Genesys Aerosystems (Booth B8017) and Metro Aviation (Booth C1023) have achieved FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for installation of an IFR capable flight deck in the Airbus Helicopters EC145e, including the HeliSAS stability augmentation system with three-axis autopilot. The new HeliSAS IFR system is based on Genesys’ VFR HeliSAS but adds more robust hardware and redundancy.
The EC145e is a lower-cost variant of the out-of-production EC145C2, a model similar to the U.S. Army’s UH-72A Lakota that is still in production. It is built in the same Columbus, Mississippi plant where the Lakota is manufactured. Metro was the first customer for the lighter-weight, lower-cost EC145e when it was launched by Airbus Helicopters in 2015. It currently operates its EC145es as VFR-only, enabling a useful load improvement of 330 pounds over standard IFR avionics, compared with the EC145C2. Last year Metro placed a $125 million fleet order for 25 EC145es with deliveries through 2021. At the time Metro said it was developing a new low-cost, lightweight IFR package for the 145e with Genesys. “We operate more EC145s than anyone other than the U.S. government,” said Metro CEO Mike Stanberry, who predicted the availability of IFR-capable 145es would increase their popularity in the air ambulance market.
The Genesys IFR package on the 145e features four IDU-450 displays in a dual-sided PFD/MFD format with dual redundant ADAHRS, dual GPS/FMS and IFR certified HeliSAS stability augmentation system and three-axis autopilot. The level-A-certified IDU-450 weighs 4.5 pounds and features high-resolution LCD glass, 3D synthetic vision, highway-in-the-sky, enhanced HTAWS, integrated FMS, and hover vector.
The HeliSAS stability and augmentation system is designed for two-axis (pitch and roll) autopilot configuration for dual pilot IFR operation and three-axis (pitch, roll, and yaw) autopilot configuration for single-pilot IFR operations. Key features of the system include: automatic recovery to near-level flight at all airspeeds; beep trim to select altitude, vertical speed, airspeed, and heading targets while keeping hands on controls; altitude-command and altitude-hold functions; fly-through system engagement through all flight phases including start-up and shut-down; redundant flight control computers; fail operable system; full-authority with parallel actuators; altitude preselect; two-axis for dual pilot operations; three-axis for single pilot operations; and no series actuators, feel springs, or magnetic breaks. The lightweight unit weighs less than 35 pounds.
The aircraft fitted with the Genesys systems will be delivered by Metro from its facility in Shreveport, Louisiana. Stanberry told AIN that he expects deliveries to begin this month. “We have helicopters ready for delivery,” he said.
Jamie Luster, Genesys director of sales and marketing, said the new IFR package offers customers a new IFR-capable EC145 “for far less than the price of buying a new IFR capable helicopter from the factory.” Luster said the HeliSAS system “delivers more performance at a lighter weight and lower cost than anything currently available on the market. The ease of use and installation allows owners to remove an older obsolete system and upgrade to a new high-performance SAS and autopilot with a new 24-month warranty.”