Esterline CMC Electronics will provide the primary navigation systems for the new Airbus Helicopters X4 helicopter. The new twin, for which Airbus Helicopters will announce a new designation here at Heli-Expo 2015, will serve multiple applications, including oil-and-gas exploration, search-and-rescue, public services and private operations.

The Canadian company will supply its CMA-9000 flight management system (FMS) and Interflight CMA-5024 GPS for the X4. The FMS provides flight management and multi-sensor navigation, radio management and specialized functions to reduce pilot workload during critical operations. The unit, which supports civil and military navigation modes, complies with the latest standards for required navigation performance (RNP) and satellite-based augmentation system (SBAS) approaches.

The CMA-5024 meets the X4’s requirement for IFR flight using a civil-certified global navigation satellite system (GNSS) and provides Waas SBAS GPS capability from departure to a non-precision approach. Waas/SBAS augments GPS to support X4 operations from en route through a CAT-1 equivalent precision approach using GNSS and Waas/SBAS localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV).