Story ID: 784 EsterlineFarnborough16
Esterline CMC  Inks New Trainer Contracts.
By: Curt Epstein
Caption: The Avionics specialist will provide new cockpits for the Pilatus PC-21 and upgrades for the BAE Hawk.
Word Count: 400
  
Esterline CMC Electronics announced several new contracts for military trainer cockpits today, here at Farnborough International Airshow. The U.S. company will partner with Pilatus Aircraft to supply avionics suites for PC-21 turboprops trainers for the Royal Australian Air Force and the Royal Jordanian Air Force. The Australian order consists of 49 of the single engine aircraft, while eight are earmarked for Jordan. 
  
In both cases, Esterline CMC will supply the six six-inch by eight-inch cockpit displays, consisting of four head-down displays and two smart multi-function displays split between the front and rear cockpits. The displays use Arinc-653 compliant, open and modular software, which allows the airframer and its customers to integrate their own applications or human-machine interface definition. 
  
The cockpit suite also includes a variant of the latest generation of the CMA-9000 dual flight management system FMS, which has a unique combination of civil certification and advanced tactical functions; radio management and night-vision goggle-capability; and a head-up display (HUD) sub-system, based on CMC’s SparrowHawk HUD. The system has a set of front and rear cockpit up-front control panels, a HUD camera and symbol generator, and a video display unit for the rear-seat instructor. Lastly, the GPS landing system sensor has RNP-RNAV and LPV GPS approach capability and meets requirements for an IFR civil certified global navigation satellite system.
  
In another deal, following its 2010 glass Cockpit 4000 upgrade of 18 Hawk Mk66 jet trainers for the Finnish Air Force, CMC has been tapped once again by Patria Aviation to upgrade an additional seven of the BAE Systems trainers, currently with analog cockpits, to the Cockpit 4000 suite. “We are delighted to be adding to the Finnish Air Force Advanced Jet Training fleet,” said Jim Palmer, Esterline CMC Electronics’ vice president of navigation system products. “CMC’s integrated glass Cockpit 4000 avionics suite is designed specifically to lower training costs while offering superior training capabilities, and if required, to provide an operational weapons delivery role.”
  
On the commercial side, the company’s CMA-9000 FMS received EASA certification on the Airbus A300-600 last month. In 2015, Esterline CMC was awarded a contract by a European cargo airline to upgrade the legacy flight management system on its A300 fleet. Through the upgrade, which includes vertical navigation functionality, the aircraft will now benefit from a much larger navigation database, improved performance optimization and possibility for increased datalink capability.