Re: Airbus STC February 16, 2024 – FLYHT today announced that Transport Canada has issued FLYHT a Supplemental Type Certificate (“STC”) for the flange version of the AFIRS EdgeTM, the Company’s 5G wireless data communication device, for Airbus A320 aircraft. The achievement of this STC enables FLYHT to ship the Edge units to Canadian A320 customers while at the same time familiarizing the Canadian STC into other jurisdictions (FAA, EASA, CAAC, etc.) to enable worldwide distribution.
“Today marks a milestone achievement for FLYHT as we announce Transport Canada’s issuance of an STC for the Edge,” said Kent Jacobs, President and Interim CEO of FLYHT. “This represents the culmination of our collective vision, hard work, and perseverance over a number of years. I am proud of our entire team and grateful to our airline partner and Transport Canada for their tireless effort to complete a comprehensive and robust certification process.”
Jacobs added, “This achievement not only establishes FLYHT as having the aviation industry’s first wireless data and communications device with 5G capability, but it also puts us in a leadership position to provide this advanced technology to airlines operating Airbus A320 aircraft. The value proposition of the Edge is clear. With legacy 2G/3G connectivity sunsetting soon, airlines with the Edge will be able to ensure network availability long into the future and also be able to leverage the powerful onboard analytics capability of the Edge computing to enable predictive and proactive operations in real-time.”
The AFIRS Edge is an aircraft interface device (AID), connecting aircraft data with electronic flight bag (EFB) applications and providing airlines with Wireless Quick Access (WQAR) capabilities, all while serving as a gateway on the aircraft for critical real-time information and onboard data storage. The Edge also serves as a data port for FLYHT’s actionable intelligence services, such as fuel management, aircraft health monitoring, real-time engine data reporting and airport gate performance monitoring. Further, when coupled with a real-time IP satellite connection, the Edge enables weather data customers to work with airlines to implement FLYHT’s weather solutions for enabling enhanced weather forecasting capabilities, providing more accurate and timely warnings of extreme weather, and in the detection and avoidance of contrail generation.
STC familiarization process (with the FAA) should take 4 to 8 weeks. The process allows manufacturers to get STCs sooner in other jurisdictions. A kind of mutual acceptance of the approval work, a bit like a rubber stamp.
"There are two models within the AFIRS Edge product line: the AFIRS Edge, a flange mounted device, and the Edge+, a 4MCU (ARINC 600 connector) unit, giving flexibility depending upon the aircraft type and customer requirements." The 4MCU Edge+ will be the format for the Teledyne WQAR upgrade replacement.
July 12th, 2023 FLYHT webinar:
At 41 min. $30,000-$35,000 for the hardware and installation kit for an Edge. 100-125 hrs of installation time if done from scratch. (A swap-out replacement of the Teledyne 2G/3G/LTE WQAR could incorporate the same ARINC wiring and tray, so it would cost less in both materials and labour. It could be performed in as little as half an hour. A FLYHT replacement could take place as either retrofit or as OEM.)
At about this same time, on the slide... SaaS revenue of $6,000 - $8,400 per year per aircraft.
At 48 min. The three recent sales team hires from Teledyne (Willie Cecil, Murray Skelton, Scott Chambers), “the gentlemen that managed, built and sold (the Teledyne WQAR) decided to come and work at FLYHT”. “Willie actually designed and built (the Teledyne WQAR) twenty years ago. Murray and Scott sold it, for Teledyne.”
Feb. 13, 2024 CEO letter:
"Meanwhile, we are on schedule with development of the plug-in compatible version of the Edge called the Edge+, designed to be installed overnight in customer aircraft in the same avionics bay slot as existing legacy products and utilizing existing aircraft wiring. We expect to be conducting STC certification testing on an A320 aircraft and receiving our first approval in Q3 of 2024.
The Edge+ is creating exciting discussions within tier one airlines as the ease of installation in their legacy fleets allows them to effortlessly upgrade their capability. Both Edge versions are very much of interest to airlines as they look to move to a 5G compatible product over the older 2G, 3G, and LTE products which are sunsetting."
A WVSS-II hardware package would include the sensor, the Edge and the Iridium Certus SatCom package (if not already installed).
Flange version.
Edge+ 4MCU version.
