Item
1. Business
PASSUR® Aerospace, Inc. (“PASSUR” or the “Company”), a New York corporation founded in 1967, is a leading business
intelligence company, providing predictive analytics and decision support technology for the aviation industry primarily to improve the operational performance and cash flow of airlines and the airports where they operate. The Company is recognized
as a leader in airline and airport operational efficiency and business aviation marketing and operational solutions. PASSUR is a pioneer in the successful use of big data, with an aviation intelligence platform and suite of web-based solutions that
address the aviation industry’s most intractable and costly challenges, including, but not limited to, the underutilization of airspace and airport capacity, delays, cancellations, and diversions. Several independent studies have estimated the
annual direct costs of such inefficiencies in the United States at over $8 billion annually, and worldwide direct costs at over $30 billion annually. The Company’s technology platform is supported by its Aviation Intelligence Center of Excellence
(“CoE”), a team of subject matter experts with extensive experience in airline, airport, and business aviation operations, finance, air traffic management, systems automation, and data visualization, with specific expertise in the operational and
business needs, requirements, objectives, and constraints of the aviation industry.
PASSUR's mission is to grow global airspace capacity to meet current and future demand for air travel without adding to
costly infrastructure.
We do this by creating a digital, collaborative platform where airlines, airports, and Air Navigation Service Providers
(“ANSPs”) improve their operations often solving problems that can only be achieved by sharing common data and information on a common platform. These analytics extract meaningful information from data to predict, manage, and remove constraints on
the surface and in the air.
PASSUR’s information solutions are used by the largest North American airlines, more than 60 airport customers, including
at the top 30 North American airports, hundreds of corporate aviation customers, and the U.S. government.
We are assembling a growing global operational database, driving an international operational
platform PASSUR is providing to global customers. These capabilities can deliver our Platform faster than otherwise deploying company-sponsored systems. The recent contracts entered into with Air France and other international customers are a
demonstration of this new capability.
PASSUR provides data aggregation and consolidation, information, decision support, predictive analytics, collaborative
solutions, and professional services. PASSUR sources and integrates a multitude of industry data to ensure complete and accurate information, processed in a way that supports specific operational and business requirements, including: proprietary
surveillance technology installed at hundreds of locations; government surveillance and flight planning data feeds; a variety of commercial surveillance data feeds; and direct feeds from airlines and airports.
PASSUR solutions are focused on key objectives and outcomes of our primary market segments:
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Objective
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Outcome
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Airlines
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Aircraft Utilization/Capacity Increase
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Block optimization, fleet planning
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Improved Hub efficiency
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Fly the optimal commercial schedule by ensuring throughput and connectivity
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Improved on time performance
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Passenger (booking) preference and competitive advantage (Yield)
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Reduced cancellations
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Passenger satisfaction and loyalty; higher Net Promoter Score (NPS)
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Airports
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Increased Gate Utilization and more efficient Surface Traffic Flows
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Competitive hub advantage; higher throughput leading to more volume/more concessions/higher aeronautical fees
revenue; improved asset utilization
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On-Time Performance/Punctuality; Irregular Operations Prediction and Recovery
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Higher customer satisfaction; higher rankings in performance surveys; competitive hub advantage; attract and retain
airline entrants
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Air Navigation Service Providers (“ANSPs”)
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Accurate, Early Forecast of Demand and Capacity; Early Indications
of Disruptions
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Right-sized Traffic Management Initiative programs/restrictions
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Reduced Holding and improved Spacing of arrivals and departures
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Most appropriate arrival/departure throughput without comprising safety
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Shorter Taxi Queues and Runway Occupancy Times; Fewer Diversions / Faster Recovery / Irregular Operations (IROPS)
Resilience
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Improved Service Delivery (completion, throughput, reduced holding and diversions)
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PASSUR’s technology advantage rests on 4 pillars, the combination of which is unique:
1.
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Data Aggregation: We source and integrate a multitude of industry data inputs to ensure the most
complete and accurate information, processed in a way that supports specific operational and business requirements.
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2.
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Automation: Decision makers have too many variables to consider, on too many screens. We are
consolidating information into actionable guidance that removes the need for complex, time-consuming manual calculations.
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3.
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Predictive Accuracy: Our technology uses the power of vast amounts of historical data, machine
learning, and a comprehensive view of the real-time environment to generate uniquely accurate, reliable, and relevant forecasting information.
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4.
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Networked Collaboration and Platform: Our collaborative solutions simplify and automate the
information exchange among the key stakeholders that is at the heart of aviation collaboration, enabling coordinated action to jointly solve problems that could not otherwise be addressed by any one participant on their own.
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PASSUR’s Strategic
Objectives
1.
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Increase customer cash flow and operational performance, specifically through Asset Utilization, On Time
Performance, Block Optimization, Reduced Cancellations, and Disruption Management, while growing PASSUR’s revenue in core commercial markets.
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2.
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Organize global airlines, airports, and Air Navigation Service Providers (ANSPs) onto the PASSUR Platform, whereby
greater value is realized by all as more organizations join the customer network.
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3.
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Organize the world’s flight and operations information needed to continue to enhance the PASSUR operational
Platform. In 2018, significant new capabilities were added. Additional capabilities will be integrated into this database as more international customers join the PASSUR network.
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4.
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Develop strategic relationships with major companies to broaden the reach of PASSUR products in the worldwide
commercial and government marketplace.
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5.
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Further expand the reach of PASSUR’s innovative collaborative information sharing platform, which brings together
local, regional, national and international aviation stakeholders in real time to manage complex, expensive and disruptive events.
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PASSUR Core Capabilities
PASSUR
Integrated Traffic Management Platform
PASSUR Integrated Traffic Management (“PITM”) is, in the Company’s opinion, the industry’s first fully integrated air
traffic optimization suite. PITM is a metrics-focused, Key Performance Indicator driven solution platform allowing the customer to first view the most critical information for its operation, and then, as necessary, enabling the user to drill down
for better visualization and analysis.
PITM helps airlines complete their mission, on time, by focusing on the major operational constraints such as diversions,
arrival and departure flow congestion, and airport surface congestion – as well as major irregular operations like disruptive weather, construction closures, large public events, and emergency incidents. The platform connects multiple aviation
stakeholders and missions onto one platform, providing a collaborative environment within and between organizations, to address decisions that can only be solved through the real-time exchange of information on a common operating platform. PITM is
also a platform enabling PASSUR’s partner companies to provide solutions which augment PASSUR capabilities to PASSUR’s customers.
Aviation
Intelligence Center of Excellence to Support Big Data
The Company’s Aviation Intelligence Center of Excellence (“CoE”) is a team of subject matter experts with extensive
experience in airline, airport and business aviation operations, finance, air traffic management, systems automation, and data visualization, with specific expertise in the operational and business needs, requirements, objectives, and constraints
of the aviation industry.
These subject matter experts from the CoE understand the National Airspace System (“NAS”) and are able to translate these
internal requirements and external conditions into information solutions that target specific, measurable problems with defined operational and financial performance metrics. These experts are complemented by a technical team of software engineers,
human-computer interface designers, data scientists, radar engineers, database architects, physicists, and statisticians who have years of expertise in managing complex surveillance networks (hardware and software), as well as interpreting and
converting complex, live aviation data feeds into robust decision support software solutions.
Integrated
Surveillance Network and Integrated Aviation Database
The Company operates what it believes to be the largest and most extensive private commercial aircraft, airport, and
airspace passive surveillance networks in the world. The PASSUR Network integrates additional key surveillance sources, to include Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (“ADS-B”), ASDE-X, Mode S, En Route Radar, Airline OOOI data, ACARS, fleet
databases, as well as other sources. PASSUR also integrates extensive amounts of data from its customer’s systems, such as airline internal flight operations data, and Airport Operational Databases.
The PASSUR Network and database creates a direct data feed of critical flight and airspace behavior and conditions, an
essential precursor resource for predictive analytics, real-time decision support, and performance analysis tools.
All the surveillance data acquired by the PASSUR Network is integrated and correlated into specialized databases to
support predictive, real-time, and post operational requirements. PASSUR databases consolidate multiple overlapping data sets to ensure completeness, accuracy, fulfillment of specific operational requirements, and the normalization of data for a
single-source authoritative record of operational performance. The data processed in these master data repositories supports the key capabilities and attributes of the PASSUR software.
