Max-Viz to Offer Enhanced Vision Systems (EVS) for Ground, Air Operations
Air operation safety behind Taxi-Max, RVR-Max infrared sensor technologies

September 18, 2001 Portland, OR
Max-Viz, Inc., a Portland, Oregon company, is developing a series of internally-mounted infrared sensors for aircraft, which project visual images of ground and airborne terrain and potential threats directly to the pilots.

The company is developing the two systems, called Taxi-Max and RVR-Max to assist flight crews in identifying terrain and obstacles while taxiing and when on approach to airports in inclement weather. Between January and July, 2001 there were 206 reported runway incursions in the US alone.

Taxi-Max, the company's first product, expected to be on the market within four months, is an infrared sensor mounted in an aircraft's vertical fin cap, radome or belly. With a 40° forward viewing angle, Taxi-Max gives the pilot an accurate and clear view of possible incursions ahead and gives them time to react and avoid the threats.

Uniquely, Taxi-Max images are projected onto cockpit multi-function displays or onto independent, stand-alone liquid crystal displays mounted on cockpit side consoles.

RVR-Max, an enhanced vision system (EVS), is the company's follow-on product and is expected to come to market within 12 months. RVR-Max is being developed to project infrared-enhanced approach vision on top of the graphics displayed on Head-Up Displays (HUD) by all raster-capable HUD manufacturers. Max-Viz's use of state of the art dual mode sensors are expected to provide superior vision in inclement weather compared to the single band sensors being utilized in today³s systems.

As well, RVR-Max is a small, light system which avoids the need for non-conformal bulges on the fuselage. Currently, the only EVS now flying on a Gulfstream Aerospace aircraft, is too large for installation on most other business jets.

Max-Viz is in discussions with business and commercial jet operators, airliners from turboprops to heavy transports and military transport aircraft organizations. The company believes the market is equally strong for both Taxi-Max and RVR-Max, and will market them as stand-alone units and as an integrated package.

Gregg Fawkes, Max-Viz president, is enthusiastic about the market potential for the company³s products. "We are a lean company, and totally focused on infrared-based vision systems for aircraft," he said. "The EVS industry generally has had a fairly slow start, but the principals of Max-Viz have years of direct experience in this area, and we intend to do EVS right. We are on schedule and on our technology target for wide-spread success in this market."

Max-Viz intends to compete in the price arena as well. While existing systems are offered at installed costs of over $500,000, it intends to bring Taxi-Max to market for under $100,000. The pricing will vary depending if the system is integrated into the existing aircraft MFDs or if independent monitors are required.

Max-Viz was founded in 2001 by president Gregg Fawkes and vice-presidents Roger Watson and Richard Kerr. Each has long experience in infrared technologies and head-up displays. Fawkes was most recently with BAE Systems Canada, Watson was with BAE Systems' Cincinnati Electronics subsidiary and Kerr with FLIR Systems, the Research Triangle Institute, and Flight Dynamics Inc.

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