Vector Aerospace issued STC
Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America, a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace Corporation has been granted a Federal Aviation Administration Amended Supplemental Type Certificate (STC), #SA1230AK-R STC; for an Instrument Flight Rules (IFR) Integrated Cockpit Display System (ICDS or “glass cockpit”) installation and Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS) for the Sikorsky S-61L and S-61N series helicopters. The system is certified for Dual Pilot Instrument Flight Rules; Category A and B operations.
Vector Helicopter Services’ Vice-President of Structures and Avionics Sales, Phil Kemp, notes this newly FAA-certified S-61 cockpit upgrade solution offers a variety of operator and pilot-focused improvements. The system incorporates four Sagem displays supporting the engine and caution systems; two Rockwell-Collins AHRS and Primary Function Displays and other flight critical avionics from Garmin, L-3 Communications and Aerospace Optics.
Kemp explains that the new S-61 integrated class cockpit display system offers a more reliable and cost effective alternative to the more difficult to maintain legacy cockpit instrumentation; achieved by replacing the old instrumentation, sensors and gyros with digital, solid-state equipment. The light-weight cockpit installation also offers enhanced flight safety benefits through the integration of the latest situational awareness tools, and the capability to upgrade or modify the system to accommodate various operational requirements. In developing this latest version of the S61 glass cockpit solution, Vector Helicopter Services collaborated with Carson Helicopters, Rockwell-Collins and Sagem Avionics, Inc. (Safran Group); organizations.