Predictive
Analytics
PASSUR decision support solutions are supported by predictive analytics algorithms, which use extensive historical data
mining and pattern recognition, along with real-time surveillance data, to predict specific and detailed operating conditions. PASSUR predictive analytics are built on several core capabilities:
•
|
Real-time surveillance from the PASSUR Network gives the necessary breadth and granularity of data to support
detailed scenario building and pattern recognition. This includes “fast-time simulation” of the airport surface and terminal area operation, applying the necessary decisions and constraints that controllers will have to apply in managing
the traffic, as well as addressing the highly nonlinear and non-stationary nature of the airport operating environment.
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•
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Detailed, granular data acquired by the PASSUR Network, supplemented by many other data sources collected within
the integrated aviation database, is stored and correlated, providing the large sample sizes required to accurately model future performance based on past performance under similar or identical conditions.
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•
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PASSUR is recognized by airlines as having the best flight predicted arrival time Estimated Time of Arrival
(“ETA”) in the industry. More than ten independent airline studies have demonstrated the PASSUR predicted arrival time to be more accurate than any other source, including the airlines’ own internally-generated ETAs. The Company believes
that this greater accuracy translates directly into significant operational and financial benefits in areas such as completing connections (passengers and bags), reduced fuel consumption, more efficient staffing plans, and greater on-time
schedule completion.
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Decision
Support Dashboards, Key Performance Indicators, and Management by Exception
Many PASSUR solutions are delivered in metrics-driven, dashboard format, simplifying and condensing extensive amounts of
information into the most relevant operational and business metrics, thereby presenting those metrics in a manner that supports immediate performance assessment and actionable decisions. PASSUR solutions are designed so that users are alerted in
real-time to specific conditions and recommended actions, especially during irregular operations, only when operations reach certain user-defined thresholds, thereby preventing information overload.
Collaborative
Capabilities and Industrial Networks
Many PASSUR solutions include a collaborative layer which allows for instant information sharing and coordination of
effort to a wide range of users in the aviation community.
These include industrial networking capabilities, which leverage new technologies
for business uses in the aviation sector, such as PASSUR’s Airport Information Network
,
a single North American-wide site for real
time airport conditions, diversion management, and delay mitigation used by hundreds of aviation professionals. Other PASSUR collaborative capabilities include pre-departure sequencing and/or metering, arrival sequencing, and tarmac delay
management.
PASSUR
Business Intelligence (BI)
PASSUR continues to invest in the data aggregation, mining, and visualization tools to support the industry’s growing need
for data-driven performance measurement and efficiency gains. PASSUR’s BI platform, supported by our Center of Excellence subject matter experts, helps aviation organizations and professionals identify the most important problems to target, where
to invest resources for the greatest gains, and create “before” and “after” profiles to measure their return on investment.
Products and Services
The Company offers targeted solutions to help airlines complete missions on time:
Category
|
PASSUR
solutions description
|
Key growth drivers
|
|
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Traffic Flow Management
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☐
Web dashboard that gives airlines, airports, and Air Navigation Service Providers, (“ANSPs”) the ability to analyze and act on airspace conditions predictively and in
real-time. Helps to ensure the optimal flow of traffic in/out of airports in order to preserve schedule completion and reduce costs.
☐
Provides predictive analytics, alerts, and instant analysis and performance summaries to balance demand and capacity, and forecast disruptions.
☐
Drone Air Traffic Integration is a service
designed to help commercial drone operators become more informed, effective, and collaborative members of the NAS by integrating them into PASSUR’s aviation intelligence platform, currently used by the main NAS stakeholders (airlines,
airports, business aviation, and the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”).
☐
Primary customers: airlines, airports, government, and potentially large drone operators.
|
☐
Enhances airspace throughput and capacity.
☐
Reduces impact of Traffic Management Initiatives (“TMI”), such as eliminating the need for ground delays or ground stops.
☐
TMI costs can exceed $160 million annually for just one airline at larger airports.
☐
Assist drone operators seamlessly integrate
into the NAS.
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Diversion Management
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☐
Web dashboard that provides advanced analytics to alert dispatchers, ATC coordinators, and pilots to divert early, not divert, or select the least-congested alternate
airport for fastest recovery. Now also includes a version to manage large scale diversion events regionally with all main stakeholders.
☐
Allows airlines to decrease the number of diversions they experience and optimize ones that are unavoidable, improving their profitability, passenger scores, and
environmental footprint. Allows airports to be prepared for diversions, delays, and cancellations.
☐
Primary customers: airlines, airports, and government.
|
☐
Reduces the number and cost of unnecessary
diversions.
☐
Ensures aircraft divert to airports that can
enable a faster return to original destination airport.
☐
Diversions cost U.S. domestic airlines more than $400 million annually in direct costs, disrupting more than 1.6 million passengers.
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Flight
Predictability (ETAs and
ETDs)
|
☐
PASSUR XETA data feed optimizes all existing airline and airport processes and systems that depend on knowing when an airplane is going to arrive, without requiring
expensive or disruptive internal changes. Predictive flight arrival and departure times built on multiple sources, including PASSUR’s live and historical surveillance of the airspace. In addition to being a direct solution, XETA also
powers several other PASSUR predictive flow management solutions
☐
Provides accurate gate-to-gate ETA and
Estimated Time of Departure (“ETD”).
☐
Primary customers: airlines and airports.
|
☐
Benefits include completing connections
(passengers, bags, and crew), reduced fuel consumption, more efficient staffing plans, greater on-time schedule completion, reduced gate holds, and helping airlines meet stricter “crew rest” regulations.
☐
Enables better overall planning and scheduling
to maximize revenue opportunities.
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Surface
Management
|
☐
PASSUR Surface Management helps to reduce
extended tarmac delays and taxi-in/taxi-out times, prioritize high-value flights, and facilitate an efficient turn management process (transition of an aircraft from arrival to departure).
☐
A suite of capabilities that combine air and ground surveillance data, visual tracking of aircraft in the airspace and on the airport surface, decision-support software,
and key performance indicator dashboards.
☐
PASSUR’s surface surveillance sensors allow airlines and airports to visualize parts of the airport otherwise not tracked and monitored.
☐
Primary customers: airlines, airports, and
government.
|
☐
Improves the efficiency of arrivals and
departures, preserves schedule integrity, prioritizes high value flights, and reduces surface delays and fuel burn.
☐
Reduces the possibility of tarmac delay fines,
which can exceed $3 million per event.
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Turn Time Management
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☐
Optimizes the transition of an aircraft from
arrival to departure to ensure an on-time departure, schedule completion, and maximum asset utilization.
☐
Minimizes the time required for a plane to
unload from one flight and reload for the next flight by monitoring and proactively alerting to bottlenecks at each phase of the aircraft’s cycle through arrival to departure, allowing flight and passenger handling resources to be adjusted
to ensure an on-time process.
☐
Primary customers: airlines and airports
|
☐
Minimizes the frequency, duration, and
downstream effects of delays.
☐
Ensures on-time schedule completion.
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Connectivity and Collaboration
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☐
Allows airlines, airports and ANSPs to
communicate and coordinate to ensure that time-sensitive, critical information is shared to help manage complex, expensive events that are best addressed when decisions are made on a common operating platform with full visibility into the
behavior and intent of all key parties.
☐
Addresses one of the key missing pieces in
connectivity and collaboration: the two-way flow of accurate, timely, and complete information between airport operators, airlines, and other key stakeholders.
☐
Primary customer: airports (with airlines
as key influencer).
|
☐
Reduced tarmac delay fines and incidents.
☐
Operational metrics directly affected by the lack of timely updates, including secondary/repeat deicing, delays, cancellations, and diversions.
☐
Large-scale regional disruptions, which are increasingly costly financially and reputationally to both airlines and airports.
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Aviation Fees and
Charges
|
☐
Reduces airlines’ operating costs at the
airport, and ensures all airlines pay the correct amount.
☐
Provides unique data independence, accuracy,
and reliability – combined with proven reporting, audit, and billing services – to give airports and airlines the assurance that all billable weight is being captured, that the cost of the airfield is being distributed fairly and equitably,
and that the process is transparent, automated, and standardized.
☐
Primary customer: airports (with airlines
as key influencer).
|
☐
For airports, the program provides faster revenue capture, fiduciary accountability, revenue predictability, and more efficient and fair service to airline stakeholders.
