Airbus Helicopters' FlightLab has tested an electric flight control system as part of a new human-machine interface (HMI) for the Airbus CityAirbus NextGen eVTOL prototype. In a first for the helicopter industry, the system uses a single flight control stick to replace three-axis, conventional helicopter controls (cyclic, pedals, collective) to perform all aircraft maneuvers including takeoff and landing, climb, descent, acceleration, deceleration, turn, and approach.
The single stick takes up less space and offers improved pilot visibility. Combined with a revised HMI using simple displays, it provides information selection specifically tailored to eVTOLs.
Following this flight-test campaign, Airbus Helicopters will finalize system details and then conduct new tests within the Vertex project in partnership with the Airbus UpNext innovation ecosystem to advance autonomy by managing navigation and simplifying mission preparation.
“The advantage of an electric flight control system is enormous, especially when it comes to reducing pilot workload and ultimately enhancing mission safety. It is also a great example of how our demonstrators are used to mature the techno-bricks necessary to prepare the future of vertical flight,” said Tomasz Krysinski, Airbus Helicopters’ head of research and innovation.
Its FlightLab testbed is a modified H130 single-engine helicopter dedicated to maturing new technologies for the company’s current helicopters and future fixed-wing and eVTOL designs. Airbus unveiled the electric CityAirbus NextGen prototype in 2021.