Swiss Rotor Solutions has received Mexican Direction de Aeronautica Civil validation of its Maximum Pilot View Kit (MPVK) supplemental type certificate for the Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350. Swiss Rotor Solutions is working with Decatur, Texas-based AeroBrigham to offer MPVK installations to Mexican operators.
The kit, which involves adding a new single-piece bubble door, is designed to improve safety by giving the pilot an uninhibited field of view below and to the right-hand side of the aircraft. Along with increased lateral visibility, the bubble door offers more headroom when the pilot leans to the right, even while wearing a helmet.
The kit's large lower viewing aperture and transparent fuselage window fairing improve the vertical field of view forward, aft and directly underneath the aircraft, Swiss Rotor Solutions said, estimating the field of view is increased by as much as a factor of 10.
These improvements are particularly important in demanding operations such as sling loading, firefighting, SAR/EMS, confined area operations, aerial survey, seismic, law enforcement or other missions involving flying close to terrain, the company added.