☐
For airlines, the program ensures that they pay only their fair share. In addition, their fees could go down after the airport begins collecting all fees owed, and the time and effort required
to manage their fees is reduced.
☐
PASSUR Landing Fee Management solution manages over $1billion in aviation fees annually.
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The Company believes its products, solutions, and services help its aviation customers generate significant returns by:
(1)
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improving financial performance and cutting costs;
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(2)
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improving operational efficiency and effectiveness;
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(3)
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increasing safety and security; and
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(4)
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improving the passenger experience.
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The Company currently owns 24 issued patents and has an additional 13 patent applications pending with the United States
Patent Office. The issued patents expire in various years through 2033.
The Company also owns a federal registered trademark in the mark PASSUR for use with both the PASSUR hardware system
installation, and the software products which use the data derived from the PASSUR Network and other sources; and allowed federal trademark or the marks Airwayz, NextGen
2
and NextGen
3
, for use with PASSUR Integrated Traffic
Management modules and capabilities.
The Company believes its business opportunities come from the following industry conditions and demand drivers:
Airline Industry Dynamics
·
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Increasing airline
profitability, driving investment in technology.
We expect airlines will take advantage of their increased profitability to invest in technology that can lower costs, increase revenue, and improve customer satisfaction.
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Consolidation in
the airline industry creating demand for a common operating system.
Airlines are consolidating into much larger networks of greater complexity. There is increasing demand for a common operating platform that can service their
entire system. This demand is growing worldwide, not just in the US.
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·
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Current rate of
projected traffic growth outpacing aviation infrastructure capacity.
There is a dynamic and fast-growing market environment where the projected increase in airline flights over the next 10 years is expected to outpace the current
infrastructure’s ability to meet the needs of the airline operators. Over time, airlines cannot rely on low-priced fuel and ancillary fees to grow their top line – they will need growth in capacity of the NAS to accommodate the expected
growth in demand for air travel. PASSUR’s solutions help the aviation industry maximize the capacity of the existing infrastructure. PASSUR has a business model and platform that can be easily scaled to handle new opportunities and is
continually identifying new ways to capitalize on and scale these existing capabilities.
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Increased
susceptibility to systemic disruption.
The NAS has become much more sensitive to disruptions, and less capable of quickly rebounding, because of tightly-packed airline schedules, growth in passenger volumes, reduction in fleet
sizes, and congestion at several key airport metroplexes. The NAS is highly susceptible to disruptions at several key airport metroplexes, which have a chronic and disproportionate delay impact that ripples across the system.
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Growth in
International Hub “MegaAirports.”
A number of airports worldwide are positioning themselves to become global transfer hubs (examples include Toronto, Dubai, Istanbul, Mexico City, Panama, Bogota, Amsterdam Schiphol, and
Frankfurt), and as a result are much more sensitive to traffic management constraints and disruptions and in search of solutions. This adds a new level of demand for PASSUR’s traffic management solutions, including our newest regional
disruption management tools.
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Government Policy
·
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Emphasis on
infrastructure spending.
The most recent U.S. election has resulted in an administration committed to large-scale infrastructure projects, which could include technologies, like PASSUR’s, designed to increase efficiencies to
ensure that public investments in existing and new infrastructure are efficient and cost-effective.
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·
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Large government
contracts combining both safety and efficiency capabilities.
Today, there is a demand for a combination of safety-based Air Traffic Management (“ATM”) and efficiency-based ATM. Many of the requested efficiency capabilities are
derived from airline and airport customers’ needs.
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·
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Government
contracts require proven commercial viability for public programs.
Increasingly, government request for proposals for large-scale aviation systems and technologies require a proven track record of precursor models from the
commercial sector, in order to shorten development time and ensure the broadest level of adoption by all stakeholders. Many companies regard PASSUR’s substantial commercial market share as a means to increase the probability of winning
NextGen and government contracts through the combination of PASSUR’s commercial ATM (efficiency) with a partner’s government ATM (safety) capabilities. PASSUR has been recognized as the commercial leader in aviation efficiency solutions.
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·
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Lower tolerance
for severe disruptions.
Public policy in the form of expensive fines levied on airlines reflects this change of attitude. Consumers want better information relating to aviation, and fewer delays.
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·
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Limiting carbon
emissions becoming a greater focus.
Airlines are increasingly sensitive to the industry’s carbon footprint. Several of the PASSUR solutions impact both fuel savings as well as reductions in carbon emissions.
|
The Connected Airplane and Internet of Things (“IoT”)
·
|
The Connected
Airplane and the IoT are expected to grow in the coming years.
PASSUR’s existing aviation intelligence platform and solutions can integrate the vast array of data being generated from satellites, and sensors on airplanes. This
platform can extract the most important data and integrate that data into a user-friendly solutions package for the user's critical real-time decisions.
|
Collaborative Decision Making
·
|
Airlines,
airports, government, and other aviation stakeholders are requesting a collaborative decision-making platform.
Large airlines need collaborative decision tools including common operating platforms, enabling instant coordination
between system operations departments, hubs, and regional operators, and between airlines, airports, and ANSPs to solve complex operational procedures. Common use systems will incorporate airport-centric as well as airline-centric
solutions. Airports are increasingly being tasked with providing more multi-airline operational services, previously provided by each airline. When airports provide collective services, redundancy and costs can be reduced. PASSUR has been
asked by airlines, airports and ANSPs to help fulfill this need.
|
Automation and Data Standards
·
|
Shift from manual
processes to automation creating large opportunities for cost savings and efficiencies.
Many complex and expensive operational processes at airlines and airports are still manual, opening a large opportunity for automation enabling
the realization of cost savings and efficiencies. These opportunities are especially prevalent in the areas of irregular operations, airspace and surface management, and operations where there is a heavy requirement for collaboration among
airlines and airports.
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|
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·
|
PASSUR’s entire network has used ADS-B for some time and PASSUR is looking forward to capitalizing on the increasing availability of ADS-B data
. ADS-B will eventually become a ubiquitous form of aircraft surveillance.
|
How PASSUR Generates
Revenue
The Company’s revenues are generated by selling: (1) subscription-based, real-time decision and solution information and
(2) professional services. Under the subscription model, the customer typically signs a contract for access to the information services ranging from one year to five years. The agreement also provides that the information from the PASSUR Network
cannot be resold, used by others, or used for unauthorized purposes.
Distribution Method
The Company’s direct sales force sells its products, as do authorized distributors or integrators who sell PASSUR’s
products as part of their total solution, e.g. for live flight status updates or fee collection.
Competition
PASSUR has developed a full suite of capabilities to reduce inefficiencies and improve performance across the markets it
serves. There is no other company, to PASSUR’s knowledge, which offers all of these capabilities. There are, however, other forms of flight tracking, surveillance, and aviation business intelligence products. Depending on the end use of the
Company’s products, primary competitors include Sabre, Saab-Sensis, The Weather Company/IBM, Harris Corporation, Amadeus, Thales, IDS, Metron, and NATS. Most of these companies have larger sales forces and greater financial resources than the
Company.
Source of Materials
The Company obtains its components from distributors and manufacturers throughout the United States. The Company has
multiple sources from which to obtain a majority of its components.
Dependence on Certain Customers
Three customers accounted for 53%, or $7,798,000, of total revenues in fiscal year 2018. One customer accounted for 23%,
or $3,344,000, a second customer accounted for 20%, or $2,995,000, and a third customer accounted for 10%, or $1,459,000 of total revenues in fiscal year 2018. Three customers accounted for 52%, or $7,165,000, of total revenues in fiscal year 2017.
One customer accounted for 22%, or $2,988,000, a second customer accounted for 19%, or $2,637,000, and a third customer accounted for 11%, or $1,540,000 of total revenues in fiscal year 2017. As of October 31, 2018, the Company had two customers
each of which accounted for 10% or more of the accounts receivable balance. One customer accounted for 33%, or $446,000 and a second customer accounted for 21%, or $278,000. As of October 31, 2017, the Company had three customers each of which
accounted for 10% or more of the accounts receivable balance. One customer accounted for 21%, or $309,000, and a second customer accounted for 16%, or $242,000 and a third customer accounted for 15%, or $218,000. There is one customer with a
significant past due accounts receivable balance, which is not one of the major customers described above, which the Company has fully reserved as of the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018.
