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OPINION: Touchless Travel—The Trend the Pandemic Unconsciously Sparked

Tim Duncan, Principal Product Manager – Growth at Bottle Rocket Studios, writes about how the travel landscape has recovered and adapted in the wake of the pandemic. (Photo: Business Insider)

It has been three years since the U.S. went into lockdown, when air travel hit a standstill and our backyards had to suffice for a summer vacation spot. The travel space was obliterated as a result. In fact, airlines hemorrhaged $168 billion in economic losses in 2020. Although not fully recovered, air travel is certainly back in full force in 2023, and the appetite for it is insatiable.

The pandemic fueled a mass shift in customer behaviors and expectations across the board. This is happening across all industries, as customers now seek out seamless and immersive experiences, with as little human interaction as necessary in many situations. Airlines have been forced to realign their priorities and how they function in order to please the connected customer of today, and the result has been innovative and exciting.

Customers Are King

A trend that we are seeing across all industries is an embracing of the “customer-obsessed” culture. As the airline landscape has become increasingly saturated and fiercely competitive, businesses are now prioritizing customer experiences and raising the bar for expectations by putting their customers at the center of their delivery models, leadership, strategy, and operations. In 2023, customer loyalty is actually more valuable than customer acquisition. With these new priorities and behaviors, let’s dive into how this has impacted the travel space.

Touchless Travel

Over the last three years, air travel has generally become more expensive. Even in the past year, we have seen a 25% increase in its cost. This is due to a combination of factors including higher fuel prices, soaring demand, inflation, and of course, labor constraints. Profitable air travel is now therefore much more than just selling seats. Airlines need to explore more ways to draw customers in and retain them, adding value to their services in order to justify their higher prices.

With today’s everything-tech economy, customers now expect their travel experience to incorporate a multitude of easily accessible digital touchpoints to enhance their trip and make it as seamless as possible. The key to success now lies in leveraging channels of communication and creating a carefully crafted omnichannel experience, where humans and tech can work hand in hand. The mundane and time-consuming tasks such as booking seats or getting in line for security can be automated, while the more complex ones can be dealt with by human experts, who can focus on adding value and driving loyalty. This will create interactions that are personalized, seamless, and immersive.

Customers now use multiple communication channels interchangeably—be it a smartphone, tablet, or in-person kiosk. It has become vital for businesses to ensure that all of these work in unison to provide a seamless airport experience. For example, a customer may book their flight online through the provider’s website, then check in through an app, drop off their luggage at the desk, and have their boarding pass in their Apple Wallet. This creates a sense of interconnectivity, allowing a customer to choose how much or how little human interaction they want.

Last summer, labor constraints, delays, and cancellations fueled crowded lines across airports. The average wait time to get through security at Miami airport soared to 46 minutes. To alleviate this, some airports have introduced virtual options to get in line, where customers can book a time slot at security or check in to the line through an app or QR code, to avoid long waiting times and enable a smoother experience. Customers can get live updates and receive notifications on their place in the line, allowing them to remain connected and updated in real-time despite not physically being there. This can be used in any area of the airport which involves lining up so that passengers have more time to wine, dine, shop, and prepare for their flight.

The same goes for in-flight entertainment. Airlines continue to upgrade their in-flight Wi-Fi capabilities that allow passengers to watch movies, send a text message to their friends back at home, or order food and drinks, all from their own device. This allows minimum human contact for an onboard customer, and yet they are constantly connected throughout the duration of their flight. These types of digital experiences ultimately add value and will encourage customers to remain loyal to an airline.

The Future of Air Travel

With lockdowns, restrictions, Covid passports, and delays, the aviation industry had to rethink customer experience during the pandemic and its aftermath. As the stress inextricably linked with travel over the past few years finally wanes, airlines want to ensure they can provide a streamlined, seamless, and stress-free experience for their customers now and in the years to come. The incorporation of digital experiences is inevitably the way forward, and it is certain that touchpoints will become even more in sync in order to ensure summer travel takes off without turbulence.

