Story ID: 
Brazil OKs Astronautics Roadrunner EFI
By: Kerry Lynch
Caption: The nod, covering installation on A109/119 helicopters, follows European Union Aviation Safety Agency approval in July and U.S. FAA STC in June.
Word Count: 201
Astronautics continues to expand the market availability for its AFI47000 Roadrunner drop-in replacement electronic flight instrument (EFI) with approval from the Brazilian Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil (ANAC). The nod, covering installation on A109/119 helicopters, follows European Union Aviation Safety Agency approval in July and U.S. FAA supplemental type certification in June.

“STC approval from the national civil aviation agency of Brazil allows A109/119 operators in Brazil to realize the cost, ease, and safety benefits of Astronautics’ RoadRunner when upgrading to modern electronic flight instrument systems on their helicopter fleets,” said Astronautics president Chad Cundiff.

Designed to reduce operating and maintenance costs, RoadRunner was developed as a lower-cost replacement option for legacy five-inch attitude director and horizontal situation indicator electromechanical units, offering increased safety functionality that is found on a modern EFIS such as HTAWS and synthetic vision. It is readable in all lighting conditions and can provide notable weight savings. The unit further is designed for ease of installation with a wiring adapter harness that fits into existing slots for electromechanical units.

Astronautics has begun customer shipments of the units, which are available through the company’s dealer network.