Cobham’s synthetic vision glass cockpit has been approved for single-pilot IFR operation of the Bell 412 helicopter by the FAA with the granting of a supplemental type certificate to Arrow Aviation. This marks the world’s first IFR approval for a synthetic vision system in a helicopter. The Search and Rescue unit of North Slope Borough, Alaska will be the first customer to have Cobham’s electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) installed on a 412. The North Slope Borough 412 performs medevac, search & rescue, and emergency missions in the rigorous environment of Alaska’s North Slope. The Bell 412 will use the synthetic vision three-dimensional graphic technology to translate the terrain ahead of and around the helicopter into an intuitive, real-time visual picture, helping the pilot “see” aircraft position in relation to its surroundings regardless of darkness or weather conditions. This display reduces instrument scanning and pilot fatigue by consolidating readings of all primary flight instruments into one efficient tool, resulting in a dramatically reduced pilot workload and safer execution of flight plans and procedures. David Guidry, Arrow Aviation’s  general manager, said: “ the Bell 412 is already a capable aircraft, and the addition of the Cobham EFIS make it even more so, bringing it into the 21st Century in terms of pilot interface and enhanced safety.”