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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. The upgrade received a Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), from Transport Canada on Dec. 6, 2013. 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.
The CMA-9000 includes full-performance, coupled vertical navigation functionality, and the capability to fly all of the latest descents and approaches with significantly improved efficiency, control and annunciation. Its large, single navigation database allows global operations to significantly more destinations than the legacy FMS. Modern datalink capability is available as a service bulletin. CMC worked in cooperation with Mid-Canada Mod Center for the STC’d modification.
According to Jim Palmer, vice president, aviation products, Esterline CMC Electronics, “This FMS upgrade breathes new life into this legacy Airbus aircraft. The certification ushers in a new generation of airline FMS retrofits that bring operational efficiency and safety to aircraft, and many productive years of operation. It also marks the first time that an airline FMS was replaced with a more modern FMS, as an STC rather than an original equipment manufacturer program.”
Under the contract, Future Air Navigation (FANS-1) functionality will be added to the five aircraft. The FANS-1 functionality includes Airline Operational Communication (AOC) and Controller-Pilot Datalink Communications (CPDLC) functions via the CMA-9000 FMS in association with newly installed communication avionics.
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.
In speaking about this mod, Bill Arsenault – VP of MC2 states, “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. We are delighted to have achieved such a major milestone for them. 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 is the first certification of an upgraded flight management system on the Airbus A310-300 aircraft. The upgrade is being offered to other Airbus A310 and A300 aircraft flying globally. The DND FMS configuration shares a common core with the Esterline CMC Electronics’ FMS that has been certified for the Sukhoi SuperJet 100.
