For additional press information please contact Sandra Wade-Grusky at wadegrusky@airborne1.com or call 310-414-7400.

12/07/06 - Airborne 1 Spreading Cheer for the Holidays
12/04/06 - Airborne 1 Offers Private Training on LiDAR Data Production
11/14/06 - Holidays Begin a Little Early in the Heart of Los Angeles
11/07/06 - Airborne 1 LiDAR Products Make it to Hollywood
11/07/06 - Deployed Troops to Receive Children’s Greetings
11/06/06 - Airborne 1 Acquires New LiDAR Sensor and Hires New Personnel
11/03/06 - Mapping Twinkies
11/02/06 - Airborne 1 to Exhibit at MAPPS/ASPRS 2006
10/02/06 - Airborne 1 to Exhibit at HCPO/PACGEO 2006
09/19/06 - Airborne 1 Hosts ASPRS Southwest Region Technical Meeting
08/31/06 - Airborne 1 Launches New Southwest LiDAR Program
07/06/06 - Airborne 1 Hosts 4th Annual TerraScan User Event | September 11th -16th, 2006 In Los Angeles, CA
05/01/06 - Airborne 1 Introduces World's Fastest LiDAR Data Handling & Visualization Software: LiDAR XLR8R
04/03/06 - Airborne 1 Acquires Optech ALTM 3100EA LiDAR Sensor

*For all news items and press releases prior to 2006 please visit our Archives.

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, is offering private training on LiDAR data production and related software applications.

Training takes from one to three days and will teach students the fundamentals of LiDAR data processing from GPS and IMU processing to laser point output, classification and QAQC. The software applications students will be introduced to include REALM, POSPac, Grafnav, TerraScan and TerraMatch, and others.  The training, which is conducted by Airborne 1, is designed to assist clients in becoming more independent so they can process their own data.

“Airborne 1’s goal is to give photogrammetry, surveying, and mapping firms the tools they need to compete in the marketplace.  To accomplish this we offer training that takes place at the client’s office and is tailored to their needs.  This will help them reduce costs by keeping more of the work in-house,” said Todd Stennett, Airborne 1’s CEO.  Airborne 1 is temporarily discounting the cost of training to $995/day for companies domestically located and $1,495/day for international companies. Companies receiving training are responsible for travel and lodging expenses.

To register, or for more information, contact Airborne 1 at training@airborne1.com, phone 310-414-7400, or fax 310-414-7409.

Data analysts, marketers, and sales people got to act like kids last week as they joined more than 50 elementary and middle school children to draw holiday greetings for deployed U.S. troops.

Children of the Heart of Los Angeles, a local nonprofit organization that offers students after school programs to enrich their lives and give them opportunities they might not otherwise have, attended an early holiday party last Friday hosted by Airborne 1 Corporation, a local laser mapping firm.  The children drew holiday greeting cards for deployed U.S. troops.  The cards will be delivered by the South Bay Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America along with gift items collected by the staff of Airborne 1. 

The best of the children’s artwork was selected to become this year’s greeting card for Airborne 1.  Juan Correa, age 12, was rewarded for his hard work with a U.S. Savings Bond and a gift certificate for dinner for his entire family.

Airborne 1 was connected to Heart of Los Angeles through one of their staff members, Senior Operations Administrator Fabiola Hernandez, after working with them on previous fundraising endeavors.  “These kids come from places and situations most of us cannot even imagine.  Heart of Los Angeles is about overcoming those obstacles to achieve great things,” said Hernandez.  “Airborne 1 has had its best year ever and wanted to do something different to celebrate,” said Airborne 1 Marketing Director Alejandra Espinosa, “If we are to be part of this community we have a responsibility to participate and give back to it.”

Airborne 1 will be collecting items for troops through November 28, 2006.  For further information on how to donate please contact Rose Mary Mercer of Airborne 1 at 310-414-7400 or e-mail mercer@airborne1.com.

About Heart of Los Angeles

Heart of Los Angeles (www.heartofla.org) seeks to enrich lives by providing arts, athletics, and educational programs of the highest quality for young people ages 6-19 who attend overburdened inner city schools - children who are hindered by poverty, and living in communities that are impacted by illegal drug trafficking and gang violence.  The organization empowers inner city youth to advance their lives and revitalize their communities through enrichment, personal development and leadership programs.

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, has entered the Hollywood scene.

DreamWorks Pictures approached Airborne 1 last summer about their new movie, “Transformers”, a remake of the 1980’s series which is due out in 2007.  They were in need of items to make the set of the movie more realistic.  To be precise they needed maps.  Airborne 1 provided 3D digital elevation models of terrain that were made using data collected with one of their four LiDAR sensors.  “They worked out really well.  I have been on the lookout for another opportunity to use them,” said Amanda Fernald of DreamWorks.

