The UK Civil Aviation Authority has given a nod to Horizon Design Services’ approved model list supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for installation of Avidyne IFD navigators in nine helicopter models. This approval, which was also validated by the FAA, covers the replacement of Garmin GNS navigators with Avidyne’s IFD-series FMS/GPS navigators in the Airbus Helicopters AS350, AS355, EC120, EC130, and EC135; Leonardo A109 and A119; and Bell 206 and 407.
Development of the AML-STC simplifies the replacement process, so avionics dealers and maintenance facilities don’t have to go through the time-consuming field approval process. “We are making this STC package available for helicopter MROs at a nominal cost, allowing for an easier transition from obsolete GNS systems to the highly capable Avidyne IFD-series slide-in replacement navigators,” said Michael Hodby, managing director of Horizon Design Services. The price of the AML-STC package is $2,500.
Avidyne's IFD series are slide-in replacements for Garmin GNS 430/530/W navigators and feature knob/button and touchscreen controls, 3D synthetic vision, HTAWS, RS-170 video support, heliport databases, and traffic and weather display.
Avidyne also announced that the Columbian army is equipping its fleet of UH-1H/N, Mi-17, and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with IFD550 navigators. The army is also adding the L3Harris Lynx NGT-9000 ADS-B diversity transponder to these helicopters, enabling display of traffic on the IFD550.