Paraclete Aviation Life Support (Booth 7630) has added Global-Sys wireless communication technology to its pilot helmet product line, eliminating headset wires from the cockpit and enhancing communication among flight crewmembers. Paraclete is an authorized reseller for North America for the Global-Sys product.
Global-Sys’s Airlink 3085 mobile unit can be adapted to multiple aircraft and mission types in less than five minutes, according to Dominique Retali, CEO of the Bonneuil Sur Marne, France-based company (Booth 8545). The Airlink system consists of a portable base unit that is carried in the helicopter and plugged into existing audio jacks. A base unit communicates wirelessly to crewmembers wearing Paraclete flight helmets via the Airlink mobile unit, which is lightweight and small enough to fit into a flight suit pocket.
The mobile unit employs digital noise reduction on the microphone side to electronically eliminate ambient noise, and it provides full-duplex communication. “It gives clear audio communications during missions for crews and rescuers to be in touch,” said Retali. “The RF is band-reserved and cannot be jammed or disrupted by another network.”
Coupled with the Paraclete helmets’ passive or active noise-reduction, which uses Lightspeed’s helicopter ANR system, he added that communication is “significantly improved.”
Battery life of the mobile unit is 12 hours, and the base unit can be wired to ship power or can run on batteries. The key advantage of wireless helmet-based communications is that crewmembers can stay in clear communication while up to 300 meters (nearly 1,000 feet) away from the helicopter, instead of having to disconnect from the intercom system and switch to portable radios. Crew on a hoist can also communicate with the hoist operator and pilots via Airlink, which greatly enhances safety.
All of Paraclete’s Type 1 and 2 helmets are certified under the U.S. Department of Interior/Forest Service civilian helmet aviation standard. The company’s helmets feature an adjustment system—dubbed Kairos—that allows wearers to quickly adjust fit, comfort, and ear cup pressure by turning one dial.
“With one adjustment we’re fitting and adjusting the helmet,” said Paraclete founder and CEO Scott Hedges. “I was a helicopter pilot and wanted to eliminate as many user errors as possible. It simplifies the entire system of keeping the helmet on the head, making it as comfortable and easy as possible.”
“We are very enthusiastic about this cooperation [with Paraclete],” said Retali.