Vaisala has signed a contract with the Civil Aviation Administration of Finland to deliver an automated aviation weather observation system to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Under the contract, Vaisala will deliver an Automated Weather Observing System and associated meteorological sensors to the new runway of Helsinki-Vantaa airport. The system will be installed in summer 2002, and the new runway is scheduled to be opened in November 2002.

Construction of the new runway (runway 3) at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport is one of the major recent airport developments in Europe. Runway 3 will be used as the main takeoff runway and will allow an increase of some 40 % in the capacity of operations from the current dual-runway system. At present Helsinki-Vantaa Airport serves over 10 million passengers per year, and has been rated one of the best airports in the word in the past four years.

The AWOS system and the sensors for meteorological parameters, RVR and cloud height will be installed along the new runway. Additionally, the delivery will include three Ice Warning Stations for ice prediction on the runways and an integrated management system that will handle weather data from runways 1 and 2. Vaisala is the prime contractor in supplying the aviation weather system to Helsinki-Vantaa Airport Runway 3 project.

The Vaisala Group is a successful international technology company that develops and manufactures electronic measurement systems and equipment for meteorology, environmental sciences, traffic safety and industry. Vaisala employs over 1,000 skilled professionals and achieved net sales of EUR 179.5 million in 2000. Vaisala serves customers throughout the world. In 2000, exports accounted for 96% of net sales. Vaisala's A-series shares are quoted on the Helsinki Exchanges (HEX).