Approved For Installation Aboard H125/AS350 Helicopters

The FAA has awarded an STC to Swiss Rotor Solutions for the installation of its Maximum Pilot View Kit for the Airbus H125 / AS350 helicopter family.

According to the company, the Maximum Pilot View Kit (MPVK) is  a completely new design, providing the pilot with an uninhibited field of view below and to the right hand side of the aircraft. The modification adds a new single piece bubble door to the aircraft, offering 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 increases the vertical field of view forward, aft and directly underneath the aircraft by a factor of ten, compared to existing solutions.

The MPVK dramatically improves the capability and safety to perform demanding operations such as sling loading, firefighting, search-and-rescue/emergency medical services, confined area operations, aerial survey, seismic, law enforcement and any other tasks performed in close proximity to terrain, obstacles and ground crews or when operating at remote landing sites.

The STC was obtained with the support of, and through working closely with our European Aviation Safety Agency 21J certification partner, GVH Aerospace, who will also support serial installations and continued airworthiness. Designed specifically for the H125/AS350 helicopter, the kit comprises two main pieces, with the new door accompanied by the lower vertical window assembly and associated floor and fuselage insert/frame.

Transport Canada/Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil STC validation is in progress and expected shortly.

(Image provided with Swiss Rotor Solutions news release)

FMI: www.swissrotorsolutions.ch