Patria Aviation has received EASA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for the installation of Astronautics’ AFI4700 RoadRunner electronic flight instrument (EFI) for Bell 212/412EP helicopters.
The Finland-based company is doing its first installation of the RoadRunner EFI on a Bell 412EP search-and-rescue (SAR) helicopter for the Finnish Border Guard (FBG). The work is part of an ongoing modification program to upgrade the helicopter’s avionics, communication, and navigation capabilities.
“Congratulations to our dealer Patria for receiving the first EASA STC for Astronautics’ RoadRunner EFI on Bell 212/412EP rotorcraft,” said Aymeric Larose, Astronautics’ director of business development. “Not only will the RoadRunner modernize and extend the service life of the FBG Bell 412 SAR helicopter and others to follow, it will also add needed capabilities that will decrease pilot workload and increase situational awareness.”
The retrofit has received approval for single-pilot IFR operations and enables localizer performance with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches and RNAV with GPS while interfacing with multiple aircraft sensors.
“Helicopter operators in Europe and worldwide are facing issues with avionics obsolescence, evolving airspace requirements, and new navigation options based on global navigation satellite systems, all of which require upgrading the pilot avionics,” explained Tuomo Jokisalo, head of airworthiness for Patria. “Patria’s EASA-approved design organization is working with several customers to solve these problems, and it is our opinion that the most cost-effective way to answer the full scope of these requirements is with the Astronautics RoadRunner display system.”
Astronautics is showcasing the RoadRunner EFI at the Farnborough Airshow, along with the company's other display, systems, cybersecurity, and connectivity products.
This week Astronautics announced that Airbus selected the AeroSync Max wireless airborne communication system as the line-fit connectivity solution for its new H160M helicopter. The airframer has also chosen Astronautics' airborne communication server system as the cyber-secured maintenance server for its Tiger MkIII helicopter upgrade.