News Release

PPI's AIC-29 AIDS US CUSTOMS IN WAR ON DRUGS

September 20, 1999 - With the latest order for AN/AIC-29 secure intercommunication system equipment, Palomar Products, Inc. will continue its role in the war against drugs. PPI has received a $2.1 million contract award to manufacture six additional shipsets of AIC-29s for the U. S. Customs Services fleet of P-3 aircraft. Modifications to the P-3 AEW and its companion, the P-3 SLICK, are urgently needed by the Customs Service to carry out their critical mission - stopping the flow of drugs from the areas where they are grown and manufactured. Funding for modification of the two AEWs and four SLICKS resulted from the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act (WHDEA) that was approved by Congress in 1998.

PPI's proposal team included Mike McCaul and Mike Johnson handling technical issues along with Michelle Primas, Jim Pinkerton and David Clark handling negotiations. The program will require several engineering changes including modification of the radio interface, Central Control Unit wiring, firmware, and Crew Station Unit panel legends. A total of six shipsets plus spares will be manufactured and delivered to Lockheed-Martin Aeronautical Systems in Greenville, SC in 2000. Two versions of the P3 aircraft will be modified - the Advanced Early Warning (AEW) planes are the principle patrol aircraft and the SLICKs are a long range tracker variant.

As a member of the US Navy P-3 Aircraft Industry Team, PPI President Val Policky along with Congressional Representatives Ron Packard (R, CA) and Randy (Duke) Cunningham (R, CA) were invited to attend a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for the 5th P-3 AEW hosted by the Commissioner of Customs Raymond W. Kelly. The ceremony and aircraft demonstration was held on September 15th at Washington's Ronald Reagan National Airport. According to Policky, "The success of this platform in performing its mission is due in part to the adaptability of the Palomar intercommunications system (ICS). Each time new aircraft are introduced into the fleet, equipment and mission changes are made as a result of experience gained in previous aircraft. Often, these changes require updates to the ICS. The Palomar ICS can be changed readily and at reasonable cost due to the flexible architecture of the system and the extensive use of microprocessors."

Contact:
Palomar Products
Bob Lawson
Marketing Director
Voice (949) 766-5434
FAX (949) 766-5353
email: rlawson@palpro.com