Esterline CMC Electronics’ To Guide The All-Composite Business Aircraft 

Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC) is pleased to announce that Cobalt Aircraft Industries has selected CMC’s SmartDeck integrated avionics suite as standard on the new Co50 single-engine executive aircraft. David Loury, founder and CEO, Cobalt Aircraft, explained: “We have been working to develop an aircraft that will give personal pilots better speed, comfort, safety and overall travel capabilities than any other current single-engine aircraft. The reason we chose SmartDeck® can be summed up in one word – simplicity.”

Loury added: “The SmartDeck’s design philosophy mirrors our design philosophy for the Co50 – both are very simple to use. We took into account that our customers are not professional pilots. They don’t fly frequently, but they need a travel tool that they can use easily, with no safety concerns. The aircraft has to be very forgiving and so do the avionics.”

Greg Plantz, Director of Marketing and Sales, Esterline CMC Electronics, said: “We are very proud of this customer selection of our SmartDeck avionics suite and look forward to working with Cobalt. This is another step in our growth plan to offer the SmartDeck® integrated cockpit to a variety of aircraft in the OEM and retrofit markets.”

The all-composite Co50 is powered by a 350 horsepower, FADEC-equipped, TCM TSIOF-550-D2B piston engine. The aircraft is conservatively projected to deliver a maximum cruise speed of 250 knots at 25,000 feet and a fully-loaded maximum range of 1,150 nm.

The Co50’s standard SmartDeck integrated flight control and display system will include two 12” primary flight and multifunction displays with dual ADAHRS and WAAS GPS, a third 6.5” dedicated display for flight planning and radio management as well as an integrated digital autopilot and audio controller. TAWS-B, TCAS/TAS, satellite weather, lightning detection and synthetic vision are also included, providing full situational awareness capability.

“These features are really a great help when flying IFR or in high-traffic or unfamiliar areas,” added David Loury.  “You want these systems to do much of the work for you and not the contrary. The Co50 is designed to be easy to use for even low-time pilots. The same can be said for SmartDeck.”

The first Co50 prototype has undergone high-speed taxi testing and is entering the initial phases of its development flight test program. “We’ve been working closely with Transport Canada for the past year and a half,” said Loury. “We’ve been actively exchanging information on the aircraft to meet Part 23 requirements. We are confident that once we begin the actual certification program flights with Transport Canada, we will be able to finish the program in 18 to 24 months.”

FMI: www.cmcelectronics.ca