Environmental Costs
The Company is not aware of any environmental issues that would have a material adverse effect on future capital
expenditures or current and future business operations.
Employees
The Company employed 56 employees, of which 50 were full-time, including four officers, as of October 31, 2018. None of
its employees is subject to any collective bargaining agreements.
Available Information
Stockholders may obtain copies of our filings with the SEC, free of charge from the website maintained by the SEC at
www.sec.gov
or from our website at
www.passur.com
. Our filings will be available on
our website as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such materials with the SEC. However, the information from our website is not incorporated by reference into this report.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
The Company’s success is dependent on the aviation industry. If the Company does
not execute its business plan, or if the market for its services fails to develop due to economic or other factors affecting the aviation industry, the Company’s results of operations and financial results could be adversely affected.
The Company’s revenues are solely derived from the aviation industry. The Company’s future revenues and results of
operations are dependent on its continued execution of its subscription-based revenue strategy and development of new software solutions and applications for the aviation industry. Due to
economic and other factors affecting
the
aviation industry,
there
is
no assurance
that the Company will be able to continue to report growth in
its subscription-based business or sustain its current subscription business. If the Company is unable to sustain and/or increase its levels of revenues, and if it is not successful in reducing costs, its cash requirements may increase and
results of operations will
be adversely affected.
Additionally, the aviation industry has been impacted by budgetary constraints, as well as airline bankruptcies and
consolidations, changes in fuel costs, and the continued war on terrorism. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, caused fundamental and permanent changes in the airline industry, including substantial revenue declines and cost increases,
which resulted in industry-wide liquidity issues. Additional terrorist attacks, or fear of such attacks, even if not made directly, would negatively affect the airline industry (through, for example, increased security, insurance, and other costs,
and lost revenue due to increased ticket refunds and decreased ticket sales), which would, in turn, negatively affect the Company.
The aviation industry is extensively regulated by government agencies, particularly the FAA and the National
Transportation Safety Board. New air travel regulations have been, and management anticipates will continue to be, implemented that could have a negative impact on airline and airport revenues. Since substantially all of the Company’s current
revenues are derived from airports, airlines, or related businesses, continued increased regulations of the aviation industry, or a continued downturn in the aviation industry’s economic situation, could have a material adverse effect on the
Company.
The software business for the aviation industry is highly competitive, and failure to adapt to the changing industry needs could
adversely affect our results of operations, business, and financial condition.
The industry in which we compete is marked by rapid and substantial technology change, the steady emergence of new
companies and products, as well as evolving industry standards and changing customer needs. We compete with many established companies in the industry we serve, and some of these companies may have substantially greater financial, marketing, and
technology resources, larger distribution capabilities, earlier access to potential customers, and greater opportunities to address customers’ various information technology requirements. As the aviation industry seeks to be more cost effective,
product pricing becomes increasingly important for our customers. As a result, we may experience increased competition from certain low-priced competitors. We continue to develop new products, professional services, and existing product
enhancements, but may still be unsuccessful in meeting the needs of our industry in light of other alternatives available in the market. In addition, the pricing of new products, professional services, and existing product enhancements may be above
what is required by the marketplace. Our inability to bring new products, professional services, and existing product enhancements to the market in a timely manner, or the failure to achieve industry acceptance, could adversely affect our business,
financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.
Reliance on the Company’s quarterly operating results as an indication of future
results is inappropriate due to potentially significant fluctuations.
The Company’s future revenues and results of operations may fluctuate significantly due to a combination of factors,
including:
·
|
delays and/or decreases in the signing and invoicing of new contracts;
|
|
|
·
|
the length of time needed to initiate and complete customer contracts;
|
|
|
·
|
the introduction and market acceptance of new and enhanced products and services;
|
|
|
·
|
the costs associated with providing existing and new products and services;
|
|
|
·
|
economic conditions and the impact on the aviation industry of acts of terrorism; and
|
|
|
·
|
the potential of future terrorist acts against the aviation industry and the adverse effects of any further
terrorist attacks or other international hostilities.
|
Accordingly, quarter-to-quarter comparisons of the Company’s results of operations should not be relied upon as an
indication of performance.
The Company may be unable to raise additional funds to meet operating capital
requirements in the future.
Fiscal year 2018 was the second year since fiscal year 2005 in which the Company did not generate positive income from
operations. While the Company’s goal is returning to positive income from operations in fiscal year 2019, future liquidity and capital requirements are difficult to predict, as they depend on numerous factors, including the maintenance and growth
of existing product lines and service offerings, as well as the ability to develop, provide, and sell new products and services in an industry for which liquidity and resources are already adversely affected. The Company has obtained a commitment
from its significant shareholder and Chairman to provide the resources necessary to meet working capital and liquidity requirements through January 29
, 2020.
In recent years, the Company generated sufficient cash to meet its capital requirements. However, in fiscal year 2018 the
Company borrowed $2,250,000. In future years, the Company may need to raise additional funds in order to support discretionary expenditures and execute its business plan. These funds, in some cases, may be beyond the scope of the Company’s normal
operating requirements. In such case, the Company may be required to seek alternate sources of financing (which may not be available on favorable terms or at all) or abandon such activities by: (1) terminating or eliminating certain operating
activities; (2) terminating personnel; (3) eliminating marketing activities; and/or (4) eliminating research and development programs. If any of the aforementioned occurs, the Company’s ability to expand could become adversely affected.
The Company incurred losses for the second time in the previous thirteen fiscal
years.
The Company had been profitable from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2016. However, for the past two fiscal years,
the Company has recorded net losses. For the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, the Company had a loss before taxes of $5,480,000. The Company’s ability to return to profitability will depend upon its ability to generate significant increased
revenues through new and existing customer agreements, additional services, and/or products offered to existing and new customers, and control costs associated with business operations. There can be no assurance that the Company will be able to
execute on these requirements. The Company has obtained a commitment from its significant shareholder and Chairman to provide the resources necessary to meet working capital and liquidity requirements through January 29
, 2020.
The Company may not be able to sustain or increase its profits on a quarterly or annual basis in the future. Also, should
the Company’s investment in capitalized software development costs become impaired, there would be a negative impact on the Company’s profitability.
A
limited number of customer contracts accounts for a high percentage of the Company’s revenues, and the inability to replace a key customer contract could adversely affect its results of operations, business, and financial condition.
The Company relies on a small number of customer contracts for a large percentage of its revenues and expects that a
significant percentage of its revenues will continue to be derived from a limited number of customer contracts. The Company’s top five customers accounted for 60% of its revenue in fiscal year 2018. The Company’s business plan is to obtain
additional customers, but the Company anticipates that near-term revenues and operating results will continue to depend on large contracts from a small number of customers.
Additionally, the aviation industry, particularly the airline sector, has experienced bankruptcies and consolidations
recently. Bankruptcy filings or consolidations by our existing customers may adversely affect our ability to continue such services and collect payments due to the Company by such customers. As a result of this concentration of our customer base,
an inability to replace one or more of these large customer contracts could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.
The Company depends upon certain key personnel and may not be able to retain these
employees.
The Company’s future performance depends on the continued services of its key sales, technical, and engineering personnel.
The Company continues to depend on the efforts of a limited number of key personnel. The employment of any of the Company’s key personnel could cease at any time, which could have an adverse effect on our business.
The PASSUR Network could experience disruptions, which could affect the delivery of
data.
AT&T hosts and maintains the Company’s network infrastructure through an existing frame-relay and Multiprotocol Label
Switching (“MPLS”) network and the Company’s wireless network is hosted and maintained by Sprint. If AT&T or Sprint experiences system failures, or fails to adequately maintain the frame-relay, MPLS, and wireless networks, the Company may
experience interruption of delivery of data/software services and customers may terminate or elect not to continue to subscribe to these services in the future. The Company’s network infrastructure may be vulnerable to computer viruses, break-ins,
denial of service attacks, and similar disruptive problems. Computer viruses, break-ins, denial of service attacks, or other problems caused by third parties, could lead to interruptions, delays, or cessation in service to customers. There is
currently no existing technology that provides absolute security. Such incidents could deter potential customers and adversely affect existing customer relationships.
Security breaches could expose the Company to liability and damage its reputation
and business.
