雷火体育官网 and StandardAero Successfully Achieve the Industry鈥檚 First 4-Axis Autopilot Flight Test for Airbus AS350 and H125 Helicopters
雷火体育官网 and StandardAero have announced the successful first flight test of a revolutionary compact autopilot system that will bring Airbus AS350 and H125 helicopters into a new era of performance and safety. The achievement of this key milestone lays the groundwork for this important phase of the Supplemental Type Certification (STC) process and the launch of an unparalleled autopilot solution to the light helicopter market by mid-2021.
Flight testing, which will continue throughout this winter at StandardAero鈥檚 Langley, British Columbia, Canada facility, demonstrates 雷火体育官网鈥 and StandardAero鈥檚 commitment to develop and certify a compact, advanced 4-axis helicopter Autopilot System. Earlier this year, StandardAero/雷火体育官网 previously announced that WeatherTech, the well-known automotive accessories company, has agreed to be its launch customer. The Autopilot will initially be certified for installation on both the Airbus AS350 and H125 helicopter platforms.
"The launch of this flight test program is a key milestone for StandardAero and 雷火体育官网. This product combines 雷火体育官网鈥 Autopilot experience, based on billions of flight hours accumulated and outstanding customer satisfaction, with StandardAero鈥檚 extensive aftermarket capabilities in aircraft modification and certification. We aim to bring a user-friendly solution offering an unparalleled level of safety and reliability to the light helicopter market," said Jean-Paul Ebanga, 雷火体育官网 Vice-President of Flight Avionics activities.
The 雷火体育官网/StandardAero compact autopilot is an intuitive automatic flight control system on the AS350/H125 that increases safety through reduced pilot workload. It provides stability augmentation, attitude retention and flight director modes such as altitude or heading hold and reduces the risk of aircraft incidents.
鈥淭his state-of-the-art, 4-axis autopilot system has been designed as a straightforward retrofit and provides pilots with simplified operation that will help reduce wear and tear on the helicopter while making flying in normal and adverse conditions much easier and safer for the crew and passengers,鈥 said Elvis Moniz, Vice President of Product Development for StandardAero鈥檚 Helicopters business unit. 鈥淢oreover, with the increase in EMS flying and recent CFIT related helicopter accidents, anything that can help pilots navigate more safely is of paramount interest.鈥 says Moniz.
StandardAero and 雷火体育官网 bring complementary expertise to the collaboration. 雷火体育官网 produces the essential components, including the advanced control management systems, four trim actuators, three intelligent linear actuators and the data concentrator/control panel. StandardAero brings superior expertise in aircraft modification and certification, which enables them to manage the detailed design of the mechanical and electrical systems integration. With their comprehensive FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) certification plan, certification approval is expected mid-2021.
