FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT:

Al McGowan
National Sales Manager
TEAC – Airborne Video Products Division
7733 Telegraph Road
Montebello, CA 90640
Tel: 323•727•4866
Fax: 323•727•4877
E-mail:
amcgowan@teac.com
www.teac-aerospace.com

 

 
TEAC Aerospace to Supply Airborne Mission Data Recorders for the French Air Force

Montebello, CA - April 15, 2005 - TEAC Aerospace Technologies, Inc. (TAT), the leading provider of rugged airborne video and mission data recorders, announces receipt of a contract award from Eurocopter, an EADS Company, Marignane Cedex, France for MDR-80 Mission Data Recorders for the French Air Force AS555AW Fennec helicopter upgrade program. The Écureuils and Fennecs helicopters are assigned to the Commandement de la Force Aérienne de Projection (CFAP) command perform the Mesures Actives de Sûreté Aérienne (Active Air Defence Measures) role for the protection of strategically important sites, major events and key military and civilian VIPs. Delivery will commence immediately in the 2nd quarter of 2005.

For the Fennec MASA Helicopter application, the solid state digital MDR-80 will be configured to record two critical video sources and radio audio on solid state Removable Memory Modules. The recorded video and audio will be used for post-mission debrief and analysis by the French Air Force pilots and mission analysts.

TEAC also supplies Eurocopter with solid state digital Mission Data Recorders for the French Army HAP Tigers, and the Australian Army ARH Tiger helicopters. The TEAC MDR-87 mission data recorder on the ARH program records four (4) video sources and two (2) 1553 data bus data sources. TEAC also is working with Australian Aerospace on supplying the TEAC's MDDS PC-based Mission Data Debriefing Software to enable pilot mission debrief.

TEAC currently offers the MDR-80 in 30 configurations for programs implemented worldwide. The configuration selected under this contract includes two video channels, each with over two-hours of high-resolution digital recording capacity.

"We are pleased to have been chosen to support Eurocopter, and this particular French Air Force program," notes David Husted, President of TEAC Aerospace Technologies. "Both Eurocopter, and the French Air Force are long time customers of TEAC, and our recorders fly on a number of French Air Force platforms." "The growing acceptance of the MDR-80 Series worldwide is rewarding, and a great tribute to our long-term customers who assisted us in defining the next generation requirements."

About the MDR-80
The MDR-80 digitally records both combat and training missions providing vital tactical and flight information for battle commanders and training officers. It offers a flexible, cost-effective and proven technology for the transition from videotape systems to digital mission recording. The MDR-80 is only part of TEAC's line of Airborne Video Tape Recorders (AVTRs) that fly on over 20,000 fighter aircraft and helicopters in 50 countries around the world and on the Space Shuttle. TEAC's newest line of Mission Data Recorders is already operational worldwide, with deployments in Australia, Bulgaria, Chile, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, South Africa, Sweden, United Kingdom, Japan, S. Korea, India, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United States.

The data and video recording capability of the MDR-80 is user-configurable via plug-in user application cards (UACs) that define the operational configuration of the recorder, including the following UACs: single and multi-channel MPEG-2 video recording, multi-channel 1553 recording, multi-channel PCM recording, and Autonomous ACMI. Optional control protocols for RS-422, Ethernet and 1553 control systems allow the user to control the recorder and dynamically modify video and data recording characteristics as well as implement special software applications within the MDR operating system. Memory capacity is also flexible as the MDR-80 records all data on removable memory modules making the memory size scalable to meet user needs. The modules interface directly to the ground debriefing system via an industry standard interface, so the video and data are instantly available and fully synchronized. The user can easily highlight mission event marks for rapid hot debriefing and data push.

TEAC'S Mission Data Debrief Software, MDDS, provides instantaneous review and replay of the recorded video. The user may choose a single aircraft debriefing with multiple video channels reviewed or add in the video from multiple aircraft for a synchronized review from up to four aircraft. User event log files combined with thumbnail images make for a user-friendly rapid debriefing. Features like frame-by-frame advance, zoom, and brightness make the MDDS unique in the world of digital video review. The ability to mark and export images or segments onto CD/DVD or e-mail, gives the user a new level of data sharing capability that is consistent with today's digital training and battlefield.

About Eurocopter Group
The Eurocopter Group was formed in 1992, a merger between the helicopter divisions of Aerospatiale-matra (France) and DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (Germany). The Group is now a subsidiary owned 100% by EADS (European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company), one of the three largest aerospace groups in the world. Eurocopter has become Europe's leading fully integrated aeronautical group presently with three entities: the parent company, Eurocopter; the German subsidiary, Eurocopter Deutschland; and Eurocopter España.

About TEAC Aerospace Technologies
TEAC Aerospace Technologies designs and markets both commercial and military airborne equipment and systems. TEAC is the leader in airborne video and data recorders for military and aerospace applications and the frontrunner in the development of airborne solid-state digital video and data recording products. TEAC guarantees full configuration control, spare parts availability, technical and logistics support worldwide for its product lines. In the commercial airline market, TEAC Aerospace Technologies is the world's largest supplier of audio and video reproducers for aircraft. TEAC In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) Systems fly on over 80% of the largest carriers and are setting new standards for quality, convenience and reliability. Configuration design and installation of TEAC Aerospace IFE systems is available through major aircraft interior systems integrators worldwide and the prime aircraft manufacturers.

For more information on TEAC Aerospace Technologies' Mission Data Recorders (MDRs), contact Mr. Al McGowan, Director of Business Development/Defense Systems, TEAC Aerospace Technologies. Tel: 01 323 727 4754. Fax: 01 323 727 4877. E-mail: amcgowan@teac.com or visit www.teac-aerospace.com




source: TEAC