In addition to their movie debut, Airborne 1 was visited in the summer of 2005 by set decorators of the movie “Déjà Vu”, starring Denzel Washington.  Decorators toured the Airborne 1 facility and took photographs to see what mapping operations really look like and use as inspiration for set design.  “Our close proximity to the major players in the movie and gaming industries allows us these wonderful opportunities.  It is fun to be apart of such big projects,” said Airborne 1’s Marketing Director Alejandra Espinosa.

“Déjà Vu” will be in theaters November 22, 2006.  Companies interested in obtaining similar services or products from Airborne 1 may call 310-414-7400 or e-mail at info@airborne1.com.

The Blue Star Mothers of America will deliver greetings and gifts this holiday season to deployed U.S. troops courtesy of the children at Heart of Los Angeles and Airborne 1 Corporation, a mapping company based in El Segundo, CA.

More than 50 elementary and middle school students from the local nonprofit organization, Heart of Los Angeles, will start celebrating the holidays a little early at a party hosted by Airborne 1.  At the party all of the children will be drawing holiday greeting cards for deployed U.S. troops.  The cards will be delivered, with gift items collected by the staff of Airborne 1, by the South Bay Chapter of the Blue Star Mothers of America.  The best of the children’s artwork will be selected to become this year’s greeting card for Airborne 1.

 “We wanted to do something a little different this year to give back not just to our local community but our larger national community as well,” said Airborne 1 Marketing Director Alejandra Espinosa.  Airborne 1 did not want to partner with just any organization but rather one with connections to their staff.  Fabiola Hernandez, Senior Operations Administrator for Airborne 1, recommended Heart of Los Angeles, a nonprofit organization that offers students after school programs to enrich their lives and give them opportunities they might not otherwise have, after working with them on previous fundraising endeavors.  “These kids work hard to stay in school, do the right thing, and shoot for high goals like college.  They deserve a reward for that,” said Hernandez.  As for the Blue Start Mothers of America, that was CEO Todd Stennett’s idea, “We have many on our staff who have served in the various armed forces.  We wanted to honor that service by doing our part to support those men and women who are currently deployed and will not be home for the holidays.”

The children’s party will be held at the Heart of Los Angeles headquarters building, 2701 Wilshire Blvd., Ste. 100, Los Angeles, CA, on Friday, November 10, 2006 from 4:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.  For more information please contact Rose Mary Mercer of Airborne 1 at 310-414-7400 or by e-mail at mercer@airborne1.com.

About Heart of Los Angeles

Heart of Los Angeles (www.heartofla.org) seeks to enrich lives by providing arts, athletics, and educational programs of the highest quality for young people ages 6-19 who attend overburdened inner city schools - children who are hindered by poverty, and living in communities that are impacted by illegal drug trafficking and gang violence.  The organization empowers inner city youth to advance their lives and revitalize their communities through enrichment, personal development and leadership programs.

In the period of one week Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, has managed to purchase its fourth Optech ALTM sensor and fill the position of CFO.

Airborne 1 has purchased a new Optech ALTM sensor to further expand the company’s fleet of LiDAR systems.  This sensor, in addition to the ones they already own from the same manufacturer, will allow the company to increase efficiency and continue to meet current and future demand for services. Airborne 1 continues to purchase Optech sensors because of their many technical capabilities, rugged construction, and more than thirty years of experience in the industry. “Each new sensor is successively more profitable. This new sensor is strategically important as it allows us to offer availability with minimal waiting for clients across the country and continue to provide quick turn-around,” reported Airborne 1’s General Counsel, Gerhard Renner.

In addition to the new sensor there is a new face at Airborne 1. Ted Lanes has officially begun his new position as CFO.  Todd Stennett, Airborne 1’s CEO, is confident that the new team member will make a great addition to the Airborne 1 team, “We are excited about his being here and look forward to working with him to achieve the company’s strategic and day-to-day goals.”

Lanes, a USC graduate, has ten years of CFO experience in both the private and public sector.  “He is already making things happen,” said Michael Coffman, Airborne 1’s Manager of Finance & Administration, “These are very exciting times for Airborne 1.”

Airborne 1 may be contacted for more information on its products, services, and business solutions at (310) 414-7400 or via email at info@airborne1.com.

About Optech

Optech is the world leader in the development, manufacture and support of advanced laser-based survey instruments. In addition to the ALTM, Optech products and applications include: the ILRIS-3D Intelligent Laser Ranging and Imaging Systems; the SHOALS family of airborne LiDAR bathymeter products, atmospheric monitoring and space-based systems, mine Cavity Monitoring Systems, and industrial process control solutions.

