BAE Systems Canada Wins Contract for 64 CMA-3000 GPS-Based FMSes

BAE Systems Canada, the business unit that grew out of Canadian Marconi upon the merger of British Aerospace and GEC Marconi, is reporting several growth activities and more opportunities since taking on its new corporate identity.

Among the contracts the division has won is an order for 64 CMA-3000 GPS-based flight management systems for EC-145 helicopters. The system has been sold to the U.S. Customs service for use on its P-3s and to Sextant for CASA C-295 transports as well. Boeing has selected a BAE Systems Canada system for its program to upgrade older B747s too.

BAE Systems Canada sees high-speed satellite communications as a strong growth area. It already commands 70% market share in high-gain Satcom antennas with its CMA-2102, BAE Systems says, adding Virgin Atlantic, British Midland, SAS, and several other customers only this year. And the intermediate-gain CMA-2200 is being installed on B737-800s and A330s.

BAE Systems Canada is also participating in a NASA program to develop a synthetic vision system. The three-year project aims to replace primary flight displays with perspective view displays of the outside world to provide a sense of clear vision even in poor weather conditions.

Another effort being pursued by the division, in partnership with BAE Systems Avionics and Aerospace Concepts and some Global Express customers, is FAA supplemental type certification installation for a visual guidance system. The head-up display projects flight data on a glass screen in the pilot's forward field of view.

By Robert Wall