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Universal Avionics (UA) authorized dealer, Heli-One, has received Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) approval from Transport Canada and the Malaysia Department of Civil Aviation for its Sikorsky S-76 VVIP helicopter flight deck upgrade.
Completed for a customer in Asia, the STC covers three UA EFI-890H Advanced Flight Displays and a UA UNS-1Lw Flight Management System (FMS) with Vision-1 Synthetic Vision System (SVS).
The new advanced flight displays replace legacy analog electronic flight instrument systems (EFIS), increasing operational capability, reducing issues with aging instruments and reliability, and eliminating the costs of replacing and maintaining older displays. The upgrade is a cost-friendly option for operators who desire the modern S-76D-like avionics “look and feel” for other S-76 variants including the S-76A, C, C+, or C++ models.
“Until now, the options for upgrading these legacy helicopters have been limited,” said Grady Dees, UA director of Technical Sales. “There is still a lot of life left in these machines,” he added. “With our products and Heli-One’s experienced and capable team, we now have a cost-effective, reliable upgrade solution for these operators.”
“This STC is an acknowledgement of the great work done by our team in bringing this project to a successful conclusion,” said Eddie Lane, president, Heli-One. “This is our first modernization upgrade done for the S-76 and we are excited to present this option to the industry as a way to add additional years and value to this versatile aircraft type.”
UA’s well-proven, reliable EFI-890H advanced flight displays are capable of customization to show all primary flight information in a pilot-friendly, intuitive interface – enhancing safety, improving situational awareness, and reducing pilot workload. The multiple screen installation allows for special mission equipment integration, such as Vision-1 SVS with 3D terrain awareness and external camera inputs. Combined with the upgraded FMS, this cutting-edge and mission-specific navigation and control panel upgrade provides the customer with added long-term value to their S-76B aircraft.
Throughout the 2019 HAI Heli-Expo, UA will feature a three-display EFI-890H advanced flight display system simulated in the Sikorsky S-76 flight deck. Heli-Expo attendees may visit UA Booth C4028 to learn more and run through the equipment functionality for basic system and pilot controls/selections.
