Astronics Corporation's Aircraft Interface Device (AID) Chosen for Cathay Pacific's e-Enabled Aircraft Program

EAST AURORA, N.Y., Aug. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Astronics Corporation (Nasdaq: ATRO), a leading provider of advanced technologies for the global aerospace and defense industries, announced today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Ballard Technology, Inc. (Astronics Ballard Technology) is a key technology partner with Cathay Pacific Airways and will supply the Aircraft Interface Device (AID) for their innovative new eEnabled Aircraft Program.

Aircraft Interface Devices are an essential part of many avionics upgrades, such as electronic flight bag (EFB) and in-flight entertainment and connectivity (IFEC) systems, where they serve avionics data while protecting aircraft control domains from interference and corruption. The Cathay Pacific eEnabled Aircraft solution is an advanced system for connectivity and integration with ground systems.  It provides a comprehensive, integrated electronic information exchange, which will replace existing manual processes to record, manage and distribute information for flight operations, line maintenance engineering and cabin defect management.

Extensive capabilities and a record of successful deployments were key factors in the decision by Cathay Pacific to select the Astronics AID for their eEnabled Aircraft Program. The Astronics AID is small, lightweight and rugged.  It features an embedded microprocessor, high I/O density, and an internal PMC slot for functionality and I/O expansion.

"We enhanced our Aircraft Interface Device to include our Ethernet Switch Module, which allowed the unit to satisfy two of Cathay Pacific's key system requirements in a single package.  We believe this adds significant value to the eEnabled Aircraft Program by simplifying deployment and reducing system size, weight, and power consumption," noted Peter J. Gundermann, President and CEO of Astronics Corporation.

Astronics Ballard Technology partnered with Cathay Pacific in a successful two-year development to bring the eEnabled Aircraft system to fruition.  Cathay Pacific is now carrying out an Operational Evaluation with three Boeing 777 aircraft and when completed, plans to roll out the eEnabled system across its fleet of Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 passenger aircraft as well as Boeing 747 freighter aircraft. Cathay Pacific will also implement the eEnabled technology in the A330s and A320/1's in the passenger fleet of Group airline Dragonair.

ABOUT ASTRONICS CORPORATION

Astronics Corporation is a leader in advanced, high-performance lighting, electrical power and automated test systems for the global aerospace and defense industries. Astronics' strategy is to develop and maintain positions of technical leadership in its chosen aerospace and defense markets, to leverage those positions to grow the amount of content and volume of product it sells to those markets and to selectively acquire businesses with similar technical capabilities that could benefit from our leadership position and strategic direction. Astronics Corporation, and its wholly-owned subsidiaries, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp., Astronics AeroSat Corporation, Astronics Test Systems, Inc., Ballard Technology, Inc., DME Corporation, Luminescent Systems Inc., Luminescent Systems Canada, Inc., Max-Viz, Inc., Peco, Inc. and PGA Electronic s.a. have a reputation for high-quality designs, exceptional responsiveness, strong brand recognition and best-in-class manufacturing practices. The Company routinely posts news and other important information on its Web site at www.astronics.com.

For more information on Astronics and its products, visit its Web site at www.astronics.com.

ABOUT CATHAY PACIFIC

Cathay Pacific Airways and Dragonair fly daily from Hong Kong to nearly 200 destinations around the world, including 31 in the US.  More information, including current fares and availability, may be found by visiting the airline's website at cathaypacific.com/us, Facebook page at www.facebook.com/cathaypacificus, or Twitter handle @CathayPacificUS.  For North American reservations, dial toll-free: 1-888-678-9978.

Cathay Pacific Airways was awarded the "World's Best Airline" honors for the fourth time in the 2014 annual Skytrax World Airline Awards™ programme, with more than 18 million airline passengers from around the world voting for their favourite travel experiences.

Safe Harbor Statement

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. One can identify these forward-looking statements by the use of the words "expect," "anticipate," "plan," "may," "will," "estimate" or other similar expressions. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the statements.  Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include the state of the aerospace and defense industries, the market acceptance of newly developed products, internal production capabilities, the timing of orders received, the status of customer certification processes, the demand for and market acceptance of new or existing aircraft which contain the Company's products, customer preferences, and other factors which are described in filings by Astronics with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this news release whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects, or otherwise.

CONTACT: Company:
         David C. Burney, Chief Financial Officer
         Phone: (716) 805-1599, ext. 159
         Email: [email protected]

         Product:
         Bill Schuh, VP Sales, Astronics Ballard Technology
         Phone: (425) 339-0281
         Email: [email protected]

         Investor Relations:
         Deborah K. Pawlowski, Kei Advisors LLC
         Phone: (716) 843-3908
         Email: [email protected]

Source: Astronics Corporation

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