The Company processes, stores, and transmits large amounts of data and it is critical to its business strategy that its
facilities and infrastructure, including those provided by customers and vendors, remain secure and are perceived by the marketplace to be secure. The Company’s infrastructure may be vulnerable to physical break-ins, computer viruses, attacks by
hackers or nefarious actors or similar disruptive problems. Any physical or electronic break-in or other security breach or compromise of the information handled by the Company or its service providers may jeopardize the security or integrity of
information in the Company’s computer systems and networks or those of its customers and cause significant interruptions and/or errors in the Company’s products and solutions.
The systems and processes that the Company has developed that are designed to protect customer information and prevent
data loss and other security breaches cannot provide absolute security. In addition, the Company may not successfully implement remediation plans to address all potential exposures. It is possible that the Company may have to expend additional
financial and other resources to address such problems. Failure to prevent or mitigate data loss or other security breaches could expose the Company or its customers to a risk of loss or misuse of such information, cause customers to lose
confidence in the Company’s data protection measures, damage the Company’s reputation, adversely affect the Company’s operating results or result in litigation or potential liability for the Company. While the Company maintains insurance coverage
that may, subject to policy terms and conditions, cover certain aspects of cyber risks, such insurance coverage may be insufficient to cover all of its losses.
The Company may be subject to new government regulations relating to the
distribution of flight-tracking data.
The Company currently maintains strict security regulations for its data in order to comply with current government
regulations. Due to the continued growing safety needs and concerns of the aviation industry, new government regulations may be implemented. Such new regulations may, in some cases, hinder the Company’s ability to provide current and/or additional
services.
Unauthorized use of the Company’s intellectual properties by third parties may
damage and/or adversely affect its business.
The Company regards its trademarks, trade secrets, and all other intellectual property as critical to its future success.
Unauthorized use of its intellectual property by third parties may damage and/or impair its business. The Company relies on trademarks, trade secrets, patent protection, and contracts, including confidentiality and non-exclusive license agreements
with its customers, employees, consultants, strategic partners, and others to protect its intellectual property rights. Despite these precautions, it may be possible for third parties to obtain and use the Company’s intellectual property without
its prior knowledge and/or authorization. Prosecuting infringers could be time consuming and costly, and, irrespective of whether or not the Company is successful, could disrupt its business.
The Company currently owns twenty-four issued patents and has an additional thirteen patent applications which are pending
with the United States Patent Office, some of which relate to newly developed internet-based software applications. The issued patents expire in various years through 2033. The Company intends to seek additional patents on its products,
technological advances, and/or software applications, when appropriate. There can be no assurance that patents will be issued for any of its pending or future patent applications, or that any claims allowed from such applications will be of
sufficient scope, or provide adequate protection or any commercial advantage to the Company. Additionally, competitors may be able to design around patents and possibly affect commercial interests.
The Company also owns a federal registered trademark in the mark PASSUR for use with both the PASSUR hardware system
installation, and the software products which use the data derived from the PASSUR Network and other sources; and allowed federal trademark for the marks Airwayz, NextGen
2
and NextGen
3
,
for use with PASSUR
Integrated Traffic Management modules and capabilities. The Company believes that the PASSUR, Airwayz, NextGen
2
and NextGen
3
federal registrations will allow the Company to enforce its rights in the marks in the federal court
system. The registrations do not assure that others will be prevented from using similar trademarks in connection with related products and/or services.
Defending against intellectual property claims could pose significant legal and
professional costs, and if unsuccessful, could adversely affect the Company.
The Company cannot guarantee that its future products, technologies, and software applications will not inadvertently
infringe valid patents or other intellectual property rights held by third parties. The Company may be subject to legal proceedings and claims from time to time relating to the intellectual property of others. Investigation of any such claims from
third parties, alleging infringement of their intellectual property, with or without merit, can be expensive and could affect development, marketing, selling, or delivery of its products. Defending against intellectual property infringement claims
could be time consuming and costly, and, irrespective of whether or not the Company is successful, could disrupt its business. The Company may incur substantial expenses in defending against these third-party claims, regardless of their merit.
Successful infringement claims against the Company may result in significant monetary liability and could adversely affect its business, financial condition, operating results, and cash flow.
Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 will require substantial financial
and management resources.
Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 requires that the Company evaluate and report on its system of internal
controls and, if and when the Company is no longer a “smaller reporting company,” will require that the Company have such system of internal controls audited. If the Company fails to maintain the adequacy of its internal controls, the Company could
be subject to regulatory scrutiny, civil or criminal penalties and/or stockholder litigation. Any inability to provide reliable financial reports could harm the Company’s business. Furthermore, any failure to implement required new or improved
controls, or difficulties encountered in the implementation of adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future, could harm the Company’s operating results or cause the Company to fail to meet its reporting obligations,
which could have a negative effect on the trading price of the Company’s securities.
Item 1B. Unresolved Staff
Comments
None.
Item 2. Properties
The Company’s headquarters are located at One Landmark Square, Suite 1900, Stamford,
Connecticut. Effective June 26, 2009, the Company entered into a five-year lease for 4,000 square feet of office space. This lease was modified during fiscal year 2010, extending the term of the original lease through January 31, 2018, and adding
1,300 square feet of office space for a total of 5,300 square feet. On November 20, 2017, the Company modified this lease agreement, extending the term to June 30, 2023, at an average annual rental rate of $220,000.
The Company's hardware and software development and manufacturing facility is located in a one-story, 36,000 square foot
building at 35 Orville Drive, Bohemia, New York. The Company, which renewed the lease through October 31, 2020, leases 12,000 square feet at an average annual rental rate of $139,000.
The Company's primary software development facility is located at 5750 Major Blvd, Suite 530, Orlando, Florida. Effective
May 1, 2016, the Company expanded its offices and entered into a five-year lease for 3,445 square feet of office space at an average annual rental rate of $64,000.
The Company has sales offices in Bloomington, Minnesota and in Vienna, Virginia,
which are subject to leases through July 31, 2019 and 2021, respectively, at an average rental rate of $16,000 and $83,000, respectively.
The Company entered into a new
five-year lease in December 2017 for a regional office in Irving, Texas, for 2,030 square feet of office space, at an average annual rental rate of $60,000.
The Company believes these rates are competitive and are at or below market rates. The Company’s headquarters and software
development and manufacturing facilities are suitable for its requirements.
Item 3. Legal Proceedings
The Company is not aware of any material pending legal proceedings to which the Company or its Subsidiary is a party or to
which any of its properties are subject.
Item 4. Mine Safety
Disclosures
Not applicable.
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
October 31, 2018
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Business
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. (“PASSUR” or the “Company”), a New York corporation founded in 1967, is a business
intelligence company, providing predictive analytics and decision support technology for the aviation industry primarily to improve the operational performance and cash flow of airlines and the airports where they operate. PASSUR uses big data,
within the aviation intelligence platform and a suite of web-based solutions that address the aviation industry’s intractable and costly challenges, including, but not limited to, the underutilization of airspace and airport capacity, delays,
cancellations, and diversions. The Company’s technology platform is supported by its Aviation Intelligence Center of Excellence, a team of subject matter experts with extensive experience in airline, airport, and business aviation operations,
finance, air traffic management, systems automation, and data visualization, with specific expertise in the operational and business needs, requirements, objectives, and constraints of the aviation industry.
PASSUR’s mission is to improve global air traffic efficiencies by connecting the world’s aviation
professionals onto a single aviation intelligence platform, making PASSUR an element in addressing the aviation industry’s system-wide inefficiencies. We are an aviation intelligence company that makes air travel more predictable, gate-to-gate, by
using predictive analytics generated from our own big data – to mitigate constraints for airlines and their customers.
PASSUR’s information solutions are used by the five largest North American airlines, more than 60 airport
customers, including 20 of the top 30 North American airports (with PASSUR solutions also used at the remaining ten airports by one or more airline customers), over a hundred business aviation customers, and the U.S. government.
PASSUR provides data aggregation and consolidation, information, decision support, predictive analytics,
collaborative solutions, and professional services. To enable this unique offering, PASSUR owns and operates the largest commercial passive radar network in the world that updates flight tracks every 1 to 4.6 seconds, powering a proprietary
database that is accessible in real-time and delivers timely, accurate information and solutions via PASSUR’s industry-leading algorithms and business logic included in its products.
Solutions offered by PASSUR help to ensure flight completion, covering the entire flight life cycle, from
gate to gate, and result in reductions in overall costs and carbon emissions, while helping to maximize revenue opportunities, as well as improving operational efficiency and enhancing the passenger experience.
