Rockwell Collins signs MOA with Qatar Airways for fleet-wide Tailwind® 560 multi region satellite TV system

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (December 08, 2003) - Rockwell Collins announced today a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Qatar Airways Q.C.S.C for the installation of the Collins Tailwind 560 multi-region satellite TV system. The MOA encompasses the new fleet of aircraft Qatar Airways has on order with Airbus and an undisclosed number of aircraft options.

An enhancement of the successful Tailwind 550, the Collins Tailwind 560 system is capable of receiving Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS) television in low-strength satellite signal areas in the Middle East and other regions of the world. It has been specifically developed to meet the operational life and performance demanded by the airline market. The system is lightweight, low-power and easily interfaces with existing and future In-Flight Entertainment (IFE) systems.

The Collins Tailwind 560 system will offer up to 32 independent outputs for program selection including news, stocks, sports and entertainment from broadcasters in Middle East, Europe and the contiguous United States. Additional content is forthcoming with all content being licensed and managed by Rockwell Collins.

"Qatar Airways is continually innovating its services to provide our passengers with the very best in-flight services and entertainment," said Mr. Akbar Al-Baker, chief executive officer for Qatar Airways. "We are now looking at offering our passengers a generous choice of television satellite stations which they will be able to watch on their personal seat-back screens - in addition to the existing portfolio of movies and audio channels.

"This Memorandum of Agreement marks the first step in bringing this new and innovative technology and service to our passengers." Al-Baker added.

"We are pleased that Qatar Airways has chosen Rockwell Collins to provide the latest satellite TV solution," said Denny Helgeson, vice president and general manager, Business and Regional Systems for Rockwell Collins. "Our Tailwind 560 system will provide consistent and reliable reception and smooth transitions from one geographic service area to the next, especially in the Middle East. Until the development of Collins' new antenna technology, satellite reception was difficult to achieve in this region."

The Collins Tailwind 560 system incorporates a next generation antenna using a new horn-arrayed, sculpted polymer lens technology ensuring maximum satellite reception and uninterrupted TV viewing when an aircraft is banking and climbing or during takeoff and landing. The antenna is designed to mount on the fuselage of Boeing, Airbus and McDonnell-Douglas narrow- and wide-body aircraft.

Qatar Airways is the national flag carrier of Qatar and is one of the world's fastest growing airlines. The airline has an ever-expanding route network that stretches across Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, the Indian sub-continent and the Far East. The airline will be flying to 60 destinations by 2005. Qatar Airways has built its success in the last six years with its commitment to offer passengers high-quality services. The aircraft to be fitted with the new satellite technology are part of a $5.1 billion order for 34 aircraft that Qatar Airways placed with Airbus in June 2003. The aircraft include A330-200s, A330-300s, A340-600HGWs and A321s, and will be delivered from 2004 through until 2010.

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