UPS A300 Receives Cockpit Upgrade

First UPS A300 to receive cockpit upgrade lands EASA certification

UPS Airlines’ A300 N173UP — the first aircraft to be modified in the EPIC cockpit upgrade project — received its European Aviation Safety Agency, or EASA, certification last month. The aircraft was modified at Airbus’ headquarters in Toulouse, France, over the past 22 months, and is the first of 52 aircraft to be modified with the latest technology.

“Due to the location where N173UP was modified, EASA certified the aircraft,” said A300 Flight Standards and Training Manager Capt. Will Ashlock. “This certification significantly reduces the time for FAA certification.”

The FAA does not have to complete a full certification, but uses the EASA certification as a basis for their research of the modification. This reduces the time required for their final approval. Ashlock said A300 Flight Operations Technical and Safety Supervisors Capt. Larry Ashby and Capt. Dennis Schauman, and A300 Flight Standards and Training Supervisor Capt. Scott Mundy, played vital roles in the development and implementation of the EPIC upgrade.

The Honeywell EPIC upgrades include:

Next generation Flight Management System (FMC)
Captain and first officer LCD displays
Weather radar system
Integrated standby instrument system
Aircraft Communication and Addressing Reporting System (ACARS)
Addition of a Central Maintenance System
Replacement of the current Enhanced Ground Proximity Warning System with an integrated system

The FMC upgrade was the primary driver of the project. The current FMC does not have enough storage capacity for a worldwide navigational database, resulting in time-consuming uploads for changes to information stored onboard. The new FMC has a worldwide database.

“The latest technology allows the A300 to fly the most current arrival and departure procedures for large airports,” said Ashlock. “Prior to this upgrade and its eventual return to service in this year’s second quarter, the aircraft was limited to flying only certain routes and regions.” Ashlock added that the upgrade helps with noise abatement, traffic congestion and fuel efficiency as well.

While Airbus’ headquarters in France was the location for N173UP’s modifications, the airline is in discussion with other vendors regarding potential locations for the remaining aircraft modifications. Fleet modifications are scheduled to begin in May and are projected to be completed by peak 2022. Pilots will undergo differences training, which is anticipated to be approved by the FAA in late March. UPS Airlines is working with Airbus, the FAA and Independent Pilots Association representatives to finalize the training footprint.

A300s are used for medium-range, heavy lift cargo flights and carrying express packages. “Our A300 airframes have many flight hours left. Economically, it made sense to upgrade the cockpit to current navigational standards and extend the life of this fleet type,” said Ashlock. “This extensive modification to the cockpit instrumentation and navigation systems will allow greater capability and efficiency in our A300 operations.”

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