Stratech press release
Singapore, 19 February, 2008 – Mainboard-listed Stratech Systems Limited (‘Stratech”) today announced that its iFerretTM runway surveillance system has been awarded its first contract by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (“CAAS”).
CAAS will deploy iFerret™ along Runways 1 and 2 at Singapore’s Changi Airport. This deal, valued at over S$12 million, marks the first commercial application of the award-winning solution, which detects, identifies, tracks and displays foreign objects in real-time.
As part of this contract, Stratech will customise the system to Changi Airport’s requirements, which includes system maintenance and upgrades.
Foreign object damage (FOD) poses a perennial hazard to aircraft operations and passenger safety. Aircraft repairs, flight delays and airport maintenance stemming from FOD cost the global aerospace industry an estimated US$4 billion a year.
Mr. Lim Kim Choon, Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of CAAS, said: “The prevention of FOD incidents has always been a priority at Changi Airport. For example, the frequency of our runway inspections already exceeds guidelines set by the International Civil Aviation Organisation. iFerret™ will enable us to automate these inspections and set even higher standards in operational efficiency and passenger safety.”
An all-weather automated system, iFerret™ is the first of its kind to be based on intelligent-Vision, a form of artificial intelligence that enables machines to “see” in real-time, providing the means for critical-decision support. iFerret™ can be scaled for airport runways and taxiways of any length, and can also be deployed on airport aprons, airport hangars and even aircraft carriers.
CAAS awarded the contract to Stratech following a 15-month pilot trial conducted at Changi Airport.
Dr. David K.M. Chew, Executive Chairman of Stratech, said: “iFerret™ represents cutting edge runway surveillance technology, and we hope that it will pave the way for improving safety standards at airports worldwide. We are very pleased to secure CAAS as our first iFerret™ customer. The deployment of iFerret™ at one of the world’s best airports is testament to its capabilities, and is in line with our ‘powered by Stratech’ strategy to commercialise the company’s intellectual properties.”
iFerret™ has also been recommended for evaluation at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport, by the Center of Excellence in Airport Technology at the University of Illinois, a performing partner for the Federal Aviation Administration R & D Center in the U.S.
In 2006, the system was awarded the Research and Development prize at the Asia Pacific Information and Communications Technology Awards in Macau.