The new StableLight four-axis autopilot developed by StandardAero and Thales will use a Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics Flex MD23 2-inch instrument for the autopilot’s mode annunciator. Thales’ StableLight autopilot received FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval last November for the Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350. StandardAero partnered with Thales to develop the StableLight STC, which will be updated to add the MD23 instrument. StandardAero will begin installations in June.
The Flex MD23 is a Custom Function Display that is FAA TSO certified, RTCA DO-160G qualified, and RTCA DO-178C qualified to Design Assurance Level A. Systems engineers can use the Flex instrument to design almost any kind of instrumentation display and control output since it is “a custom display, controller, and data converter, all-in-one,” according to Mid-Continent. The company’s engineers work with customers to complete the design of what needs to be displayed on and controlled by the Flex instrument. The big advantage of Flex is that it enables much faster development of a new instrument or controller without the need to design hardware and software from scratch.
The MD23 fits in a standard 2.25-inch instrument panel hole and features daylight-readable, high-definition graphics with a single push-and-turn control knob for the user interface.