Twenty-three fourth graders became excited as they huddled around a Twinkie being mapped for contours by Airborne 1 Data Analyst Eric Albrecht.  For one Wednesday morning in October the staff of Airborne 1, including CEO Todd Stennett, stopped what they were doing to teach a group of fourth graders from Westland School in Los Angeles, CA all about maps.

The students moved between four stations learning aspects of the world, map making, and how maps are used.  “With technologies like Google Earth out there maps are going to play a big part in these kids’ lives,” said Jeff Wilson, Westland School parent and board member of Airborne 1.  The fourth graders were taught about coordinate systems and projections, distance and scale, and Stennett taught them about direction and how to use an analog wristwatch as a compass.  But the lesson that stole the show was on topography and contours.  Albrecht used Twinkies to demonstrate how cartographers show topography when creating maps.  As one curly haired boy put it, “You guys made maps fun.  And I got to eat the Twinkie!”  The day closed with a treasure hunt that required the students to use a map and all of the skills they had learned.

The El Segundo based company specializes in all things maps and is on the cutting edge of mapping innovations.  Airborne 1, a worldwide leader in the LiDAR industry, uses lasers to make the most accurate topographic maps available.  Unlike other methods such as radar and aerial photography that are used to make maps, LiDAR (light detection and ranging) uses lasers which are able to detect not only the surface of things but go through things like a canopy of trees and show the topography of the ground below, including tree height.  With traditional mapping tools a cartographer would not be able to tell what is underneath those trees without physically going there and looking.  LiDAR is now being used by professionals in industries such as utilities, forestry, land and real estate development, and oil and gas.

“Maps have become an integral part of modern life.  If these kids aren’t making the maps of the future they will certainly be using them,” said Stennett.  “We are pleased to see geography maintain itself as a required part of school curriculums; that we get to give back to the community and be part of the learning process is just a bonus.”

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, will be attending and exhibiting at MAPPS/ASPRS 2006 Conference in San Antonio, TX.  The event will take place at the Crown Plaza Riverwalk Hotel from November 6th to November 10th, 2006.

Airborne 1 will be represented at booth number 4 by Director of Key Accounts Heather Ashenfelter, Chief Strategic Officer Randy Rhoads, Jeff Klinkefus, and Alison Jones.  The Airborne 1 booth will feature information on the company’s LiDAR data products, turnkey services, and business solutions, including LiDAR XLR8R, LiDARXCHANGE, software, training, equipment rentals, fractional ownership plans, and franchise opportunities. There will also be an opportunity drawing to win a Garmin eTrex Venture GPS with color display; a $250.00 value.

Event attendees are encouraged to contact Airborne 1 with any questions or comments they may have before the event at 310-414-7400 or info@airborne1.com.

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, will be attending and exhibiting at HCPO/PACGEO 2006 in Honolulu, HI.  The event will take place at the Hawaii Convention Center from October 3rd to October 5th, 2006.

Airborne 1 will be represented at booth number 12 by Elise MacPherson, Managing Director of New Business Development, and Heather Ashenfelter, Director of Key Accounts.  The Airborne 1 booth will feature information on the company’s LiDAR data products and services, including LiDAR XLR8R, LiDARXCHANGE, LiDAR business solutions, software, training, equipment rentals, fractional ownership plans, and franchise opportunities.  There will also be an opportunity drawing to win a Garmin eTrex Venture GPS with color display; a $250.00 value.

Event attendees are encouraged to contact Airborne 1 with any questions or comments they may have before the event at 310-414-7400 info@airborne1.com.

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, will host the ASPRS Southwest Region Technical Meeting on Thursday September 28, 2006.

This highly anticipated event will feature presentations by Airborne 1, I.K. Curtis Services, CyberCity, Multi-Vision, and Digital Map, Inc.  Topics will include everything from LiDAR technology, to 3D modeling, to digital cameras and photogrammetry.  “This meeting is a great opportunity to hear about the use of new technology and to mingle with fellow photogrammetric and remote sensing professionals.” – said George Halley, Regional Director for ASPRS Southwest Region.

The ASPRS technical meeting allows competitors to come together to learn from one another and see how the different advances in the industry can be combined to work together.  One such presentation illustrating this will be by Multi-Vision.  Representatives from Multi-Vision will show Block Oblique photography and its incorporation with 3D modeling and ortho-photos.  “Airborne 1 is proud to be chosen to host an event that encourages the best in our industry to share their experiences and knowledge,” Airborne 1’s Marketing Director, Alejandra Espinosa said, “These collaborations are what allow us all to better serve our clients and continue to move this industry forward.”

About ASPRS Southwest Region
ASPRS Southwest Region is a chapter of the American Society for Photogrammetry and Remote Sensing (ASPRS) covering Arizona, Southern California, and Nevada.  ASPRS has been in existence since 1934 fulfilling its mission statement: “to advance knowledge and improve understanding of mapping sciences to promote the responsible applications of photogrammetry, remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and supporting technologies.”

