Patterson Distributors Limited's “Eye in the Sky” cockpit video, audio, and flight data recorder has received supplemental type certificate (STC) approval from the FAA. This device is designed to enhance safety and performance through comprehensive flight data recording. The STC certification was granted through the FAA's International Validation Branch under a bilateral agreement with the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The Eye in the Sky system integrates a forward-facing HD camera, capturing a 160-degree view of the cockpit and flight data from the instrument panel, along with ambient noise, intercom, and radio transmissions. Additionally, the unit records GNSS data, including aircraft ground speed, altitude, heading, and position. Designed to fit various helicopter models, it offers operators an affordable and robust tool for reviewing pilot performance, addressing maintenance anomalies, and improving flight training.
Louisa Patterson, the device’s developer, remarked, “Eye in the Sky helps raise the overall aviation safety bar, close occurrences, answer intermittent engineering faults, improve training, and provide answers in the event of an accident.”
With a tamper-proof SD card storing up to 22 hours of data and a built-in backup battery, the Eye in the Sky is ready for immediate deployment.