PASSUR’s commercial solutions give aviation operators the ability to optimize performance in today’s air
traffic management system, while also achieving Next Generation Air Transportation System (“NextGen”) and Single European Sky ATM Research objectives.
PASSUR integrates data from multiple sources, including its independent network of surveillance sensors
installed throughout North America creating coast to coast coverage, as well as locations in Europe and Asia; government data; customer data; and data from third party partners. PASSUR’s sensors receive aircraft and drone signals in Mode A, C, S,
and Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (“ADS-B”), providing position, altitude, beacon code, and tail number, among other information. PASSUR receives signals from aircraft that, when combined with its historical database of aircraft and
airport behavior, including information recorded by its network over the last 10 years, allow the Company to know more about what has happened historically and what is happening in real-time. In addition, the historical database allows the Company
to predict how aircraft, the airspace, and airports are going to perform, and more importantly, how the aircraft, the airspace, and airports should perform.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Liquidity
The Company’s current liabilities exceeded current assets, excluding deferred revenue by $693,000 as of October 31, 2018.
The note payable to a related party, G.S. Beckwith Gilbert, the Company’s significant shareholder and Chairman, was $6,050,000 at October 31, 2018, with a maturity of November 1, 2019. The Company’s stockholders’ equity was $3,614,000 at October
31, 2018. The Company had a net loss of $5,484,000 for the year ended October 31, 2018.
If the Company’s business plan does not generate sufficient cash flows from operations to meet the Company’s operating
cash requirements, the Company will attempt to obtain external financing on commercially reasonable terms. However, the Company has received a commitment from G.S. Beckwith Gilbert, dated January
29
, 2019, that if
the Company, at any time, is unable to meet its obligations through January 29
, 2020, G.S. Beckwith Gilbert will provide the necessary
continuing financial support to the Company in order for the Company to meet such obligations. Such commitment for financial support may be in the form of additional advances or loans to the Company, in addition to the deferral of principal and/or
interest payments due on the existing loans, if deemed necessary. The note payable is secured by the Company’s assets.
Basis of Presentation
The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and its
wholly-owned Subsidiary. All significant inter-company transactions and balances have been eliminated in consolidation.
Certain financial information in the footnotes has been rounded to the nearest thousand for
presentation purposes.
Revenue Recognition Policy
The Company recognizes revenue in accordance with the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”)
Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 605-15, “Revenue Recognition in Financial Statements” (“ASC 605-15”), which requires that four basic criteria must be met before revenues can be recognized: (1) persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists;
(2) delivery has occurred or services have been rendered; (3) the fee is fixed or determinable; and (4) collectability is reasonably assured.
The Company’s revenues are generated by selling: (1) subscription-based, real-time decision and
solution information and (2) professional services.
Revenues generated from subscription agreements are recognized over the term of such executed
agreements and/or the customer’s receipt of such data or services. In accordance with ASC 605-15, the Company recognizes revenue when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists which is evidenced by a signed agreement, the service has been
deployed, as applicable, to its hosted servers, the fee is fixed and determinable, and collection of the resulting receivable is reasonably assured. The Company records revenues pursuant to individual contracts on a month-by-month basis, as
outlined by the applicable agreement. In many cases, the Company may invoice respective customers in advance of the specified period, either quarterly or annually, which coincides with the terms of the agreement. In such cases, the Company will
defer at the close of each month and/or reporting period, any subscription revenues invoiced for which services have yet to be rendered, in accordance with ASC 605-15. Revenues generated by professional services are recognized when services are
provided.
The individual offerings that are included in arrangements with the Company’s customers are
identified and priced separately to the customer based upon the relative fair value for each individual element sold in the arrangement irrespective of the combination of products and services which are included in a particular arrangement. As
such, the units of accounting are based on each individual element sold, and revenue is allocated to each element based on selling price. Selling price is determined using vendor-specific objective evidence ("VSOE") if available, third-party
evidence ("TPE") if VSOE is not available, or best estimate of selling price ("BESP") if neither VSOE or TPE is available. BESP must be determined in a
manner that
is consistent with that used to determine the price to sell the specific elements on a standalone basis. BESP is established considering multiple factors including, but not limited to, pricing practices with different classes of customers,
geographies and other factors contemplated in negotiating the arrangement with the customer. The Company uses either VSOE or BESP.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
From time to time, the Company will enter into an agreement with a customer to receive a one-time fee
for rights including, but not limited to, the rights to use certain data at an agreed upon location(s) for a specific use and/or for an unlimited number of users, installation costs associated with the deployment of additions to the Company owned
PASSUR Network, or set-up fees associated with new deployments of the Company software solutions. These fees are recognized as revenue ratably over the term of the agreement or relationship period of such arrangement, whichever is longer, but
typically five years.
Deferred revenue is classified on the Company’s balance sheet as a liability until such time as
revenue from services is properly recognized as revenue in accordance with ASC 605-15 and the corresponding agreement.
Use of Estimates
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted
in the United States of America (“GAAP”) requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements
and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. The Company’s significant estimates include those related to revenue recognition, stock-based compensation, software development costs, the PASSUR Network and income
taxes. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
Subsequent Events
Management has evaluated subsequent events after the balance sheet date, through the issuance of the
financial statements, for appropriate accounting and disclosure.
Accounts Receivable, net
The Company has a history of successfully collecting all amounts due from its customers under the
original terms of its subscription agreements without making concessions. The Company records accounts receivables for agreements where amounts due from customers are contractually required and are non-refundable. The carrying amount of accounts
receivables is reduced by a valuation allowance that reflects the Company’s best estimate of the amounts that will not be collected. Net accounts receivable is comprised of the monthly, quarterly, or annual committed amounts due from customers
pursuant to the terms of each respective customer’s agreement. Account receivable balances include amounts attributable to deferred revenues. The Company’s accounts receivable balances included $12,000 of unbilled receivables associated with
contractually committed services provided to existing customers during the twelve months ended October 31, 2018, which will be invoiced subsequent to October 31, 2018. As of October 31, 2017, the Company’s accounts receivable balance included
$51,000 of unbilled receivables associated with contractually committed services provided to existing customers.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
The provision for doubtful accounts was $159,000 and $184,000 as of October 31, 2018, and 2017,
respectively. In addition to reviewing delinquent accounts receivable, the Company considers many factors in estimating its reserve, including historical data, experience, customer types, credit worthiness, and economic trends. The Company monitors
its outstanding accounts receivable balances and believes the provision is adequate.
Property and Equipment
Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the
estimated useful lives of the related assets. Amortization of leasehold improvements is calculated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the improvements or the term of the lease, including renewal options expected to be
exercised, whichever is shorter.
PASSUR Network
The PASSUR Network is comprised of PASSUR and SMLAT Systems, which include the direct production, shipping, and
installation costs incurred for each PASSUR and SMLAT System, which are recorded at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is charged to cost of revenues and is recorded using the straight-line method over the estimated useful life of
the asset, which is estimated at five years for SMLAT Systems and seven years for PASSUR Systems. PASSUR and SMLAT Systems which are not installed, raw materials, work-in-process, and finished goods components are carried at cost and not
depreciated until installed.
Capitalized Software Development Costs
The Company follows the provisions of ASC 350-40, “Internal Use Software” (“ASC 350-40”). ASC 350-40
provides guidance for determining whether computer software is internal-use software, and on accounting for the proceeds of computer software originally developed or obtained for internal use and then subsequently sold to the public. It also
provides guidance on capitalization of the costs incurred for computer software developed or obtained for internal use. The Company expenses all costs incurred during the preliminary project stage of its development, and capitalizes the costs
incurred during the application development stage. Costs incurred relating to upgrades and enhancements to the software are capitalized if it is determined that these upgrades or enhancements add additional functionality to the software. Costs
incurred to improve and support products after they become available are charged to expense as incurred. The Company records amortization of the software on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of the software, typically over five
years within “Cost of Revenues”.
Long-Lived Assets
The Company reviews long-lived assets for impairment when circumstances indicate the carrying amount
of an asset may not be recoverable. Impairment is recognized to the extent the sum of undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset is less than the carrying value. Assets to be disposed of are carried at the
lower of their carrying value or fair value, less costs to sell. The Company evaluates the periods of amortization continually in determining whether later events and circumstances warrant revised estimates of useful lives. If estimates are
changed, the unamortized costs will be allocated to the increased or decreased number of remaining periods in the asset’s revised life.