Author Tim Duncan is the Principal Product Manager – Growth at Bottle Rocket Studios.

The post OPINION: Touchless Travel—The Trend the Pandemic Unconsciously Sparked appeared first on Avionics International.

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Enabling the Future of Advanced Air Mobility and Drone Operations in the U.S.

A U.S. House hearing last week featured discussions about advanced air mobility and the future of unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS. It also served as a legislative hearing for The National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Act. (Photo: Skydio)

A U.S. House hearing held last week on the topic of advanced air mobility featured a discussion of the future of unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, in the United States. It also served as a legislative hearing for The National Drone and Advanced Air Mobility Act. This is a bill that would enable a coordinated Federal initiative to accelerate civilian UAS operations. The act would also support research and development related to advanced air mobility (AAM).

Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairman Brian Babin explained in his opening remarks that enabling the next generation of UAS will require further research and development as well as improvements to the regulatory framework. “Commercial use of UAS and AAM have the potential to carry out a wide range of missions across a broad range of sectors, including agriculture, weather monitoring, critical infrastructure, transportation, public safety, and disaster relief,” he said.

House Rep. Babin warned that many U.S. companies are choosing to conduct R&D in other countries because of the delays in the process of integrating UAS into the national airspace. “We’re losing out on the economic benefits of having American businesses compete in this rapidly growing industry,” he added.

Chairman Frank Lucas remarked upon the incredible potential of UAS and AAM technologies in his opening statement. He mentioned both electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as well as electric short take-off and landing (eSTOL) vehicles as two examples of the transformational technology that has emerged.

Rep. Lucas previously introduced the National Drone and Advance Air Mobility Initiative Act. He stated his plans to reintroduce the bill, which would establish an initiative for coordinating UAS activities in the U.S. The bill would also help to expand the necessary workforce for this industry.

“The demand for UAS is growing exponentially,” he explained. “In 2018, the drone services market was worth less than $5 billion. But it’s predicted to grow to more than $63 billion by 2025. The market for Advanced Air Mobility is expected to increase to $115 billion by 2035, creating more than 280,000 new jobs.”

Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, Ranking Member of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, also spoke during last week’s hearing. “Aviation is critical to this country’s economy and global leadership,” she remarked. “Significant economic and societal benefits are at stake.”

Rep. Lofgren underscored applications for drones such as detecting and responding to wildfires, a key issue facing many parts of the country today. Drones also make it possible to conduct industrial inspections more safely and to perform environmental monitoring, she noted.

Also speaking at the hearing as a witness was Dr. Jamey Jacob, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Institute for Research and Education as well as the Williams Chair in Energy and Professor of Aerospace Engineering at Oklahoma State University. He commented that the university has been able to use UAS to improve weather observations and forecasting thanks to support from programs like the NASA University Leadership Initiative and the National Science Foundation National Robotics Initiative, as well as projects with the FAA. Their work, along with efforts by other universities, will help to accelerate the adoption of solutions for advanced air mobility in urban settings. Advanced capabilities in weather forecasting are also immensely useful during natural disasters such as floods, tornadoes, and hurricanes, Dr. Jacob shared.

“We have founded the LaunchPad AAM Center and Flight Range with the Osage Nation and Tulsa Innovation Laboratories to develop novel programs to support small business innovation and provide unique flight-testing solutions, helping to bridge this divide,” he explained.

“Facilities such as the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma test site as part of the FAA BEYOND program are critical to U.S. capabilities,” Dr. Jacob added. “Further development of these and other facilities that allow testing of this technology to evaluate use cases and performance is much needed to provide crucial safety data for the FAA, such as advancing beyond visual line of sight drone operations.”

Dr. Parimal Kopardekar, Director of the NASA Aeronautics Research Institute, stated during the hearing, “NASA invests in aeronautics research to address the most critical pressing challenges by developing and transferring key technologies to the FAA and industry.”

