LA GUARDIA AIRPORT, New York (January 9, 2009) – FlightSafety International is pleased to announce that it has acquired Glass Mountain Optics Incorporated located in Austin, Texas.(WASP) systems for Military fast jet applications and high fidelity systems for use in transportable, containerized applications for military vehicle and flight simulation. They will also facilitate FlightSafety’s integration of glass and other hard and flexible mirror technology into its VITAL Visual Systems.

Glass Mountain Optics is a leading provider of visual display systems for simulation applications and massive optics for a variety of industrial markets.

"The acquisition of Glass Mountain Optics further enhances FlightSafety’s position as a world leader in the design, manufacture, and support of advanced technology simulators and visual systems for civil and military aviation training programs," said Rick Armstrong, Vice President, Simulation, FlightSafety International.

Glass Mountain Optics’ advanced display systems will enable FlightSafety to expand its product line with the development of new display technologies including Wide Angle Single Pilot

"We are pleased that the Glass Mountain Optics management team, led by Don Conklin and Bart Sloane, will remain with the company and welcome their highly capable and experienced group to our simulation and visual systems team," added Armstrong.

"FlightSafety’s acquisition of our company is a clear demonstration of the capabilities and experience of our people and the quality and market appeal of our products," said Don Conklin. "We are pleased to join this highly respected and successful world leading organization and look forward to the increased distribution and development opportunities for our products this will provide."

FlightSafety International is the world’s premier professional aviation training company and supplier of flight simulators, visual systems and displays to commercial, government and military organizations. We provide more than a million hours of training each year to pilots, technicians and other aviation professionals. FlightSafety operates the world’s largest fleet of advanced full flight simulators at our extensive network of Learning Centers located in the United States, Canada and Europe.

 

Glass Mountain Optics has been awarded contracts for 5 follow-on CH-47 CREWVIEW Transportable Flight Proficiency Simulators (TFPS). The CH-47 CREWVIEW visual display system is a collimated rigid mirror display designed to withstand the rigors of transport and re-deployment. The CH-47 CREWVIEW covers a 50º vertical field of view with additional chin window displays built within the confines of a collapsible, transportable container. To date GMO has fielded seven CH-47 CREWVIEW systems for PM Cargo and Manned Flight.

Glass Mountain Optics is a leading provider of display solutions for land based and aviation simulation located in Austin, Texas. Founded in 1982, GMO has over 30,000 square feet of manufacturing, fabrication and assembly area. GMO is the only display solutions provider capable of manufacturing the massive mirror segments used in a display system of this class.

 

Glass Mountain Optics has been awarded a contract to deliver two WASP I-E display systems to Taiwan in support of the F-16. Marking the 30th and 31st WASP systems delivered to date, GMO has designed and built systems for installations around the world including the US, Great Britain, Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Australia and South Africa. Originally designed to enhance the capabilities of the M2 DART the WASP including all of its variants has been used on the F-5, F-16, F-18, F-22, F-35/JSF and BAE hawk. The WASP system and its four variants are versitile and can employ a wide range of projector options depending on resolution and budget requirements.