Wings Magazine

News
Esterline CMC system on T-6B gets TC certification

phpd1m5aapmJune 22, 2009 -  Esterline CMC Electronics has received civil certification from Transport Canada for its Cockpit 4000 Integrated Avionics System as installed on the Hawker Beechcraft Corp. T-6B.


June 22, 2009  By Carey Fredericks

   
phpd1m5aapm  
Esterline CMC Electronics’ Cockpit 4000 integrated avionics suite has been selected by Hawker Beechcraft for the T-6B Texan trainer aircraft.  

June 22, 2009 –  Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) has achieved civil certification from Transport Canada for its Cockpit 4000 Integrated Avionics System as installed on the Hawker Beechcraft Corporation (HBC) T-6B Texan trainer aircraft.

The certification supports 14 CFR Part 23 Acrobatic Category, Class lll aircraft installation. The Appliance Approval issued by Transport Canada comprises several   Technical Standard Orders (TSO), including TSO-C113, TSO-C115b, TSO-C129a and TSO-C165. The Cockpit 4000 includes two Integrated Avionics Computers (IAC), two Up Front Control Panels and six Multi-Function Displays (MFDs).

Jean-Michel Comtois, CMC’s Vice President, Military Aviation, said: “This is a tremendous achievement for CMC and represents our first civil cockpit certification. The Cockpit 4000 provides a cost-effective, advanced military aviator training solution to air forces around the world, and better positions CMC to capture the lion’s share of the basic trainer global market for turboprop training aircraft.” 

CMC is on schedule to deliver the first cockpit avionics suite in the fourth quarter of this year for the HBC T-6B Texan trainer aircraft.   CMC received the order in November 2008 for the first 35 production aircraft after completing all necessary program requirements. 

Advertisement

The T-6B Texan is based on the successful Beechcraft T-6A, already in service as the U.S. military’s Joint Primary Aircraft Training System (JPATS) aircraft, and is also the primary trainer for the NATO Flying Training Canada (NFTC), and the Hellenic Air Force of Greece.  Through the introduction of the CMC advanced avionics upgrade, the T-6B aircraft retains all of the inherent training and flying characteristics that have made the T-6A the most successful primary trainer in the world, while introducing a state-of-the-art open architecture advanced avionics suite that mirrors the systems and capabilities of today’s front-line military aircraft. 

CMC Electronics (www.cmcelectronics.ca ) designs and produces leading technology electronics products for the aviation and global positioning markets.  CMC’s focus is on delivering innovative cockpit systems integration and avionics solutions to its customers worldwide.  Its principal locations are in Montreal, Quebec; Ottawa, Ontario; and Chicago, Illinois.  CMC is a wholly owned subsidiary of Esterline Corporation (NYSE:ESL, www.esterline.com), a specialized aerospace and defense company headquartered in Bellevue, Washington.  Esterline employs over 9,000 people worldwide.

Advertisement

Stories continue below