Story ID: 
A Maximum View for A-Star Pilots
By: Mark Huber
Caption: Bubble door for the Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350 offers a significant increase in lateral visibility and pilot headroom when leaning to the right.
Word Count: 185
AeroBrigham is displaying Swiss Rotor Solutions’ new maximum pilot view kit (MPVK) for the Airbus Helicopters H125/AS350 this week at the Airborne Law Enforcement Association Expo in Reno, Nevada. The single-piece, right-hand bubble door gained EASA certification late last year; FAA certification is expected shortly.

The company said that the MPVK offers a significant increase in lateral visibility and pilot headroom when leaning to the right, even when wearing a helmet. A large lower viewing aperture and transparent fuselage window fairing significantly increase the vertical field of view forward, aft and directly underneath the aircraft and is useful for missions performed near terrain, obstacles and ground crews or when operating at remote landing sites.

Decatur, Texas-based AeroBrigham will offer complete turnkey installations of the MPVK and undertake the continued airworthiness of the structural modification. The kit has two main pieces, with the new door accompanied by the lower vertical window assembly and associated floor and fuselage insert/frame. To date, nine kits have been installed in Europe and 28 are on order. Installation requires an estimated 70 to 120 man hours.