GPMS is pursuing a supplemental type certificate (STC) for its Foresight MX health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) for Airbus H135 helicopters in partnership with Metro Aviation. The company anticipates certification in the first quarter of 2022.
Burlington, Vermont-based GPMS currently has Foresight STCs on helicopter platforms including the Bell 407GX/GXP/GXi, 429, and 412/212, as well as the Airbus H125/AS350 B3. Foresight provides helicopter flight data monitoring (FDM) including machine condition monitoring and rotor track and balance.
Jed Kalkstein, GPMS president, said the value of Foresight MX goes beyond parametric FDM by integrating the engine awareness of a HUMS system with vibration management, performance monitoring, and analysis for subcomponents, including gearboxes and rotor systems. This additional data allows Foresight MX to deliver early fault detection and estimates of remaining useful life. “This predictive capability allows operators to more accurately order parts and schedule maintenance to help ensure aircraft availability and mitigate unscheduled maintenance and AOG events,” he said.
“We’ve been actively looking for a next-generation health and usage monitoring system on the H135,” said Milton Geltz, managing director at Metro Aviation. "GPMS and Metro partner Outerlink Global Solutions are also planning on integrating [Foresight] with the IRIS [real-time voice over internet protocol radio communications] system, providing in-flight critical alerts to operational ground support teams and putting HUMS within reach for the medium helicopter segment.”