[Satellite Today 07-31-08] EMS Technologies signed a definitive agreement to acquire Sky Connect LLC for about $15.5 million, EMS announced July 31.
    Sky Connect, founded in 2003, provides Iridium-based combined tracking and voice systems for general aviation, with certified systems flying on more than 2,000 aircraft. Sky Connect focuses on the helicopter market supporting offshore oil and gas exploration and production and also serves the forest firefighting, emergency medical transport, law enforcement and commercial airlines markets.
    Sky Connect doubled its sales from 2005 to 2007 and is forecasted to grow by more than 25 percent in 2008.
Sky Connect’s co-founders: CEO Steve Silverman and COO Wiley Loughran, will lead EMS’s Iridium-based business when the acquisition is closed.
    Separately, EMS announced will provide antenna-pointing equipment for the ViaSat-1 satellite.
Space Systems/Loral is the prime contractor for the Ka-band satellite, and EMS expects to deliver its hardware by June.