MIAMI, FL [WAEA Annual Conference & Exhibition] – September 13, 2006 – Aircell announces multi-faceted expansions in facilities and personnel in support of its rapidly-expanding business in the airline and business aviation markets.
This fall, Aircell will open a major new facility in the Chicago area to support its new airborne broadband service, which will debut in early 2008. The facility will be nearly 30,000 square feet, housing the operations center for the company’s digital wireless network, along with engineering and a variety of additional support functions. The facility is ramping up quickly and last month, Aircell held a local job fair with hundreds of prospective employees in attendance. The facility will employ over 100 people when fully staffed in the coming months.
In related news, Aircell recently completed a major expansion of the company’s Louisville (Denver), Colorado, facility. With nearly double the original square footage, the facility offers expanded space for manufacturing operations, sales/marketing, engineering, product design, testing, and administrative offices. In addition, Aircell is in the process of tripling its production capabilities before the end of 2007, to keep up with increasing demand from its worldwide network of dealers and distributors.
Aircell is also proud to announce the appointment of three new executives, all based at Aircell’s new Chicago facility:
Keith Wodarski – Regional Director, Airline Sales. An aerospace sales and product development professional with over 30 years of experience, Mr. Wodarski comes to Aircell from positions of increasing responsibility at United Airlines, GTE Airfone, OAG Worldwide, and ARINC. He is responsible for ongoing sales and account management with the company’s air transport customers.
Anand Chari – Vice President, Engineering. A veteran cellular/PCS industry executive, Mr. Chari is responsible for all design & development of the Aircell broadband system’s airborne platform and nationwide ground infrastructure. Mr. Chari previously held positions with 3COM and Ameritech Cellular (now SBC Global), where he was instrumental in the early deployment of the Chicago CDMA cellular service.
Mark Malosh – Vice President, Operations. A wireless industry veteran, Mr. Malosh is leading Aircell’s broadband operations in Chicago, and is responsible for deployment and maintenance of the system’s airborne platform and nationwide ground infrastructure. Prior to joining Aircell, Mr. Malosh was most recently responsible for cell site operations in a four state area for Sprint/Nextel.
Aircell® is the leader in global airborne telecommunications for the Business Aviation market. Its products are offered by virtually every fixed- and rotor-wing airframe manufacturer in business aviation, and are installed aboard the world’s four largest fractional ownership fleets. A single-source, turnkey provider of equipment, service, and technical support, Aircell simplifies airborne communications and keeps you In Touch, In Flight®.
The 2006 winner of the FCC’s exclusive broadband frequency license, Aircell is also pioneering a revolutionary new wireless broadband system for North America. Available only from Aircell, it will include robust Wi-Fi hotspots that enable airline passengers to surf the Internet, use e-mail, and log on to their corporate VPN’s using their personal 802.11a/b/g-equipped Wi-Fi data devices. The system will also offer airline operational communications capabilities and provide a path to a wealth of future cabin services.
Set for introduction in 2008, the new broadband service will also be available to business aircraft operators, offering a similar set of features.
Aircell (www.aircell.com) has facilities in Louisville, Colorado, and Itasca, Illinois, USA.
Tom Myers
Aircell, Inc.
+1.303.379.0237
tmyers@aircell.com