CMC modernized aircraft Polaris of National Defence

The upgraded aircraft will navigate to the magnetic north pole and the geographic North Pole. They will be able to carry out missions and refuel fighters over the Arctic.

The CC-150 Polaris aircraft of National Defence will conduct missions in the Arctic with a Montreal firm.

Esterline CMC Electronics was awarded a contract for the modernization of five devices Polaris Airbus A310 modified acquired in 1992 and 1993.

It is multifunctional devices that can carry passengers mark, troops, patients, and even freight fuel to refuel CF18 fighter in flight. The fleet has made such missions in the Persian Gulf and Afghanistan.

However, at present, the avionics of these devices, either all electronic equipment on board, does not allow them to sail north of the 72nd parallel, while the Harper government is putting more and more emphasis on activities in the North and Arctic sovereignty.

CMC Electronics will upgrade the system with avionics flight management features including GPS receivers. This will allow devices to navigate to the magnetic north pole and the geographic North Pole. They will be able to carry out missions and refuel fighters over the Arctic.

The new flight management system will also allow devices to meet the new standards being elaborated now the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) and ICAO (International Civil Aviation) for air navigation. These standards will be phased in over the next 20 years, aimed at making more efficient use of airspace.


CMC would not reveal the amount of the contract because it is a strategic information. Director of COMMUNCIATIONS company, Janka Dvornik, however, insisted on the importance of this contract.

"It is very important to work with the Department of National Defence, she said during a telephone interview with La Presse Affaires. It recognizes excellence and innovative and sophisticated side of our systems. "

CMC has undertaken to develop the necessary software, design and engineering of the system to perform the steps to get approval.

The company noted that it will be a first approval for a flight management system upgraded to an Airbus A310-300. Once it has obtained the approval, CMC can therefore offer its system operators with other devices of this type flying in the world.

CMC is working on this project for some time. Flight tests are already underway and the company expects to enter service during the year.