Curtiss-Wright Controls, Inc. today announced that it has received a contract under a new Long Term Agreement (LTA) from Embraer to supply rugged data acquisition systems for use on the KC-390 medium-lift military transport, the company's largest aircraft. Under the contract, Curtiss-Wright Controls Avionics & Electronics (CWC-AE) division will provide Embraer with its Acra KAM-500 data acquisition products and specialist flight test Ethernet switches which will be used during certification of the military transport aircraft. The initial value of the contract is valued at approximately $4 million. The potential lifetime value of the LTA is estimated at $30 million. Shipments of data acquisition units commenced in the fourth quarter of 2012 and are expected to continue in line with the flight test programs covered under the LTA over the next five years.

“We are very pleased to announce this award, which comprises our first program under a new long-term agreement with Embraer and covers all of the KC-390's flight test instrumentation needs as well as future programs,” said Tom Quinly, president of Curtiss-Wright Controls. “Embraer and Curtiss-Wright are working together to optimize flight test programs over the longer term by aligning future requirements and roadmaps.”
The primary purpose of the Acra KAM-500 system on the KC-390 is to acquire the data required for the aircraft's flight test program. As Embraer's data acquisition requirements go beyond the mandatory flight certification parameters, the systems supplied will also collect data to be used across the company, which may help to enhance computer models or troubleshoot any issues that might arise during the program.
“Together with Embraer, we are unifying the KC-390's data acquisition and database structures across multiple platforms and teams,” added Mr. Quinly. “These efforts enable Embraer to save time and cost, by reducing training, data conversion and operational requirements. The result will be many long term benefits that can be maximized over many years across numerous diverse programs.”
Embraer's KC390 features a fully Ethernet networked Flight Test Instrumentation system. It is the largest single networked system that has been configured to date with the Acra KAM-500, comprising 46 chassis and 14 network switches.