Leonardo Helicopters and Elbit Systems have signed an agreement to jointly market and install the Heli-ClearVision enhanced flight vision system (EFVS) on Leonardo’s family of commercial rotorcraft. The agreement, announced on Monday at the Heli-Expo show in Dallas, marks the first commercial application for the Heli-ClearVision system, which is expected to achieve certification in early 2018.
The Heli-ClearVision system comprises a set of SkyLens and SkyVis wearable head-up displays, and an enhanced vision system (EVS) and synthetic vision system (SVS) that have been specifically adapted for helicopter operations. According to Elbit, the ClearVision EVS camera can support day and night operations in extreme weather and low-visibility conditions.
Situational awareness for helicopter pilots in limited-visibility conditions should be further enhanced by ClearVision’s combined vision system, which displays a panoramic image merging a real-world picture generated by the SVS view, based on a digital terrain model database, and infrared EVS imagery. The system also can detect lights such as those on oil rigs, helipads and runways.
“Our teaming with Elbit Systems strongly contributes to our commitment to enhancing the flight experience of pilots flying Leonardo helicopters,” said Leonardo Helicopters managing director Daniele Romiti. “By offering these cutting-edge systems and technologies on our new-generation platforms, we position Leonardo Helicopters more and more as the most capable helicopter to perform any mission with high safety in all weather conditions.”