He explained that UAS traffic management, or UTM, will enable safe, scaled-up operations of small drones in low-altitude airspace. NASA is collaborating with the FAA and industry leaders to research topics like airspace integration, aircraft noise levels, community acceptance, and safety.

“NASA Aeronautics has committed significant resources to ensure that UAS and AAM concepts and technologies will mature, scale, and be safely operationalized,” Dr. Parimal Kopardekar remarked. “U.S. leadership in this sector cannot be taken for granted, as other countries are closely following our progress and seeking to surpass us.”

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Delta Chooses Viasat to Provide In-Flight Connectivity

Viasat’s in-flight connectivity solution will be installed on more than 1,000 Delta Air Lines aircraft. (Photo: Delta)

Delta Air Lines just announced that it selected Viasat to provide in-flight connectivity to its fleet. The Atlanta-based carrier recently made headlines for announcing that it would provide all SkyMiles Members with free Wi-Fi on almost all domestic flights. This industry-leading decision will be supported by its new partnership with Viasat; their collaboration means that Viasat will provide connectivity on over one thousand aircraft within the Delta fleet.

Viasat is a global communications company that has helped consumers, businesses, militaries and governments to communicate more efficiently and reliably. While it has a diverse list of clients, Viasat already has a strong presence in the airline industry, where it provides in-flight connectivity for several major carriers. These customers include American Airlines, JetBlue Airways, United Airlines, and more recently, Southwest Airlines. The addition of Delta to their extensive list of airline partners highlights the benefit an experienced and tested company can bring to such a dynamic industry.

With the partnership, Viasat will provide connectivity on a wide range of aircraft within Delta’s fleet. This includes widebody aircraft like its Airbus A330, Airbus A350, and Boeing 767 models. Viasat will also be installed on smaller, narrowbody aircraft with new deliveries, including the Airbus A220 and the Boeing 737 MAX 10, for which the airline recently placed a sizable order. By the end of the year, 700 existing aircraft will be equipped with Viasat Wi-Fi.

Don Buchman, Viasat’s Vice President and General Manager of Commercial Aviation, demonstrated enthusiasm and confidence in their partnership with Delta when he explained, “We are honored to continue expanding as the technology provider supporting Delta’s mission to offer fast, free Wi-Fi as part of its evolved customer experience. The speed and scale at which we have reached this milestone together—now with more than 1,000 aircraft planned—has been astounding and is a tribute to our collaboration.”

Delta’s aircraft will be equipped with Viasat’s Ka-band IFC system, which is designed for compatibility with both the company’s network of satellites and improved systems like the upcoming three-satellite ViaSat-3 constellation. This system, which is scheduled to launch in April of this year, will have more than 1 terabit per second of throughput capacity, making it the highest-capacity broadband satellite of all time. ViaSat-3 will provide Delta with high-quality connectivity by combining throughput capacity with the ability to shift this capacity to meet demand where it is most concentrated.

As demand for air travel returns, airlines across the world are turning to updated technology to win over customers. Viasat will assist Delta in best serving its customers by providing consistent connectivity that will allow Delta to continue to provide its customers with a pleasant on-board experience.

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AAR To Support New Acquisition Trax’s Aviation Software Sales

AAR has acquired Trax, a provider of aircraft MRO and fleet management software, in a $120M deal. (Photo: Trax USA Corp.)

AAR Corp.’s $120 million acquisition of aviation MRO and fleet management software firm Trax USA Corp., announced this week, is part of the Illinois-based aviation aftermarket solutions provider’s effort to build up digital capabilities, according to an AAR executive.

Miami-based Trax provides primarily airlines (it also has MRO and government customers) with an enterprise resource planning (ERP) system that “manages and tracks every element that goes into aircraft maintenance, so it is inventory management, materials management and purchasing, personnel time task cards and financials,” Dylan Wolin, AAR VP-strategic and corporate development, told Avionics International in an interview. “It’s a really comprehensive system for managing everything that goes into maintenance.”

