Tuesday May 10, 11:56 am ET

American Airlines and Virgin America Among First to Adopt Breakthrough IFE Content Loader Featuring ToughDisk(TM) 3500 Rugged Hard Disk

MOORESTOWN, N.J., May 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Formation, Inc. and IMS Inflight have partnered to deliver the Terminal Data Loader to the first airlines to adopt this technology, American Airlines and Virgin America. The Terminal Data Loader`s performance in extreme environments is enhanced with Formation`s removable ToughDisk(TM) 3500 Rugged Hard Disk, a drop-in COTS replacement for standard 3.5`` low profile disk drives.

The Terminal Data Loader is a permanently installed content loading device that will dramatically improve the loading and management of inflight entertainment (IFE) content and enable wireless gate communications. The data loader features IMS` suite of in-flight entertainment and information management application software.

``Airlines today are focused on maximizing service while minimizing costs. The Terminal Data Loader has technology developed by IMS and Formation to help them accomplish both,`` said R. Nim Evatt, President and CEO of Formation. ``Airlines can now load new content either wirelessly - via WiFi, or GSM or CDMA broadband cellular - or on physical media such as CD, DVD, USB memory stick, removable hard drive and AIT tape. ToughDisk protects the unit from shock, vibration, temperature, humidity, dust and altitude to ensure that the unit remains reliable.``

The Terminal Data Loader supports network delivery of IFE content and is permanently installed aboard the aircraft. A particular strength is its ability to meet the WAEA Digital Content Management Working Group`s requirement that content not be decrypted between post-production and the aircraft. TDL decrypts content in real time so that movies never need to be transported to the aircraft in the clear. The data loading takes place automatically as aircraft and IFE conditions permit - onboard the aircraft, not on the tarmac as is often the case today.

``Automating the upload of IFE content enables airlines to update their content more easily and frequently and without interfering with boarding passengers,`` said IMS president and COO Rod Farley. ``Because communications are bi-directional, delivery of the content and data are tracked online and in-flight entertainment managers can use IMS` Cabin Trends(TM) web portal to determine delivery status of each aircraft`s load. The Terminal Data Loader provides wireless connectivity when the aircraft is at the gate and supports remote software updates, remote inflight entertainment system monitoring, Passenger Usage/BIT Reporting, and many other processes that all combine to improve passenger experience and contain airline IFE costs.``

Formation will manufacture the Terminal Data Loader for IMS at its Moorestown, NJ production facility.

About Formation, Inc.

Formation provides a broad range of products and services to the aerospace, data communications, defense and transportation industries, including ruggedized disk packaging, avionics class disk-based video-on-demand and fileservers, and an avionics class Ethernet networking applications device. Formation also provides fully synchronized record and replay systems for air traffic control and defense and intelligence-related command & control communications. In addition, the company provides custom engineering and manufacturing services. For information call 856-234-5020 or visit http://www.formation.com.

About IMS

IMS is the leading provider of portable and wireless solutions in IFE, and is the developer of the Personal Entertainment Appliance (``Pea``) handheld IFE system. IMS also develops passenger and cabin crew software applications, and provides and operates data management services for the airline industry. Additional information is available at http://www.imsinflight.com.