous ATFS technology to provide fighter pilots with an even higher fidelity and more realistic ground-based training experience. Benefits from the ATFS-400 are substantial. When training in the ATFS-400, tactical pilots and aircrew can acquire hands-on tactics engagement experience at 1/28th of the cost, twice as efficiently per tactical training hour, and with seven times greater access to training than they can in airborne training.

Moving training into the ATFS-400 also preserves service life in the high-value operational aircraft and aircraft engines and reduces training fuel consumption. These advantages make the ATFS-400 II the solution for future fighter pilot training.

The ATFS technology was put to the ultimate test during ETC's Orange Flag event in January 2004. During this event more than 70 highly experienced fighter pilots from ten different countries flew the G-FET II / ATFS-400. The response was overwhelming positive. As one experienced pilot said, "The technology works. Now it is time to put it to work."

William F. Mitchell, ETC's President and CEO, stated "The ATFS-400 technology is key to maintaining combat readiness and resources in the future. ETC continues our aggressive campaign to present the ATFS-400 technology at the highest levels both domestically and internationally. We are generating growing support for the notion that the expanded use of high fidelity simulation is an important element to transform the way we sustain defense readiness. The ATFS-400 is a developed technology that is ready to be put to use today to improve readiness, reduce costs, and save lives."

ETC designs, develops, installs and maintains aircrew training systems, public entertainment systems, process simulation systems (sterilization and environmental), clinical hyperbaric systems, environmental testing and simulation systems, and related products for domestic and international customers.

FMI: www.etctacticalflight.com