AAR will not utilize the software in its own MRO hangars, at least initially, but will support Trax in terms of sales, often to the same customer base as AAR is serving, Wolin said.

“We are going to make sure we’re keeping the Trax brand and the Trax entity in the marketplace,” he noted. “There’s not going to be a rebranding. AAR will be supporting Trax behind the scenes and making certain introductions. But in terms of both the personnel and the identity in the marketplace, those things will remain unchanged.”

Trax has 110 employees.

AAR may eventually utilize the Trax software in its maintenance hangars, but that was not the impetus behind the acquisition, Wolin said.

“It’s really about driving more sales for Trax with customers they’re not reaching today,” Wolin explained, “and making it more seamless for customers to be able to pair utilization of the Trax software with the procurement of hardware from us. So, for example, an airline using the Trax portal to monitor inventory levels and identify parts needed then would be able to seamlessly source parts from AAR, or from somewhere else for that matter.”

The combination with AAR will “open doors for Trax with some of our airline customers,” he explained. “They’re a small company, and bringing the credibility of AAR should be helpful.”

In a presentation detailing the transaction, AAR described Trax, founded in 1999, as the “leading third-party provider of mobile and cloud MRO solutions for maintenance efficiency, cost reduction and information flow between airlines, lessors and MROs.” Trax software supports around 5,000 aircraft and “creates the system of record required for airlines, MROs and government aircraft operators by the FAA and other regulators,” according to AAR.

AAR Chairman, President, and CEO John Holmes said when announcing the transaction that “we believe we can support Trax’s continued growth by investing in its platforms.”

The post AAR To Support New Acquisition Trax’s Aviation Software Sales appeared first on Avionics International.

New AI Sytem Offers Potential Air Traffic Management Solutions

A new artificial intelligence technology created at Mälardalens University in Sweden could assist air traffic controllers by calculating delay lengths and predicting various interruptions. (Photo: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain)

A new artificial intelligence technology created at Mälardalens University (MDU) in Sweden is promising to help air traffic controllers by calculating delay lengths and predicting various interruptions. This system, in addition to predicting disruptions and communicating necessary updates to customers, can even help prevent disruptions from occurring.

The AI system prototype was developed by researchers at MDU and is aimed at helping operators in air traffic management (ATM) to handle airspaces and aircraft more efficiently. It will do so through helping operators create and maintain optimized traffic flows while monitoring aircraft positions. Additionally, the system has the ability to identify potential collisions and provide the needed guidance to avoid such accidents. While it does provide efficient solutions, this system also supplies explanations for why its suggestions are optimal for the conditions.

In addition to monitoring and analyzing traffic in real time, this system is also predictive. The system developed three machine learning algorithms, allowing it to provide transparency and thus delay predictions on single runways. It is built in an environment using XAI (Explainable Artificial Intelligence) and utilizes both 2D and 3D maps to visualize a wide range of possible solutions before identifying the best one. It supplies pilots with information needed for them to keep safe distance between their aircraft and other air traffic—while providing guidance to air traffic control as well.

This system was developed as a part of the Artimation project at MDU, and was shaped using input from human end-users. This will allow it to improve existing infrastructure within the industry. As Mobyen Uddin Ahmed, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at MDU, explained, “The project results will improve the functionality, acceptance and the reliability of AI systems in general, but also meet global goals such as the improvement of industry, innovation and infrastructure in society.”

While this new AI system has taken promising steps toward improving the aviation industry, the project can also help advance AI research and application across a variety of industries. “The results from the project will also be useful for other AI researchers, who can take advantage of the research when it comes to the transparency and explainability of AI methods,” explained Shahina Begum, Professor of Artificial Intelligence at MDU. “In addition, technology providers will benefit from the results, which will hopefully lead to AI systems that will become more communicative and reliable for human users.”

As the skies grow more crowded, efficient and safe air traffic management will be critical to accommodate such an important and growing industry. The work done at Mälardalens University through its Artimation project promises to help air traffic controllers and aircraft operators fly in a safer and more efficient manner.

