Extends Avidyne’s Presence in Rotary Wing Market

What's good for fixed-wing airplanes is good for rotary-wings, too... that's the thinking behind Avidyne's introduction Tuesday of the TAS600 series of active surveillance traffic systems for helicopters. Featuring the company's Heads Up Audible Position Alerting™, advanced features and prices beginning at $9,900 -- or less than half the cost of competing systems -- the TAS600 Series aims to make it less expensive for a broader range of helicopter owners to add important safety systems to their aircraft.

Using the Ryan Active Surveillance™ (RAS) technology from the popular Ryan 9900BX system, the three new TAS600 series systems have a range of features that allow helicopter owners to select the price-performance level that best fits their aircraft and mission. The systems are certified for installation on most helicopters, and are available as an option on new Eurocopter EC135, EC145, and EC155 aircraft, as well as the Agusta A119.

The TAS600 series’ Heads Up Audible Position Alerting allows pilots to visually acquire traffic more quickly by listening to the target position and range ("Traffic! One o’clock! High! Two miles!"). Patented dual, small-footprint antennas provide improved target acquisition and tracking compared to single-antenna systems and allow greater flexibility for installation. The TAS600 series systems also provides intruder squawk codes and N-numbers of Mode S-equipped aircraft.

The systems -- similar to those Avidyne introduced for fixed-wing aircraft last November -- are the:

• TAS600 priced at $9,990 and recommended for light piston-powered helicopters. It features a 7nm range, a 3,500-foot vertical separation maximum and 18,500-foot service ceiling.
• TAS610 priced at $14,990 and recommended for high-performance single-engine helicopters. It features a 12nm range, a 3,500-foot vertical separation maximum and a 25,000-foot service ceiling.
• TAS620 priced at $20,990 and recommended for multi-engine, turbine-powered helicopters. The TAS620 features a 21nm range, a 9,900-foot vertical separation maximum and a 55,000-foot service ceiling.

The Avidyne TAS600 series traffic advisory systems show standard TCAS symbology on display systems from 15 different manufacturers including Avidyne, Garmin, Honeywell, Collins, Chelton, Sandel, and others.

"The TAS600 Series is the only traffic advisory product with Heads Up Audible Position Alerting and dual antenna performance. The TAS600 products provide unmatched cost-performance," said Mark Sandeen, Avidyne’s vice president of sales and marketing. "Helicopter schools will appreciate our entry-level pricing for such an important safety system, while individual and corporate owners have the flexibility to select the combination of price and performance that meets their mission requirements."

"An integral part of Avidyne’s vision is bringing advanced safety technologies to the cockpits of all GA aircraft by making systems more capable and affordable. We’re now extending that vision from fixed-wing to rotary-wing aircraft." said Dan Schwinn, president of Avidyne Corporation. "We expect that helicopter owners will find the price and performance of the TAS600 Series very compelling as they consider adding new or upgrading existing traffic systems."

Avidyne TAS600 Series active surveillance traffic systems are available now.

FMI: www.avidyne.com