Esterline CMC Electronics’ CMA-9000 Flight Management System (FMS) and MFD-3068 Multi-Function Display have been selected by Airbus Helicopters and the German Armed Forces for the upgrade of their CH-53GS/GE Sea Stallion helicopters. The CMA-9000 FMS and MFD-3068 will enhance the existing CH-53 capabilities by providing a flexible, modernized cockpit with improved civil navigation (IFR) features that will prepare the CH-53s for the European 2020 Air Traffic Mandates such as ADS-B Out.

Jim Palmer, vice president products, navigation solutions, Esterline CMC Electronics (CMC), said: “Our CMA-9000 continues to prove itself as the flight management system of choice for demanding helicopter applications. The addition of our MFD-3068 for this program significantly expands the capabilities of Esterline CMC’s helicopter solutions.  The German Armed Forces were looking for a cost-effective way to extend the life of their Sea Stallion fleet and CMC is pleased that the CH-53GS/GE helicopters will benefit both from the extensive navigation and radio management capabilities of the CMA-9000 as well as from our latest generation of smart multi-function displays.”

The CMA-9000 is a field-proven, highly integrated and flexible solution that is optimized for helicopter operations. It provides flight management and multi-sensor navigation throughout all phases of flight, radio management and many specialized functions that help reduce pilot workload during mission-critical applications such as Search and Rescue (SAR) and offshore operations. The CMA-9000 supports both military and civil navigation modes, with compliance to the latest standards for Required Navigation Performance (RNP) and Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS) approaches, including Localizer Performance with Vertical Guidance (LPV).  The integrated radio management system offers savings in terms of size, weight, power and cost on the helicopter. Night Vision Goggle (NVG) capability enables night-time operations for police, SAR and Emergency Medical Service operators, making the CMA-9000 suitable for a wide range of helicopter applications.

The third-generation MFD-3068 smart display is designed as an open architecture platform, featuring next- generation MOSArt™ (Modular Open System Architecture) middleware built with non-proprietary industry standards for the partitioning of applications (ARINC 653) and the latest in Multi-Core Real Time Operating Systems (RTOS). The display is complemented by CMC supplied software applications (PFD, Navigation, etc.), customer supplied applications or both. With an optical quality second to none, the display offers true 8-bit colour rendition with optical performance stabilized over its design life-time and its extended operating temperature envelope (+70C continuous). Its next-generation Light Emitting Diode (LED) illumination system supports multi-mode operations (day / night / NVIS) and provides up to 275 fL of illumination in day mode.