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“Plate Lines” Could Safely Allow for More Aircraft to Land in Shorter Intervals

SESAR partners have demonstrated a reduction in wake vortices at large airports by using a system with a series of parallel metal plates. (Photo: Getty)

Europe’s largest aviation research initiative has successfully tested a technology that could allow airports to safely boost runway throughput to accommodate an expected increase in air traffic.

Partners within the Single European Sky Air Traffic Modernization Research (SESAR) effort recently demonstrated the effectiveness of a system to reduce wake vortices at large airports using a series of parallel metal plates.

Even beyond renewed air traffic following COVID-19 strictures, air traffic is expected to continue to grow in coming years, but aircraft capacity already is constrained at many large airports. Airports need to improve runway throughput while maintaining safety levels to meet the uptick in demand.

That is the goal of SORT, or Safety Optimized Runway Throughput, which hosted a visitor day in February at the Vienna Airport in Austria. There, SESAR experts tested what they call “plate lines,” developed by the German Aerospace Center.

The plate lines were shown to effectively tamp down wake vortices, a major concern for small and medium-sized airplanes landing in proximity with large passenger airliners. The larger jets can create a circulating air vortex behind them that can destabilize following aircraft. For that reason, aircraft must be spaced far enough apart not to encounter these potentially hazardous conditions.

Small and medium-sized aircraft currently have to maintain a distance of 10 kilometers (6 miles) from larger aircraft flying ahead of them in order to ensure safety. Lines of vertical, parallel plates placed at the head of a runway could allow for shorter spacing between aircraft.

“A plate line can be set up to attenuate the circulating vortices in front of a runway more quickly allowing the wake vortices to decay much more quickly,” according to SESAR. “Testing revealed that wake vortex lifetime in ground proximity can be reduced by up to 37 percent. Plate Lines can be installed at busy airports in a timely manner to improve both safety and runway capacity at large airports. In the near future, plate Lines could be combined with the RECAT-EU-PWS procedure, which is expected to be approved by EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) this year.”

The plate lines were installed and tested at Vienna Airport in collaboration with Austro Control. The visitor day also included a visit to the plate prototype located at the testing ground Rauchenwarth, alongside presentations in the Vienna Tower.

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Archer and United Announce Plans for First Commercial eVTOL Route in Chicago

The second launch city for Archer’s eVTOL commercial operations—Chicago—was announced this week. (Photo: Archer)

Archer Aviation and United Airlines announced the first commercial route for eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) aircraft—from Newark Airport to a heliport in downtown Manhattan—last November. Today, the companies announced another launch city: Chicago.

The route will connect Vertiport Chicago, the largest facility for VTOL aircraft in North America, with O’Hare International Airport. This trip could take an hour or more by car. In comparison, Archer’s eVTOL aircraft Midnight can make this journey in about 10 minutes.

Some of the partners that United and Archer are working with include the City of Chicago, World Business Chicago, Chicago Department of Aviation, the State of Illinois, and ComEd, along with Vertiport Chicago. They need to establish appropriate infrastructure in and around the city’s metropolitan area to ensure the safe integration of eVTOL operations in 2025.

According to Archer’s announcement, Vertiport Chicago—which is located in the Illinois Medical District near the Chicago Loop—was chosen for the route connecting the city center with the airport “because of its unparalleled convenience, access and service.”

Michael Leskinen, President of United Airlines Ventures, commented, “Both Archer and United are committed to decarbonizing air travel and leveraging innovative technologies to deliver on the promise of the electrification of the aviation industry.”

Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot remarked on the announcement, saying that Chicago is a place where technological innovation thrives. “This exciting new technology will further decarbonize our means of transportation, taking us another step forward in our fight against climate change. I’m pleased that Chicago residents will be among the first in the nation to experience this innovative, convenient form of travel.”