During the fiscal year ended October 31, 2018, the Company recorded approximately $230,000, $510,000
and
$960,000, a total of $1,700,000
, of costs associated with an increase in the provision for obsolete and slow moving PASSUR Network parts and
supplies, an impairment charge and write-off of carrying amounts related to certain PASSUR Network systems, and capitalized software development costs, respectively. Please refer to footnotes below for further details. The Company did not have any
additions to inventory reserves, impairment charges, or write-offs during the fiscal year ended October 31, 2017.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Cost of Revenues
Costs associated with subscription and maintenance revenues consist primarily of direct labor,
depreciation of PASSUR and SMLAT Network Systems, amortization of capitalized software development costs, communication costs, data feeds, travel and entertainment, and consulting fees. Also, included in cost of revenues are costs associated with
upgrades to PASSUR and SMLAT Systems necessary to make such systems compatible with new software applications, as well as the ordinary repair and maintenance of existing PASSUR and SMLAT Systems. Additionally, cost of revenues in each reporting
period is impacted by: (1) the number of PASSUR and SMLAT Systems added to the network, which includes the cost of production, shipment, and installation of these assets, which are capitalized to the PASSUR Network and (2) new capitalized costs
associated with software development projects. Both of these are referred to as “Capitalized Assets” and are depreciated and/or amortized over their respective useful lives and charged to cost of revenues.
Income Taxes
The Company follows the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Deferred income taxes are recorded to reflect the
temporary differences in the tax bases of the assets or liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. The Company recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the expected future tax consequences of events that have been
included in the Company’s financial statements or tax returns. Under this method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined based on the difference between the financial statement and tax basis of assets and liabilities using enacted tax
rates in effect for the year in which the differences are expected to reverse. Valuation allowances are established when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount currently estimated to be realized. After considering the impact of the
current year loss, including the Company’s increased expenses and weighting all available positive and negative evidence, the Company concluded that it was not more likely than not that the net deferred tax asset would be realized.
The Company follows ASC 740, “Income Taxes,”
(“ASC 740”) where tax benefits are recognized only for tax positions that are more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. The amount recognized is measured as the largest amount of benefit that is greater than 50%
likely to be realized upon ultimate settlement. Unrecognized tax benefits are tax benefits claimed in tax returns that do not meet these recognition and measurement standards. At October 31, 2018, the Company did not have any uncertain tax
positions. As permitted by ASC 740-10, the Company’s accounting policy is to prospectively classify accrued interest and penalties related to any unrecognized tax benefits in its income tax provision
.
On December 22, 2017 the U.S. government enacted comprehensive tax reform commonly referred to as the Tax
Cuts and Jobs Act (“TCJA”). Under Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 740, the effects of changes in tax rates and laws are recognized in the period which the new legislation is enacted. The TCJA makes broad and complex changes to the U.S.
tax code, including, but not limited to: (1) reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21% effective January 1, 2018; (2) changing rules related to uses and limitations of net operating loss carryforwards created in tax years
beginning after December 31, 2017; (3) accelerated expensing on certain qualified property; (4) creating a new limitation on deductible interest expense to 30% of tax adjusted EBITDA through 2021 and then 30% of tax adjusted EBIT thereafter; (5)
eliminating the corporate alternative minimum tax; and (6) further limitations on the deductibility of executive compensation under IRC §162(m) for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. As the reduction in the U.S. federal corporate tax
rate is administratively effective on January 1, 2018, our blended U.S. federal tax rate for the year ended October 31, 2018 was approximately 23.2%.
In response to the TCJA, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) staff issued Staff Accounting
Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”), which provides guidance on accounting for the tax effects of TCJA. The purpose of SAB 118 was to address any uncertainty or diversity of view in applying ASC Topic 740, Income Taxes in the reporting period in which
the TCJA was
enacted. SAB 118 addresses situations where the accounting is incomplete for certain income tax effects of the TJCA upon issuance of a
company’s financial statements for the reporting period which include the enactment date. SAB 118 allows for a
provisional amount to be recorded if
it is a reasonable estimate of the impact of the TCJA. Additionally, SAB 118 allows for a measurement period to finalize the impacts of the TCJA, not to extend beyond one year from the date of enactment.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
In connection with the TCJA, the Company recorded income tax benefit of $1,127,000 related to the
re-measurement of our deferred tax assets and liabilities for the reduced U.S. federal corporate tax rate of 21%. Such amount was fully offset by a change in our valuation allowance. The Company’s accounting for the TCJA is complete as of October
31, 2018.
Research and Development Costs
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred.
Net Loss per Share Information
Basic net loss per share is computed based on the weighted average number of shares outstanding.
Diluted earnings per share is computed similarly to basic earnings per share, except that it reflects the effect of common shares issuable upon exercise of stock options, using the treasury stock method in periods in which they have a dilutive
effect. Shares used to calculate net loss per share for fiscal years 2018 and 2017 are as follows:
|
|
2018
|
|
|
2017
|
|
Basic Weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
7,696,091
|
|
|
|
7,693,831
|
|
Effect of dilutive stock options
|
|
|
-
|
|
|
|
-
|
|
Diluted weighted average shares outstanding
|
|
|
7,696,091
|
|
|
|
7,693,831
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Weighted average shares which are not included in
the calculation of diluted net loss per share
because their impact is anti-dilutive.
These shares
consist of stock options.
|
|
|
1,522,000
|
|
|
|
1,594,000
|
|
Weighted average options to purchase 1,522,000 and 1,594,000 shares of common stock at prices ranging
from $1.40 to $5.48 per share that were outstanding during fiscal years 2018 and 2017, were excluded from each respective year’s computation of diluted earnings per share. In each of these years, such options’ exercise prices exceeded the average
market price of our common stock, thereby causing the effect of such options to be anti-dilutive.
Deferred Revenue
Deferred revenue includes amounts attributable to advances received or billings related to customer
agreements, which are contractually required and are non-refundable, and may be prepaid either annually, quarterly, or monthly. Deferred revenues from such customer agreements are recognized as revenue ratably over the period that coincides with
the respective agreement. The Company recognizes initial set-up fee revenues and associated costs on a straight-line basis over the estimated life of the customer relationship period, typically five years.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The recorded amounts of the Company’s cash, receivables, and accounts payables approximate their fair
values principally because of the short-term nature of these items. The fair value of related party debt is not practicable to determine due primarily to the fact that the Company’s related party debt is held by its Chairman and significant
shareholder, and the Company does not have any third-party debt with which to compare.
Additionally, on a recurring basis, the Company uses fair value measures when analyzing asset
impairments. Long-lived assets and certain identifiable intangible assets are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable. If it is determined such
indicators are present, and the review indicates that the assets will not be fully recoverable based on the undiscounted estimated future cash flows expected to result from the use of the asset, their carrying values are reduced to estimated fair
value.
Stock-Based Compensation
The Company follows FASB ASC 718 “Compensation-Stock Compensation”, which requires measurement of
compensation cost for all stock-based awards at fair value on date of grant, and recognition of stock-based compensation expense over the service period for awards expected to vest. The fair value of stock options was determined using the
Black-Scholes valuation model. Such fair value is recognized as an expense over the service period, net of forfeitures. Stock-based compensation expense was $646,000 and $578,000 for the year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and was
primarily included in selling, general, and administrative expenses.
Comprehensive Loss
The Company’s comprehensive loss is equivalent to that of the Company’s total net loss for fiscal
years 2018 and 2017.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements Adopted
In March 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2016-09, “Improvements to
Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting.” The new guidance on accounting for employee share-based payment awards was designed to simplify the accounting related to several aspects of accounting for share-based payment transactions, including income
tax consequences of share-based payment transactions, classification of awards as either equity or liabilities, forfeitures, and classification on the statement of cash flows. The new standard is effective for the annual period beginning after
December 15, 2016, including interim reporting periods within that period, which for the Company will be effective November 1, 2018. In accordance with the new guidance, the Company has made a policy election to account for forfeitures when they
occur. The Company adopted this guidance during the quarter ended January 31, 2018, using the modified retrospective method, with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures because the Company has a full
valuation allowance on its current and non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities.
