Developed Jointly By Mid-Canada Mod Center And Esterline CMC

Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2), working in co-operation with Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC), are pleased to announce a new and significant FMS (Flight Management System) upgrade for the Airbus A310 aircraft fleet. Joint development of this project has been several years in the making and has resulted in a STC modification that brings a much needed life extension to this “legacy” Airbus aircraft model.

The mod involves replacement of the dated, no longer supported avionics with an upgrade that is based around the Esterline CMC Electronics CMA-9000 FMS. This STC includes a suite of dual FMS and dual SBAS capable systems with GPS sensors. FMS components include two CMC CMA- 9000 FMS and two CMC CMA-5024 SBAS GPS Sensors with Antennas. With the number of A310 aircraft still in active and productive global use, this mod has the potential to bring operational efficiency and safety as well as in meeting the latest in standards and regulations to a number of aircraft with many productive years ahead of them.

The basic suite of avionics installed on most A310s dates back to their original manufacture in the 1980’s. The replacement solution developed between MC2 and CMC involves an extensive update to the FMS software by Esterline CMC Electronics. The new interface includes a full functionality for Vertical Navigation guidance and control. Furthermore, a larger Navigation database accommodates the continued growth of navigation data such as airports and airways. CMC were recently awarded a Canadian TSO for their most recent software version developed for the A310 aircraft.

The next phases of the program will include STCs for Polar Navigation capabilities and the installation of a FANS solution for the A310 fleet. These final two phases should be completed in 2014.

Polar Navigation will replace the existing dated and no longer supported Inertial Reference Sensors. The new generation units provide the aircraft with the capability to fly into areas of magnetic unreliability typically found north of latitudes 70N and south of 60S. Existing limitations related to autoland are also lifted with this solution. The FANS portion of the project will equip the aircraft to fly FANS routes. This will be achieved by  installing and certifying CPDLC (Controller Pilot Data Link Communications) equipment and interfacing the equipment to the newly installed FMS (Flight Management System). The STC Approval for this project work was completed by Avionics Design Services of Midland Ontario.

“We agreed with our client that this modification presented great value to the fleet of A310 aircraft as a whole and that working together, we could develop a solution," said Bill Arsenault - VP of MC2. "Through a substantial team effort, using the dedicated resources and expertise of both CMC and MC2, we developed a mod that provides a great solution for the aging aircraft. Challenges such as this are a real opportunity to bring manufacturers and service/development specialists like us to collaborate and bring value to the aftermarket.”

“This certification ushers in a new generation of airline Flight Management System retrofits that bring
operational efficiency and safety to aircraft with many productive years ahead of them,” said Jim Palmer, Vice President, Aviation Products, Esterline CMC Electronics.

(Image provided by Esterline CMC Electronics)

FMI: www.cmcelectronics.ca, www.esterline.com