A government/industry partnership including Bell Helicopter, FAA, Air Methods and Des Moines, Iowa-based Mercy One have certified the first Bell 429 for steep approaches using wide area augmentation system (WAAS) capability. The Mercy One EMS-configured Bell 429 is approved for 9-degree localizer precision with vertical guidance (LPV) approaches at a minimum velocity for instrument procedures (Vmini) of 45 knots. Other participants in the certification program include FAA’s Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Program Office, its Flight Standards Organization, and Hickok and Associates. For related news
Air Comm Marks 1000th Sikorsky Delivery
Boulder, Colo.-based Air Comm Corp. has handed over the 1,000th Black Hawk cabin heating system to Sikorsky. The milestone delivery took place in August. For related news
Cover Story Rotorcraft Enhanced and Synthetic Vision
Enhanced vision (EV) and synthetic vision (SV) systems are becoming more common in rotary-wing as well as fixed-wing aircraft. The technologies are particularly valuable in helicopters, which fly much of the time at low altitude in the terrain. EV, typically...
By Charlotte Adams
Vertical Lift Consortium
"Back to the Future" would have been an apt theme when Pentagon and U.S. rotorcraft industry and academic representatives convened in Huntsville... More »
Advance Australia, But Delays Damage Progress
In 2003 the Australian Government published its Defense Aerospace Sector Strategic Plan. Its aim was to build a defense industrial base that could sustain and... More »
Frank Robinson Retires; Kurt Takes Control
Robinson Helicopter Co. founder Frank Robinson retired as president and chairman on August 10, following 37 years at the helm of the Torrance, Calif.-based... More »
Sikorsky’s X2 technology demonstrator reached 225 knots in recent flight trials at the manufacturer’s Development Flight Center in West Palm Beach, Fla. The mark breaks the previous top speed for a helicopter, set at 216 knots by a Westland Lynx 800 in 1986. Sikorsky is targeting 250 knots for the X2 by the end of third quarter 2010.
Certification Engineer
Aero Dynamix, Inc.
Aircraft Night Vision System Integration, Modification and Repair Center
In addition to his established working relationship with the FAA, Jessie K.
Kearby was recently recognized by Transport Canada Civil Aviation (TCCA) as a
Subject Matter Expert on Aircraft Night Vision System Modification.
Q)
How are reds identified in full NVG cockpits? What are the different reds and how do they differ?
A)
Red indications and annunciations are, and will always be, an important issue in the world of NVG modifications. The reason being the color Red inherently has a large amount of near infra-red (NIR) radiation within its spectral composition, and as w...
