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Esterline CMC Electronics selected for modernization of Swiss Cougar helicopters

Esterline CMC Electronics Press Release | March 4, 2019

Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 25 seconds.

Esterline’s CMC Electronics (CMC) business unit announced that RUAG Aviation and the Swiss Air Force have selected its CMA-9000 flight management system (FMS) and CMA-5024 GPS landing system for the modernization of the Swiss Air Force’s Cougar helicopters.  The Swiss Cougars are used for transport as well as search-and-rescue (SAR) missions.  The modernization of the Swiss Cougar helicopters further broadens the use of CMC’s navigation solutions by the Swiss Air Force, who also operate 15 Super Puma transport helicopters and 20 EC135/635 helicopters, all equipped with CMC’s CMA-9000 and CMA-5024.

“Esterline is pleased that the Swiss Air Force continues to show great confidence in the CMA-9000 and the CMA-5024 to add advanced mission capabilities and civil navigation capability to their fleet of helicopters,” said Esterline Avionics president Michel Potvin. “The Swiss Air Force operates a large fleet of aircraft equipped with CMC’s navigation solutions and several of the CMA-9000 mission functions have been customized to meet their demanding needs. The Swiss Cougar installation is the latest example of a growing trend of military operators who need to have their aircraft certified to the latest RNP and PBN requirements, enabling the helicopters to be used both on specialized missions and in civil airspace.”

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.  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 the FMS of choice for demanding helicopter applications. The Swiss Cougar upgrade will use the latest version of the CMA-9000 flight management software.

The CMA-5024 GPS landing system sensor meets the requirements for instrument flight rules and civil certified Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS). Its wide-area augmentation system (WAAS) and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) GPS capability provide an extremely accurate navigation solution that will support all flight operations including SBAS LP/LPV precision approach.

The CMC brand within Esterline Avionics Systems has achieved an international reputation for innovation and excellence in the design and manufacture of electronics products for the military and commercial aviation markets. The company’s focus is on delivering innovative cockpit systems integration and avionics solutions to its customers worldwide. CMC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Esterline Corporation (NYSE:ESL, www.esterline.com), a specialized aerospace and defense company headquartered in Bellevue, WA, that employs over 12,000 people worldwide.

RUAG Aviation is a leading supplier, support provider and integrator of systems and components for civil and military aviation worldwide. Servicing aircraft and helicopters throughout their entire life cycle, the company’s core competencies include maintenance, repair and overhaul services, upgrades, and the development, manufacturing and integration of subsystems.

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