In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU 2015-17, Income Taxes (Topic 740) Balance Sheet Classification
of Deferred Assets. This ASU is intended to simplify the presentation of deferred taxes on the balance sheet and will require an entity to present all deferred tax assets and deferred tax liabilities as non-current on the balance sheet. Under the
current guidance, entities are required to separately present deferred taxes as current or non-current. This guidance will be effective beginning in 2018, with early adoption permitted. The Company adopted this guidance during the quarter ended
January 31, 2018 with no material impact to its consolidated financial statements and related disclosures because the Company has a full valuation allowance on its current and non-current deferred tax assets and liabilities.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
1. Description of Business and Significant Accounting Policies (continued)
Accounting Pronouncements Issued but not yet Adopted
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, “Compensation—Stock Compensation: Topic 718” — Scope of
Modification Accounting (“ASU 2017-09”), to clarify when to account for a change in the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award as a modification. Under the new standard, modification is required only if the fair value, the vesting
conditions, or the classification of an award as equity or liability changes as a result of the change in terms or conditions. ASU 2017-09 will be effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2018 and will be applied prospectively.
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, which amends the ASC and creates Topic 842, Leases (“Topic 842”). Topic 842
will require lessees to recognize lease assets and lease liabilities for those leases classified as operating leases under previous GAAP on the balance sheet. This guidance is effective for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2018, which
will be effective for the Company beginning November 1, 2019, and early adoption is permitted. The Company's preliminary analysis indicates that the Company will recognize a liability for remaining lease payments and a right-of-use asset related to
the Company's operating lease covering its corporate office facility that expires in June 2023 and other office locations. The Company is in the initial stages of evaluating the effect of the standard on the Company's financial statements.
In May 2014, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers:
Topic 606” (“ASU 2014-09”), to supersede nearly all-existing revenue recognition guidance under GAAP. The core principle of ASU 2014-09 is to recognize revenues when promised goods or services are transferred to customers in an amount that
reflects the consideration that is expected to be received for those goods or services, ASU 2014-09 defines a five step process to achieve this core principle and, in doing so, it is possible more judgment and estimates may be required within the
revenue recognition process than required under existing GAAP including identifying performance obligations in the contract, estimating the amount of variable consideration to include in the transaction price and allocating the transaction price
to each separate performance obligation. The new standard is effective for the annual period beginning after December 15, 2017, including interim reporting periods within that period, which will be effective for the Company beginning November 1,
2018.
The guidance permits two
methods of adoption: retrospectively to each prior reporting period presented (“Full Retrospective Method”) or retrospectively with the cumulative effect of applying the guidance recognized in retained earnings as of the date of adoption
(“Modified Retrospective Method”). The Company has formed an implementation team and is completing the process of evaluating the impact of the adoption of ASU 2014-09 to its consolidated financial statements, accounting policies and processes.
The Company adopted the new standard using the Modified Retrospective Approach.
The Company concluded that there will be no changes in how sales commissions will be recorded
.
The Company is continuing
to assess the impact of adopting ASU 2014-09 on its financial position, results
of operations and related disclosures and believes that the impact is not material. The Company believes that the new standard will have an impact on the following policies and disclosures:
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·
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recognizing upfront fees that do not provide the customer with a
material right over the contract term rather than over the estimated customer relationship of five years; and
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·
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required disclosures including disaggregation of revenues,
information about the remaining transaction price and when the Company expects to recognize revenue.
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2. Property and Equipment, net
Property and equipment consist of the following as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
Estimated useful lives
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2018
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2017
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|
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Leasehold improvements
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3-5 years
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$
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216,000
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$
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216,000
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Equipment
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5-10 years
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6,212,000
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5,960,000
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Furniture and fixtures
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5-10 years
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593,000
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585,000
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|
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7,021,000
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6,761,000
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Less accumulated depreciation
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6,348,000
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5,909,000
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Total
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$
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673,000
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$
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852,000
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The Company recorded depreciation expense on the assets included in property and equipment of
$439,000 and $590,000 for the year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
3. PASSUR Network, net
PASSUR Network consists of the following as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
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2018
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2017
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PASSUR Network, beginning balance
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$
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19,788,000
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$
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18,387,000
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Additions
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322,000
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1,401,000
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Write-off
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(510,000
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)
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-
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Inventory reserve
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(230,000
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)
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Total capitalized PASSUR Network costs
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19,370,000
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19,788,000
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Less accumulated depreciation
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14,569,000
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13,784,000
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PASSUR Network, ending balance, net
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$
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4,801,000
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$
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6,004,000
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The Company capitalized $242,000 and $1,197,000, of PASSUR Network costs, for the year ended October 31 2018 and 2017,
respectively. Depreciation expense related to the Company-owned PASSUR Network was $785,000 and $595,000 for the period ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Depreciation is charged to cost of revenues and is calculated using the
straight-line method over the estimated useful life of the asset, which is estimated at seven and five years for PASSUR and SMLAT systems, respectively.
Additionally, the Company purchased parts for the PASSUR Network totaling $80,000 and $204,000, for the year ended
October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
The net carrying balance of the PASSUR Network as of October 31, 2018 and October 31, 2017, was $4,801,000 and $6,004,000,
respectively. Included in the net carrying balance as of October 31, 2018, were parts and finished goods for PASSUR and SMLAT Systems totaling $1,316,000 and $576,000, respectively, which have not yet been installed. As of October 31, 2017,
$1,636,000 and $642,000 of parts and finished goods for PASSUR and SMLAT systems, respectively, were included in the net carrying balance of the PASSUR Network. PASSUR and SMLAT Systems which are not installed are carried at cost and not
depreciated until installed.
As of October 31, 2018, depreciation expense for the PASSUR Network assets, where depreciation has
commenced, is estimated to approximate $850,000, $823,000, $570,000, $409,000, and $103,000, for the fiscal years ended October 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively.
PASSUR Aerospace, Inc. and Subsidiary
Notes to
Consolidated Financial Statements (continued)
3. PASSUR Network, net (continued)
During fiscal year 2018, the Company increased it’s reserve for PASSUR Network parts and supplies by
$230,000, bringing the reserve to approximately $270,000. Additionally, during the fiscal year, the Company determined that certain PASSUR Network assets were no longer likely to generate future revenue as a result of a change in a customer’s
requirements at a specific location, which resulted in an impairment charge and write-off of approximately $510,000. These costs were recorded within “Cost of Revenues”. The Company did not dispose of or record any impairments related to any of the
PASSUR Network assets in fiscal years 2017.
4. Capitalized Software Development Costs
PASSUR Software Development costs consist of the following as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
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2018
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2017
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Software development costs, beginning balance
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$
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19,917,000
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|
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$
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16,890,000
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Additions
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2,503,000
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3,027,000
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Impairment charge
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(1,262,000
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)
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-
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Total capitalized software development costs
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21,158,000
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19,917,000
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Less accumulated amortization
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13,017,000
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11,024,000
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Software development costs, ending balance, net
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$
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8,141,000
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$
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8,893,000
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The Company’s capitalization of software development projects was $2,503,000 and $3,027,000 for the
year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Amortization related to capitalized software development projects was $2,295,000 and $1,734,000 for the year ended October 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.
As of October 31, 2018, amortization expense for capitalized software development costs where
amortization has commenced is estimated to approximate $2,087,000, $1,976,000, $1,539,000, $1,046,000, and $381,000, for the fiscal years ending October 31, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023, respectively. As of October 31, 2018, the Company had
$1,111,000 of capitalized software development costs relating to projects currently still in development, therefore, are not yet subject to amortization.
During fiscal year 2018, the Company reviewed the value of its capitalized software
products and determined that some capitalized software products would no longer be marketed or made available for subscription sales as currently developed,
which resulted in an impairment charge of the net carrying amount of approximately $960,000. These costs were recorded within “Cost of Revenues”.
The
Company did not record any impairments related to capitalized software development projects in fiscal years 2017.
5. Accrued Expenses and Other Current Liabilities
Accrued expenses and other current liabilities consist of the following as of October 31, 2018 and 2017:
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2018
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2017
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Payroll, payroll taxes, and benefits
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$
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304,000
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$
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565,000
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Professional fees
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272,000
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156,000
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Travel expenses
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142,000
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|
|
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98,000
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Accrued rent
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151,000
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|
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41,000
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Contractor fees
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|
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-
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|
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172,000
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Other liabilities
|
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320,000
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|
|
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241,000
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Total
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$
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1,189,000
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$
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1,273,000
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