Internode founder and investor Simon Hackett has bought 40% of AvSoft, the company that produces the AvPlan electronic flight bag (EFB), forming a joint-venture company AvSoft Australia Pty Ltd.
The investment will enable AvSoft to expand their product portfolio and accelerate their expansion into the US market.
Hackett became impressed with AvPlan after using it whilst flying his own Pilatus PC-12.
“It’s in a realm I understand and makes sense to me,” he said.
“When I first discovered this software, I had no idea you could do this on an iPhone or iPad. I flipped overnight to using AvPlan after having previously used an old Windows program.
"To paraphrase Victor Kiam, who bought Remington in 1979, I liked this software so much, I bought into the company.”
Hackett sold Internode to iiNet in 2012 and has since invested in several innovative Australian companies including Rising Sun Pictures and geolocation start-up Geepers.
AvPlan designer Bevan Anderson said Hackett’s investment would accelerate the product's roll-out.
“We’ve spent the past two years making sure that AvPlan is a function-rich and rock-solid product,” he said.
“Now, we can accelerate the development of AvPlan, and we can formally launch it in the US, where there’s a huge market for this sort of easy-to-use, convenient and affordable product.
"So far I have really enjoyed working with Simon and really look forward to working with him to take AvPlan to new heights."