MAYNARD, Mass., Mar. 14, 2005 – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has selected the Stratus^® ftServer^® 6600 server platform with Continuous Processing^® technology as the new foundation for a crucial data communication system serving the users of the U.S. National Airspace System (NAS), Stratus Technologies announced today. CNSI of Rockville, MD, a premier provider of networking and system solutions for government and commercial customers, is the systems integrator on the project.

The FAA’s Operational Support Directorate is replacing the legacy server platform that currently supports the National Airspace Data Interchange Network (NADIN 1) with four ftServer 6600 4-way symmetric multi-processing servers with triple CPU redundancy. The NADIN 1 message switched network is the U.S. gateway to the international aviation community, and the FAA interface to the global Aeronautical Telecommunications network. No aircraft flies in the American National Airspace System, or enters or leaves the NAS without having filed its flight plan across the FAA’s message switched network.

Processing more the 1.5 million messages daily, NADIN 1 is used for data interchange within the U.S., and between the U.S. and other nations to communicate flight plans for commercial and general aviation, weather, and advisory notices to pilots. It is also a pass-through data service providing communications between foreign countries.

The FAA is implementing the Stratus servers, which use Intel Xeon 2.8 MHz large cache MP processors and support the Microsoft Windows operating system, at control centers in Atlanta and Salt Lake City. Uninterrupted availability of the NADIN 1 is important to all aspects of the aviation industry, as well as the nation’s economy and, increasingly, as a tool to help protect national security. After thorough technology and product evaluations, Stratus was chosen as best able to provide an open platform with 99.999 percent uptime reliability – which is mandatory for running an application as important as NADIN 1 – together with the required caliber of maintenance, logistical support, and long service life.

The ftServer 6600 systems are now being pre-staged and tested with the full complement of NADIN 1 applications. Aviation community users, which number in the thousands, will be seamlessly re-hosted to the new platform in phases beginning in the fourth quarter 2005. The cost of the NADIN 1 re-host development and transition program, including hardware, 10-year maintenance and logistics support, acceptance testing, training, security and several other items, is approximately $6.4 million.

About Stratus Technologies
Stratus Technologies is a global provider of fault-tolerant computer servers, technologies and services, with more than 20 years of experience focused in the fault-tolerant server market.  Stratus^® servers provide high levels of reliability relative to the server industry, delivering 99.999% uptime or better.  Stratus servers and support services are used by customers for their critical computer-based operations that are required to be continuously available for the proper functioning of their businesses.

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