EMS Technologies, Inc. (NASDAQ: ELMG) has launched their Aura™ Ku-band family of antenna systems for in-flight entertainment and connectivity. Airline passengers will be able to watch satellite direct TV programming, surf the Internet, check email from PDA devices, as well as do VoIP calling from their mobile phones while in flight, where permitted. This’s Ku-band product offers a broad range of satellite-based airborne connectivity systems, from Ku- to L-band to Iridium-based systems. The Aura family of antenna systems offers flexibility in size, weight, profile, and performance specifications to meet the needs of different business models for private and commercial aircraft. EMS’s two-way Ku-broadband products include:

• The Aura 1P-A antenna system, which comes with a single antenna panel to offer full broadband connectivity in a lightweight, low-profile package to address the needs of regional carriers
• The Aura 1P-B antenna system, which is also a single-panel system, but with a different panel configuration to offer greater performance for regional and worldwide carriers
• The Aura 3P antenna system, which is a larger three-panel antenna system that offers optimized transmission and reception bit rates for regional and worldwide carriers. It is fully-developed, demonstrated and available now

In addition to these systems for transmit/receive connectivity, EMS also offers the Aura DBS 2.5 and DBS 3.0 systems for TV receive-only use with satellite direct TV broadcast systems. EMS has more than six million hours of flight time and more than 250 units in active flight. The systems enable passengers to access 150 video channels from their seatbacks.

For the two-way Ku-broadband systems, EMS has teamed with Starling Advanced Communications Ltd. on key development and production of the core antenna technology. EMS developed the Aura antenna system product line using Starling’s CoMPA™ (Coherent Multi-Panel) flat panel technology, which provides reliable connectivity and worldwide coverage at unsurpassed speeds and quality. For EMS’s DBS products, the Company uses its patented slot-array technology. The systems also EMS’s leading composite positioner technology for less weight in the pointing-control function, allowing EMS to focus on increased RF performance. Both product sets also use EMS’s US-based ISO, AS9100B and FAA-certified manufacturing and repair facility.

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