Avionics
FronTier takes on market heavyweights
CMC Electronics (Booth No.

CMC Electronics (Booth No. 371) is aiming to step up its position in the avionics market with a major investment in a new family of integrated avionics suites. Part 25-certified business aircraft will be the first applications for the new FronTier range of cockpit systems, with the first application expected to enter service before the end of 2013. If FronTier succeeds it will allow CMC to directly challenge the dominance of Honeywell and Rockwell Collins in this market segment, with their respective Primus Epic and Pro Line avionics suites.

In January, the company announced a C$149.4 million ($120 million) investment in research and development for FronTier over the next five years. This includes a C$52.3 million ($42 million) contribution from the Canadian government’s Innovation & Technology Office. CMC has identified the key goals of the new FronTier technology as reducing the cost of ownership and giving OEMs greater flexibility and control over the cockpit systems, as well as improving safety, reducing the environmental impact of aircraft and increasing airspace capacity.