CMC to Provide All Glass Cockpit Avionics Upgrade

Korea Aerospace Industries (KAI) has picked CMC Electronics to be the avionics systems integrator for its KT-1C trainer aircraft, for the international export market. Under the terms of the contract, CMC Electronics will develop an avionics Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL) and provide an all glass cockpit avionics upgrade for the new trainer aircraft.

Work on the contract will be performed at CMC Electronics' facility in Ottawa, Canada. The core avionics will feature the company's SparrowHawk™ Head Up Display (HUD) and FV-4000 Open Architecture Mission Computer.

"We examined the capabilities of several avionics companies and CMC Electronics was the clear choice, based on the strength of its performance and innovative, integrated cockpit approach," said Dr. Jae Myong Lee, KAI Director of Engineering. "CMC Electronics' HUD and Mission Computer will play a major role in establishing the KT-1C all glass cockpit trainer as the competitive benchmark in both performance and price," Dr. Lee added.

The KT-1C is powered by a P&WC PT6 engine and is based on the successful KT-1 turboprop trainer, of which more than 55 aircraft have been delivered to the Republic of Korea Air Force, with additional aircraft on order from other countries. Its flight envelope extends to low stall speed, good spin recovery, and advanced auto trim, making the KT-1C, its builder says, "one of the best solutions for military pilot training." Given its full acrobatic capability, the KT-1C makes one heck of an advanced trainer.

CMC Electronics' innovative cockpit management approach will accommodate aircraft updates and allow the aircraft to perform in the dual role of primary trainer and light attack aircraft. The avionics system features full redundancy centered around two powerful CMC Electronics FV-4000 mission computers, which feature an open, Compact PCI/PMC architecture and 500 MHz power PC processors. The FV-4000s provide the basis for the modular design of the KT-1C's avionics system.

The all glass cockpit will also feature CMC Electronics' Up Front Control Panel (UFCP) and its 6"x 8" Multifunction Displays (MFD)s. MFDs in the front or aft cockpit provide the primary flight display, a tactical flight map with mission/flight plans, a moving digital map, stores management for weapon control, engine monitoring data, and maintenance pages for both diagnostic and system initialization.

"CMC Electronics will fully integrate all avionics for navigation and mission functions in the KT-1C using the latest in cockpit management to increase mission efficiency and reduce cockpit workload," explained Bob Atac, vice president, military aviation, CMC Electronics Inc. "Initial deliveries will include an avionics Systems Integration Laboratory (SIL), which will have the capability to test the avionics systems and the operational flight program, and a cockpit demonstrator, which will demonstrate the aircraft's tightly integrated system and its advanced avionics.

FMI: www.cmcelectronics.ca; www.koreaaero.com