Archer’s production aircraft, Midnight, is the evolution of the demonstrator aircraft, Maker. (Photo: Archer)

Midnight, Archer’s production aircraft, was unveiled in November shortly after the company announced the first commercial eVTOL route between downtown Manhattan and Newark. Archer’s team hopes to receive certification from the FAA in late 2024. The vehicle will have a maximum range of 100 miles, although key routes will largely consist of 20-mile back-to-back routes, such as trips between city centers and airports.

The post Archer and United Announce Plans for First Commercial eVTOL Route in Chicago appeared first on Avionics International.

Lilium’s Tech Demonstrator Hits Targeted Maximum Speed

Lilium’s tech demonstrator recently achieved the targeted maximum speed. (Photo: Lilium)

Earlier this month, eVTOL developer Lilium achieved a significant milestone. Its Phoenix 2 tech demonstrator aircraft hit the targeted maximum speed during a flight test—about 155 mph, or 136Kts (250+ km/h).

This week, Lilium released a video of the flight, which can be viewed below.

According to a spokesperson for the company, this achievement “is a big deal as it helps us to demonstrate stability and controllability of the aircraft and control software also in high speed.”

The spokesperson added that the achievement “helps us become one step closer to the certification of our conforming aircraft, by validating our models in the high-speed regime.”

The Phoenix 2 comes in for a landing after hitting its maximum speed during a flight test. (Photo: Lilium)

Last month, Lilium shared news of an agreement with with Collins Aerospace to design and develop the inceptors that pilots will use to control the Lilium Jet. “While integrating all conventional mechanical and electrical flight controls into two sidesticks, the Collins Aerospace system brings a new piloting philosophy for single pilot operations in the eVTOL realm,” according to the announcement.

Last fall, Lilium announced that its technology demonstrator achieved full transition from hover to wing-borne flight. The Phoenix 2 aircraft has been performing test flights in Spain since the spring of 2022, and the team first achieved a main wing transition flight in June.

Lilium has also successfully completed its second Design Organization Approval (DOA) audit by EASA. Lilium is working towards type certification of its eVTOL aircraft with both EASA and the FAA.

Lilium’s tech demonstrator Phoenix 2 passed an important milestone. The team has hit its maximum speed for the aircraft—136Kts, or 250+ km/h (155+ mph). (Photo: Lilium)

The post Lilium’s Tech Demonstrator Hits Targeted Maximum Speed appeared first on Avionics International.

Eve and Ferrovial to Explore Air Traffic Management for eVTOLs and Vertiports

Eve Air Mobility signed a Letter of Intent with Ferrovial Vertiports to explore the use of Eve’s air traffic management software solution to support vertiport operations and eVTOL services. (Photo: Ferrovial/Eve)

Eve Air Mobility and Ferrovial Vertiports intend to collaborate in evaluating the use of Eve’s air traffic management (ATM) solution for enabling advanced air mobility operations. These operations include electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft as well as vertiports—where eVTOLs can take off, land, and recharge.

Ferrovial Vertiports is involved in the development of vertiport networks that support eVTOL operations. The CEO of Ferrovial Vertiports, Kevin Cox, shared in a recent interview with Avionics International that sustainability is part of its vertiport development strategy. “We are committed to innovation and to being part of a future of faster and greener mobility,” he explained. “We’re taking a global lead in vertiport development, creating sustainable, interconnected infrastructures for VTOLs.”

In addition to developing an eVTOL aircraft, Eve has created an agnostic software solution for urban ATM. The software is designed to support safe, reliable operations of eVTOL aircraft and vertiports.

Ferrovial Vertiports has previously entered into an agreement with another eVTOL developer, Lilium. In January 2021, the two companies announced that they will work together to build a network that includes at least 10 vertiports across the state of Florida.

The Letter of Intent signed by Eve and Ferrovial Vertiports this week confirms their shared commitment to the safe integration of urban air mobility operations on a global scale.

