Kiwi company asked to supply kits to New Orleans

Small Kiwi company Flightcell has been called upon to supply high-tech communications kits to help aircraft crew with relief efforts in hurricane-ravaged New Orleans.

The US city has urgently requested 85 of Flightcell's niche kits to help Army reserve helicopter pilots and rescue crew talk to other aircraft and people on the ground.

Hurricane Katrina has wreaked havoc on New Orleans' telecommunications infrastructure and pilots are usually restricted to using standard aircraft radio systems which typically allow them to talk only to other aircraft or air-traffic controllers.

Cellphones are difficult to use in noisy aircraft and with helmets.

The Nelson-based company's product - also called Flightcell - allows people to use satellite phones and cellphones hands free by linking them up to a helmet or headset.

It also allows pilots to ring people on the ground directly - rather than having to go through a central hub.

The order came last week through Flightcell's partnership with US technology company DTech Labs, which supplies communications equipment to the US military.

Flightcell sprang into action to fill the order, part of its expanding business with the US Government which sees Flightcell used by the US Army, Homeland Security and the emergency services.

New products for the US - its largest export market - will be developed with DTech Labs in the future.

Flightcell is also sold to civil aviation and military customers in Australia and Europe.

Flightcell director Jim Mace said the kits, which sell for US$1500 each, work with all communications technologies or audio devices.

The 10-year-old company employs four staff in its Nelson office.