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Mid-Canada Mod Center (MC2) is a leader in airborne
communications, especially Satcom system installation/certification for a large variety of
corporate and commercial aircraft. Over the years, MC2 has worked with just about every form of
Satcom on the market. One recent and notable accomplishment or “firsts” at MC2 has involved
TrueNorth’s Simphonē Chorus system and Rockwell Collins most recent Satcom technologies in
a Challenger 604. The project was completed under an LSTC however MC2 are in the process of
developing this into a Canadian STC and then will have it imported and approved by the FAA
once issued.
In commenting on this modification, Bill Arsenault, VP of MC2 stated, “We were happy to offer our
customer such an innovative, efficient and cost-effective communications solution. Equally
impressive was the fact that we simply plugged everything in and the entire system, comprising
equipment from three different manufacturers, worked immediately, something we rarely see in
this business.”
Project Specifics
MC2 has long been an established Rockwell Collins dealer and usually ranked in their top dealers
in Canada each year. Together they have participated in many “industry first” installations and
eventual STCs. In the case of this project, the subject aircraft is a Bombardier Challenger 604.
The aircraft was undergoing an avionics mod to incorporate a Rockwell Collins SAT-6100B
SATCOM and HST 2110B high-speed data terminal. First certified in late 2008, this new Rockwell
combination offers a range of Swift Broadband (SBB) functionality along with automatic fallback
to Swift 64 when out of SBB coverage if so configured. It also has 3 classic aeronautical channels
(2 Aero H/H+ voice channels and a low speed data channel) and is approved for ICAO safety
services.
The HST-2110B is a high-speed transceiver. Once paired with an appropriate Satcom system,
users can access Instant Messenger, VoIP, VPN, secure phone, the Internet and email easily,
and download applications while in flight – a task that was impossible with prior systems. The
end-use system that MC2 partnered with Rockwell Collins equipment in this case was
TrueNorth’s Simphonē Chorus Executive-Class Airborne Telephone.
The Chorus is easy to use, with handsets that feature an intuitive graphical interface, menudriven
commands and a big, bright color display. Exclusive customizations include a choice of
splash screens, ring tones and handset materials (including custom hardwoods to match an
aircraft’s interior). The Simphonē Chorus system can expand to meet future needs, eliminating
obsolescence. The Chorus system also acts as the router for any Wi-Fi enabled Phone, laptop or
device allowing the users to access the internet and emails or share devices such as printers that
may be installed in the aircraft.
A compact, single-LRU system, Simphonē Chorus is easy to install, and the transceiver can be
mounted inside or outside the aircraft’s pressure vessel. Set-up is easy, too, thanks to another
TrueNorth exclusive: A built-in Personality Module that ensures Simphonē Chorus can be
configured to work just the way the user wants.
With this installation MC2 have now completed and brought to certification another first!
About MC2 and TrueNorth . . .
The other areas of current focus for MC2 include cabin entertainment systems and cockpit
redesign/modernization - including TCAS, EGPWS, TAWS, RVSM and EFB applications.
Headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, TrueNorth Avionics have sales offices in the US and a global
network of recognized dealers. Their focus is on corporate aviation and their products are
developed to offer an unequaled combination of performance, built-in growth capability and value.
For additional information from MC2 on this or any other project, please consult their website or
contact Bill Arsenault.
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