Airbus Applauds Partner Metamaterial Technologies Inc. for Win at Aviation Week Laureate Awards

HALIFAX, April 3, 2018 /CNW/ - Metamaterial Technologies Inc. (MTI), a Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, based company, was honoured at the 61st Annual Laureate Awards in Washington, D.C. for its metaAIR™ technology, a unique optical filter system that can provide pilots and aircraft protection from laser glare. MTI partnered with Airbus for this aerospace innovation through the Corporate Innovation Start-up 2 Partner program to develop metaAIR. MTI took home the award for Best New Product in the Commercial category.

With the increase in use of lasers to point at aircraft, MTI and Airbus are developing flexible optical filter solutions to block laser strikes without interfering with visibility. This protects the pilot's vision, which can be significantly impacted by laser pointers on the ground.

MTI has been supported by Airbus through Start-up 2 Partner and as a result of Airbus' Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy obligation on the Canadian Fixed Wing Search and Rescue Aircraft Replacement Project (FWSAR). The metaAIR technology, a prime example of investment in Canadian innovation, is attracting significant international recognition.

"To be recognized by Aviation Week for Best New Product is a great honour," said Simon Jacques, President, Airbus Defence and Space Canada. "This prestigious award is a testament to Airbus' continued commitment to revolutionize the aerospace sector by investing in innovative, local Canadian companies, like MTI. Together we are addressing an industry-wide issue by tapping into local talent and expertise, while helping to bring this award-winning innovation to customers worldwide."

Airbus' Start-up 2 Partner program aims to build mutually beneficial partnerships with disruptive innovators. Airbus co-develops products with a number of start-ups and local companies in Canada.

The FWSAR programme is supporting some CAN$2.5 billion in ITB value return to Canada, also through innovative Small Medium Business investments such as with MTI.

"I would like to congratulate MTI for this prestigious award," said the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development. "This is a great example of how the ITB Policy can leverage defence procurement to promote innovation and foster strategic partnerships that grow and sustain middle-class jobs in Canada."

Aviation Week's Laureate Awards recognize the extraordinary achievements of individuals and teams in aviation, aerospace, and defence.

metaAIR
metaAIR™, a flexible metamaterial optical filter, has been engineered to protect vision against harmful laser beams aimed at aircraft, but can also apply to vehicles or various military uses. This product is color neutral, highly transparent and does not affect the night-time vision of pilots. It has been designed to block laser light from a wide range of angles and could be applied to the inside of a cockpit windscreen among other applications.

About Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2017 it generated revenues of € 67 billion and employed a workforce of around 129,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners from 100 to more than 600 seats. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.

SOURCE Airbus

Contacts for the media: Kieran Daly, [phone], [email protected]; Chris McCluskey, [phone], [email protected]