PHEL Petroleum Helicopters (MM)

Digital Angel's Outerlink Subsidiary Obtains Increased Commitment From Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. Petroleum Helicopters to Equip Its Entire Fleet with the OuterLink CP-2 Satcom System For Automatic Flight Following SO. ST. PAUL, Minn., Feb. 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Digital Angel Corporation , an advanced technology company in the field of rapid and accurate identification, location tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value assets, today announced that its recently-acquired OuterLink subsidiary has secured a major commitment from Lafayette, LA-based Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. (PHI) to equip its entire helicopter fleet with the OuterLink CP-2 Satcom System for automatic flight following. To date, PHI has equipped over 65 of its helicopters with OuterLink's CP-2 systems. By standardizing its fleet with the OuterLink system, PHI can accurately track the location and status of all of its helicopters virtually anywhere in North America, regardless of weather conditions. In addition toproviding real-time flight following, the OuterLink system also supports bi-directional messaging between helicopters and the PHI flight operations center in Lafayette. Carlin Craig, PHI's Director of Operations, commented, "Our decision to standardize on the OuterLink system was based on the dependable performance of OuterLink's CP-2 Satcom Systems, OuterLink's operational support capabilities, and PHI's evaluation of competitive alternatives that rated the OuterLink solution as the best choice formeeting its operational requirements." "We are very pleased by Petroleum Helicopters' decision to equip the balance of its fleet with our CP-2 Satcom Systems," stated Kevin McGrath, Digital Angel's CEO. "This action by PHI, one of the industry leaders, not only acknowledges OuterLink's state-of-the-art technology, but also recognizes the commitment our entire team makes to serving our customers." About Petroleum Helicopters, Inc. Based in Lafayette, LA, Petroleum Helicopters (NASDAQ:PHEL) provides helicopter transportation and related services to a broad range of customers, including the oil and gas industry and air medical programs. About OuterLink Digital Angel's recently-acquired OuterLink subsidiary provides secure, real-time satellite-based systems that track, monitor and communicate with fixed- and rotor-wing aircraft in a wide range of applications including law enforcement, natural resource management, air ambulance, and air taxi fleet operations. About Digital Angel Corporation Digital Angel Corporation develops and deploys sensor and communications technologies that enable rapid and accurate identification, location tracking, and condition monitoring of high-value, mobile assets. Applications for the Company's products includeidentification and monitoring of pets, fish and livestock through its patented implantable microchips; location tracking and message monitoring of vehicles and aircraft in remote locations through systems that integrate GPS and geosynchronous satellitecommunications; and monitoring of asset conditions such as temperature and movement, through advanced miniature sensors. Digital Angel Corporation is majority-owned by Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. (NASDAQ:ADSX). For more information about Digital Angel, please visit http://www.digitalangelcorp.com/. The statements in this press release that are not strictly historical are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are intended to be covered by the safe harbors created by these sections. The forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties and the actual results that the Company achieves may differ materially from these forward-looking statements due to such risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, that the Company's historical losses and negative cash flows from operations raise doubt about the Company's ability to continue as a going concern; that theCompany's stockholders will experience dilution if certain debt owned by the Company is converted into common stock; that the Company's stockholders will experience dilution when the stock purchase agreement with Applied Digital Solutions closes; the risk of foreclosure on substantially all of the Company's assets; that the Company's majority stockholder, Applied Digital Solutions, Inc. is able to completely control the board of directors and may support actions that conflict with the interests of other stockholders; that the Company's earnings will decline if it writes off additional goodwill and other intangible assets; that exercises of the Company's options and warrants outstanding and available for issuance may adversely affect the market price of the Company's common stock, the Company's inability to generate income, the Company's Wireless and Monitoring segment's ability to achieve profitability, the Company's ability to maintain patent and trade secret protection, domestic and foreign government regulation, the Company's sales to government contractors of animal identification products, dependence on a single production arrangement for its patented syringe- injectable microchips, dependence on principal customers, competition in the visual and electronic identification markets, risks as a result of foreign operations, foreign currency rate fluctuation, dependence on a small team of senior management and the Company's ability to develop, integrate, miniaturize and market the Digital Angel TM technology. A detailed statement of risks and uncertainties is contained in the Company's reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in particular the Company's Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003. Investors and stockholders are urged to read this document carefully. The Company can offer no assurances that any projections, assumptions or forecasts made or discussed in this release will be met, and investors should understand the risks of investing solely due to such projections. The Company undertakes no obligation to revise any forward- looking statements in order to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Contact: Allen & Caron Inc Jay F. McKeage (investors) Len Hall (media) 212-691-8087 949-474-4300 DATASOURCE: Digital Angel Corporation CONTACT: Investors, Jay F. McKeage, +1-212-691-8087, , or Media, Len Hall, +1-949-474-4300, , both of Allen & Caron Inc for Digital Angel Corporation Web site: http://www.digitalangelcorp.com/

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