Astronics Corporation Selected by Honda Aircraft Company to Provide EmPOWER® System and Windshield Heat Controller for its HondaJet Advanced Light Business Jet

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Astronics’ Solutions Incorporated with Many Innovative Technological Advances in Aviation Design on Honda’s First-Ever Commercial Aircraft

EAST AURORA, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Astronics Corporation (NASDAQ: ATRO), a leader in advanced, high performance lighting, electrical power and automated test systems for the global aerospace and defense industries, today announced that it has been selected by Honda Aircraft Company to supply its 28VDC to 115VAC EmPOWER® System and its Windshield Heat Controller as standard installations on the HondaJet aircraft.

Peter J. Gundermann, President and Chief Executive Officer of Astronics, commented, “The HondaJet is an efficient, fast and technologically-advanced aircraft and we are extremely pleased to have our power solutions on this innovative aircraft. We believe our unique product solutions, superior design and responsive service were drivers of Honda’s selection of Astronics.”

The EmPOWER® Inverter is TSO-C73 certified, DO-160E compliant and FAA conforming for certification of power supply systems for Portable Electronic Devices. Built with safety, convenience and efficiency in mind, the EmPOWER® System has ground fault interrupt, over voltage and current protection, as well as thermal load shedding built into the unit. This intelligent in-seat power system eliminates the need for external protection and control devices, reducing cost and weight. The inverter is also configured for an enable/disable input and a system in-use light for crew visibility and control per the FAA Policy Statement.

Utilizing Astronics’ patented intelligent power management, the inverter provides power to the outlet unit only after an appropriate device is properly inserted. For seamless use around the world, the outlet unit will accommodate plugs from 155 countries.

The patented EmPOWER® System is currently in service with 150 Airline/OEM customers at over 500,000 seat locations. The 28VDC to 115VAC EmPOWER® In-Seat Power Supply System was launched into the business jet market in 2009 and is the first intelligent power management system of its kind available to the business jet market.

The Windshield Heat Controller will provide ice and fog protection utilizing Astronics’ extensive experience developing highly reliable and efficient power generating and conditioning products. The Windshield Heat Controller adds to the family of windshield temperature control products designed and built by Astronics.

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. The Company’s 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, DME Corporation, Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems Corp. and Luminescent Systems Inc., 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 website at www.Astronics.com.

For more information on Astronics and its products, visit its website at www.Astronics.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This press 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 expression. Because such statements apply to future events, they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause the 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 industry, 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 press release whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results, financial conditions or prospects, or otherwise.

Astronics Corporation
David C. Burney, (716) 805-1599, ext. 159
Chief Financial Officer
david.burney@astronics.com
or
Investor Relations:
Kei Advisors LLC
Deborah K. Pawlowski, (716) 843-3908
dpawlowski@keiadvisors.com

Source: Astronics Corporation

Released October 9, 2011