Universal Avionics (UA) has announced completion of certification testing with Authorized Dealer, Heli-One, for the company’s Flight Management System (FMS) Transition to Hover feature. Testing occurred in Stavanger, Norway with a law enforcement AS332L/L1 Super Puma helicopter modernization program. Certification is now imminent.
The new UA FMS feature allows a hands-free operation for the crew, allowing them to focus on other mission critical tactics. The pilot-friendly interface provides for an automatic approach based on a pilot Mark-on-Target activation. When activated, the FMS computes and provides coupled guidance downwind, performs an automatic course reversal, and communicates with the CDV-155 AFCS to trigger the descent and deceleration to achieve a hover 100 meters downwind of the target. At that point, the helicopter enters an automatic hover at the pilot-selected altitude.