Barco secures avionics deal for ATR regional airliner

AMSTERDAM, 14 March 2009. Thales Avionics selected the CDMS-3000 avionics display from Barco for the future ATR-42 and ATR-72 regional passenger aircraft. The next generation ATR cockpits will be equipped with a brand-new Thales TopDeck avionics suite, each including two Barco CDMS-3000 units.

Barco made the announcement at the Avionics 2009 Conference & Exhibition in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

The aircraft are designed and manufactured by 'Avions de Transport Regional', which is a joint venture company between EADS and Finmeccanica / Alenia Aeronautica. Barco's CDMS-3000 displays will take off aboard the recently-introduced ATR-42-600 and ATR-72-600 aircraft. This 600-series builds upon the proven advantages of the existing ATR aircraft, but includes new Pratt & Whitney engines, a new TopDeck glass cockpit, and LED lighting in the cabin.

"Barco CDMS-3000 control display units are valued by the industry for their flexibility and excellent performance in general and their high-grade optical performance in particular. Integrated into the flexible Thales TopDeck flight deck, our units will bring the best of today's avionics display technology to the ATR-42 and ART-72 cockpits," says Yves Vanhauwaert, General Manager of Barco's avionics business.

The CDMS-3000 is the successor of Barco's CDMS series. Featuring the latest display technology, it combines sunlight-readability with compact dimensions, low-weight, and optimum energy efficiency. The CDMS-3000 comes as a complete, ETSO-C113 certified product line, including both civil and military-oriented versions. A variety of keyboard sizes is available to enable form-fit-function compatibility with existing units.