Astronics and Panasonic Avionics partner on high-speed connectivity, global television services for business aviation

NBAA – LAS VEGAS, 19 Nov. 2015. Astronics AeroSat Corp., a wholly owned subsidiary of Astronics Corp. (NASDAQ:ATRO) in Amherst, N.H., and Panasonic Avionics Corp., provider in inflight entertainment and communications systems in Bothell, Wash., have partnered to bring superior, high-speed connectivity services and global live television programming to the business aviation and executive jet (or very, very important person, VVIP, aviation) market.

Astronics' tail-mounted satellite communications (SATCOM) solutions combine with Panasonic's Global Communications Services to provide high-speed, dedicated broadband data internet services – four channels of global television services and regional DBS-TV programming – all from a single antenna.

"For years, we have delivered superior high-speed communications services for commercial aircraft, and through this partnership, we are now able to offer true global broadband to the growing and demanding business and VVIP aviation market,” says David Bruner, vice president of Panasonic's Global Communications Services. “Together with Astronics, we can provide dedicated bandwidth, higher speeds, unmatched television content, and far superior system performance than any other solution offered today."

"Since 1997, AeroSat has designed and delivered among the industry's highest performing and most efficient connectivity solutions for business and VVIP aircraft,” explains Dennis Ferguson, president, Astronics AeroSat. “Working with Panasonic, we can now deliver a complete end-to-end package with an attractive upgrade path for existing data-only and TV-only aircraft operators that delivers broadband data internet and TV in a single antenna system."

Panasonic Avionics Corp. is a global supplier of inflight entertainment and communication (IFEC or IF&C) systems. The company's best-in-class solutions, supported by professional maintenance services, integrate with the cabin enabling its customers to deliver the ultimate travel experiences with a rich variety of entertainment choices, resulting in improved quality communication systems and solutions, reduced time-to-market and lower overall costs.

Established in 1979, Panasonic Avionics Corp. is a subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation of North America, the principal North American subsidiary of Panasonic Corp. Headquartered in Lake Forest, California with over 4,100 employees and operations in 80 locations worldwide, it serves over 300 customers worldwide and provides IFEC systems on over 6,000 aircraft.

Astronics Corp. (NASDAQ:ATRO) is a supplier of products to the global aerospace, defense, consumer electronics, and semiconductor industries. Astronics' products include advanced, high-performance electrical power generation and distribution systems, lighting and safety systems, avionics products, aircraft structures, engineering design and systems certification, and automated test systems. Astronics' strategy is to increase its value by developing technologies and capabilities, either internally or through acquisition, and using those capabilities to provide innovative solutions to its targeted markets and other markets where its technology can be beneficial.