OTTAWA, Ontario, May 24, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- EMS SATCOM, a division of EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) disclosed today that Turkey has selected EMS SATCOM's comprehensive system for its Search-and-Rescue (SAR) Operations. The contract is valued at approximately $1.2 million.
"We are extremely pleased with the deployment of this Search and Rescue system," said Steven Edgett, vice president, EMS SATCOM Emergency Management Products Group. "It has been highly successful and smooth from contract negotiations, to implementation, and through two stages of training. In just over six months, the system was built from the ground up, and we are proud to be working with Turkey to expand the region's SAR response capabilities."
The SAR system purchased by Turkey includes SARMaster(TM) rescue coordination centers (RCC) in four locations, two COSPAS-SARSAT Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite ground earth stations, a geostationary (GEO) satellite ground earth station, and primary and backup mission control centers (MCC). EMS SATCOM's SARMaster(TM) Integrated search-and-rescue incident management system puts pertinent information at the RCC operator's fingertips, enabling more timely and informed decisions to be made when responding to a SAR incident. The system provides easy-to-use incident logs and GIS Data, resources and reports, all coupled with real-time data feeds, creating an ideal tool for SAR operations. The Turkish authorities will also receive life-cycle maintenance and 24 x 7 mission-critical support. With commissioning of the ground earth stations already under way, full operations will commence this summer.
"This is the 21st country to choose EMS SATCOM's search-and-rescue equipment," commented Dr. Neil Mackay, senior vice president and general manager of EMS SATCOM. "We have been pioneering SAR technology since the early days of COSPAS-SARSAT, and continue to expand our market share."
"It was important to us that we acquire the most effective and easy to use Search and Rescue system available today," said Captain Hakar Durmaz, leading the operation in Turkey. "EMS SATCOM's broad experience and proven technology were significant in our decision to work with them. We have a turnkey solution to manage our SAR operations with confidence."
More about How the SAR system Works:
The primary and back-up MCCs, owned by Turkey, work with the COSPAS-SARSAT satellite constellation to consolidate distress-beacon activations worldwide, forwarding the data to other national MCCs for action, anywhere in the world required. GEO satellite ground-earth stations provide early notification of potential distress, which allows SAR authorities to begin investigating the alert and to more effectively coordinate rescues. LEO satellite ground earth stations receive and process distress alerts detected by COSPAS-SARSAT satellites, and determine location, then process and forward data to SAR forces via the MCC.
About EMS Technologies, Inc.
EMS Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq:ELMG) is a leading innovator in the design and manufacture of wireless, satellite and defense solutions, and focuses its unique range of advanced technologies on the needs of broadband and mobile information users. The Company is headquartered in Atlanta, has approximately 1,800 workers worldwide, and operates manufacturing facilities in Atlanta, Ottawa, Montreal and Brazil. The SATCOM Division of EMS Technologies, based in Ottawa, Canada, specializes in the design and development of satellite-based terminals and antennas for the aeronautical, land mobile, maritime and emergency management markets. The division is a pioneer in the development of Search and Rescue (SAR) technology, and leader in developing and supplying high-speed data communications equipment for delivering e-mail and Internet capabilities to aircraft cabins and other mobile platforms.
For more information, visit the Company's website at www.emssatcom.com