(Ottawa, October 10, 2001) CMC Electronics Inc. announces that it has been selected to provide its CMA-2102 High Gain Satellite Communications (Satcom) Antenna in support of Qantas’ new Boeing 747-438ERs (6 aircraft) and Airbus A330-200/300s (13 aircraft). Deliveries will start early in 2002 and will be completed in 2003.

The CMA-2102 continues to thrive in the marketplace. The company’s installed share of twin-aisle air transport aircraft leaving the factory fitted with Satcom is greater than 75%. The CMA-2102 customer list now includes 58 airlines and a number of corporate/VIP and military installations. As well, Boeing Business Jet (BBJ) Completion Centres have introduced the CMA-2102 into the new BBJ B737NG aircraft.

The advent of Inmarsat’s latest service offering of high speed data will prove to extend the life of the CMA-2102 High Gain Satcom antenna for a number of years. This latest service will offer 64 Kbps, which will improve passengers’ access to E-mail and the Internet as well as increase the speed at which airline operations data is transmitted to and from the aircraft while in flight. This service offers a key discriminator over any other aeronautical communications service available at this time.

CMC Electronics is the new name for the former BAE SYSTEMS CANADA, which was acquired by an investor group led by ONCAP L.P. in April 2001, further to approval by BAE SYSTEMS CANADA shareholders. The company designs and produces leading technology electronic products for the aviation, communications, infrared sensing, marine electronics, global positioning and space markets. CMC Electronics has designed and built innovative communication and electronics systems since 1903. Its principal locations are in Montreal, Ottawa and Cincinnati. The company's capabilities are broadened by its subsidiaries NovAtel Inc. in Calgary, Alberta, and Northstar Technologies in Acton, Massachusetts.

Qantas is the world's second oldest airline, and the oldest airline in the English-speaking world. It was founded in the Queensland outback in 1920. Qantas is recognised as one of the world's leading long distance airlines, having pioneered services from Australia to North America and Europe. Qantas employs about 30,000 staff across a network which spans 125 destinations in Australia, Africa, the Americas, Asia, UK/Europe, and the Pacific.

Janka Dvornik
Public Relations Manager
CMC Electronics Inc.
Telephone : (514) 748-3113
Fax : (514) 748-3184
Janka.Dvornik@cmcelectronics.ca

John Barker 
Commercial Aviation Marketing Manager
CMC Electronics Inc.
Telephone : (613) 592-7478
John.Barker@cmcelectronics.ca