Airborne 1 Corporation, a leading provider of advanced LiDAR services, rentals, and software worldwide, has strengthened its operations team with 10 recent hires to support the company’s new Southwest LiDAR program.  The program offers reduced fees and improved turn-around times for projects in the Southwestern US.

California-based Airborne 1 Corporation has always offered quick turn-around time for clients with projects in nearby southwestern states.  Knowing the importance of quick turn-around time, Airborne 1 is offering projects within a 500 nautical-mile-radius from Airborne 1’s Oxnard, CA flight operations facility, a flight window of 10 days for data collection and 15 days for product delivery after signing a contract for LiDAR services.  Furthermore, Airborne 1 is reducing the initiation fee to $3,495, a savings of $1,500.  This applies to projects up to 5,000 acres in size in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

In addition, projects within 125 nautical miles of Oxnard can enjoy a flight window of 7 days for data collection and 10 days for product delivery, after signing a contract for a LiDAR services project that is up to 5,000 acres in size.  Moreover, ferry fees will be waived and initiation fees will be reduced to $3,495 for all LiDAR projects within this radius.

Mapping companies and departments know the value of quick turn-around time, and the importance of quality in highly accurate topographical data. “Airborne 1 is well-known for providing excellence in LiDAR services and for delivering data in the shortest amount of time possible;” said Alejandra Espinosa, Airborne 1’s Marketing Director, “we will continue to do so into the future.”

The Southwest LiDAR program is already in progress.  All companies with projects in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah are welcome to contact Airborne 1 at (310) 414-7400 or via e-mail at southwest@airborne1.com and inquire about the Southwest LiDAR program.

The TSUE 2006 training seminar will be lead by Arttu Soininen, software developer for Terrasolid, the manufacturer of TerraScan, TerraModeler, TerraMatch, and TerraPhoto.  The seminar is designed to teach beginner and intermediate users how to use the Terrasolid products for LiDAR data processing and terrain modeling.  Seminar highlights will include LiDAR Process Flow training and an introduction to Airborne 1’s LiDAR XLR8R.  There will also be a bonus day where students can bring in their own datasets for one-on-one assistance.

Participants will have a choice of two 3-day sessions or a full week package to attend both sessions.  The first session will include a 2-day in-depth introduction to TerraScan software.  The second session will include TerraModeler, Powerline Processing, and TerraMatch training.  Both sessions will include a demonstration session of new features and the bonus day.

According to Airborne 1’s CEO, Todd Stennett, “LiDAR technology continues to improve in correlation with the ever-increasing speed of computers. Every 18-36 months, we continue to see a doubling of value offered by these enhancements. Firms can either fly higher with the same precision (reducing costs), or achieve better accuracies for a given altitude. As the value proposition improves, new markets continually open up to take advantage of the high speed, fast turnaround times, low cost per measurement, and the ability to penetrate many forms of vegetation canopy.”

With the addition of this sensor, Airborne 1 offers mapping professionals the most advanced fleet of Optech ALTM LiDAR sensors in the U.S.

Over the past six years, Gerhard Renner and Randy Rhoads, CFO and CXO of Airborne 1, have felt confident in the technical capabilities and rugged construction offered by Optech, the Toronto-based ALTM manufacturer that has been designing specialized laser ranging systems for more than thirty years. Optech’s ALTM line, with the largest installed base of airborne laser terrain mapping systems in use worldwide, is the market leader in commercial LiDAR (light detection and ranging) instruments.
Don Carswell, President of Optech, commented, “We are pleased to see Airborne 1 renewing their commitment to purchase yet another ALTM system – they have always been a strong advocate of our scanned time-of-flight technology. The 3100EA provides them with the strategic advantage of even greater accuracies and the ability to collect data at an even faster rate. We’re confident that this latest system addition to Airborne 1’s product offerings will enable them to maintain their strategic advantage in the LiDAR surveying marketplace for many years. ”

Over the last decade, LiDAR technology has taken over the digital mapping realm as the most efficient and cost-effective system for the rapid collection of digital elevation data used to generate high-resolution topographic maps. Using LiDAR sensors over traditional survey techniques has allowed companies such as Airborne 1 to achieve the rapid turnaround time and attractive cost structures necessary to comply with and surpass the requirements mandated by projects on behalf of the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). As a joint venture partner on numerous Region IX projects for FEMA throughout Hawaii, California, Arizona, and Guam and other Pacific Islands, Airborne 1 has become a trusted source for collecting and processing top quality data for mapping professionals on a variety of government, utility, and other land management mapping initiatives.