Appareo has received an FAA approved model list supplemental type certificate (AML-STC) for its AIRS-400 Airborne Image Recording System. The AML-STC covers Part 27-certificated helicopters, including the Airbus AS350 and Bell 206 and 407. Other models will be added “in the future,” according to Appareo.
At last year’s Aircraft Electronics Association convention, Appareo introduced the AIRS-400, which records cockpit audio/video and offloads data via cellular networks. The device captures ambient audio, intercom audio, 4K ultra-high-definition video, and flight data from internal inertial measurement units (IMUs) and a WAAS GPS receiver. Weighing just 11 ounces, AIRS-400 also records altitude, latitude/longitude, groundspeed, vertical speed, attitude data (pitch, roll, yaw), rates of rotation, and acceleration data. Options include Arinc 429 input and ED-155 audio and RS-422 output.
Information is stored on 35 GB of internal memory (up to two hours of video/audio, 200 hours of flight data, and 100 hours of Arinc 429 data) and on two 128 GB SD memory cards (64 hours video/audio and the same amount of IMU and Arinc data).
Data can be offloaded using the removable SD cards or via the built-in cellular connectivity (Vodafone LTE CAT M1). Once captured, the flight data can be analyzed using Appareo’s FDM/FOQA software tools, including its EnVision web-based software. Appareo said installation and setup of AIRS-400 takes just one day.