THE STRATECH GROUP OF COMPANIES is pleased to announce that it has secured a key contract for its flagship iFerret™ intelligent Vision system, which will pave the way for it to advance further into the US commercial airfield surveillance market. The contract was jointly won with Stratech’s US partner, Organizational Strategies, Inc. (OSI) of McLean, VA. OSI is a US Federally qualified small business that has been working in aviation, aviation engineering and with the FAA for over a decade.

Under the contract (the “Miami contract”), Stratech will install and maintain the iFerret Airfield/Runway Surveillance and Foreign Object & Debris (FOD) Detection System at Miami International Airport (MIA), one of the world’s top commercial aviation hubs. The term of the contract is for up to 14 years; an initial 5-year term, with options to renew for three additional 3-year periods.

Executive Chairman Dr. David K.M. Chew commented: “This first project for a US commercial airport affirms the industry’s rising recognition of iFerret as a superior FOD detection system.”

“Increasing concern over aviation safety worldwide has driven commercial airports to look for more efficient and effective FOD detection and surveillance systems. Eventually, such systems will replace the traditional manual inspections of runways, taxiways and even areas where aircraft are parked.”

“We therefore see vast opportunities for our proprietary iFerret system in the international markets, where we will continue to work with local partners to expand our presence.”

Behind Dr. Chew’s optimism about expanding Stratech’s reach in the US is the funding available for large primary airport hubs to install FOD systems under the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) published Program Guidance Letter.

The FAA-certified iFerret system has seen encouraging adoption by the world’s major commercial airline hubs, including Singapore’s Changi International Airport, Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates, and more recently, Hong Kong International Airport.