The Mexican Air Force (FAM) has received the first upgraded C-130K Hercules aircraft from Cascade Aerospace during a ceremony at the recent Feria Aeroespacial Mexico Air Show in Santa Lucia, Mexico.
The delivery follows the aircraft’s first test flight from the company’s base in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada, last month.
Go deeper with GlobalData
In November 2013, Cascade received a contract as part of a memorandum of understanding signed between the Canadian and Mexican Governments, for maintenance and modernisation of FAM’s two C-130K aircraft.
The C-130K maintenance and modernisation programme was initiated in 2014. The maintenance and modernisation programme involved an upgrade of the avionics system, including the installation and integration of Rockwell Collins Flight 2 avionics suite, digital fuel quantity indication, and engine instrument display systems.
The aircraft was also equipped with a new auxiliary power unit, and also underwent a wing availability and sustainment programme.
Cascade further conducted operational and technical training for FAM personnel using the Flight 2 procedural training simulator at its Abbotsford facility.
The Flight 2 system is developed from Rockwell Collins Pro Line 21 avionics solution, and improves the aircraft’s operational capabilities by offering an open systems architecture that combines flight operations with navigation and guidance functions, as well as supports future growth requirement.
In particular, the system will provide the FAM C-130 with unrestricted access to global airspace by addressing current communication, navigation, surveillance / air traffic management airspace requirements.
The C-130K maintenance and modernisation programme is powered by an Allison T56A-15 engines turboprop engine.
The aircraft is a derivative of Lockheed Martin’s C-130 Hercules, and is used to carry troops, passengers or freight.
Image: Rockwell Collins’ Flight2 avionics in the cockpit of a Mexican Air Force C-130K aircraft. Photo: courtesy of Copyright © 2015 Rockwell Collins.