“Our goal is to build a series of agnostic vertiport networks across the United States and Europe and ensuring that we are utilizing an agnostic state-of-the-art Urban Air Traffic Management system will be key to achieving our ambitions,” said CEO Kevin Cox in the press release.

Andre Stein, co-CEO of Eve, also commented on the new agreement, saying, “Eve is more than an eVTOL manufacturer and we are working with companies like Ferrovial Vertiports to provide them with solutions that will allow these aircraft to operate safely and efficiently.”

Eve is planning to launch services of its eVTOL aircraft in both the U.S. and Brazil in 2026 following certification by Brazil’s aviation authority, ANAC, and the FAA.

The post Eve and Ferrovial to Explore Air Traffic Management for eVTOLs and Vertiports appeared first on Avionics International.

Avidyne and IS&S Reveal Helix Integrated Flight Deck

Avidyne Corporation and Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) announced the new Helix Integrated Flight Deck, a joint initiative that combines IS&S’s flat-panel displays with Avidyne’s Helios Flight Management Systems. (Photo: Avidyne)

Avidyne Corporation and Innovative Solutions & Support (IS&S) recently announced their brand-new Helix Integrated Flight Deck. Designed for turbine-class helicopters, this new system promises to bring more convenience and ease to helicopter operators across the industry.

Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, Avidyne Corporation has designed and manufactured integrated avionics systems for the aviation industry for over 25 years. Avidyne mainly focuses on the development of integrated GPS and VHF navigation and communication systems.

IS&S acts as a systems integrator for the aviation industry by designing and manufacturing modernized and cost-effective flight navigation systems and instruments. Some of its products include integrated flat panel display systems, ThrustSense Autothrottle, flight management systems, and engine and fuel displays. Given the two companies’ complimentary focuses, the contributions of both to the Helix Integrated Flight Deck will allow it to bring some of the most updated technology to the flight decks of helicopters.

The Helix Integrated Flight Deck will utilize IS&S’s 10.4-inch flat-panel displays combined with Avidyne’s Helios Flight Management System, allowing significant improvements for the system’s capabilities. Some of Helix’s features, like 3D synthetic vision, electronic charts, and ADS-B weather will help pilots receive and understand flight data—all on large-format displays.

While this technology is modern compared to pre-existing systems in current air frames, Helix has applications to aircraft already in operation. As John Talmadge, Avidyne’s Vice President of Worldwide Sales, explained, “Avidyne and IS&S have put together a solution that is designed and targeted to extend the life of the large number of legacy helicopters still in operation, including the S-76C++, the Blackhawk, the AW109 and more. We are excited to be working alongside IS&S to develop Helix, which will give new life to these airframes at a cost that won’t break the bank, and that provides operators a whole host of new capabilities while dramatically improving reliability and dispatchability.”

The collaborative nature of the Helix Integrated Flight Deck extends well beyond the partnership between Avidyne and IS&S. Helicopter service company PHI MRO Services will act as a system integrator for Helix. The program will be certified initially in the S-76C++ helicopter, but PHI MRO will offer retrofits and additional support at their MRO sites across the world.

“We see the Helix system as a terrific upgrade solution for helicopter operators facing legacy avionics obsolescence issues, and who want to improve reliability and dispatchability of their fleet.” – Tom Neumann, President of PHI MRO Services (Photo: PHI MRO Services)

Tom Neumann, President of PHI MRO Services, demonstrated enthusiasm for their collaboration with Avidyne and IS&S, saying, “We are happy to have Avidyne and IS&S as avionics OEM partners for systems integration and support of their new Helix flight deck. We see the Helix system as a terrific upgrade solution for helicopter operators facing legacy avionics obsolescence issues, and who want to improve reliability and dispatchability of their fleet.”

While the Helix Flight Deck System is still pending certification, and certain details like pricing have yet to be revealed, Avidyne, IS&S and PHI MRO have shown confidence that this new system will help helicopter operators modernize their flight decks in a cost-effective manner.

The post Avidyne and IS&S Reveal Helix Integrated Flight Deck appeared first on Avionics International.