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| Sikorsky S-29 in the UK coastguard fleet. Photo: Rockwell Collins |
[Avionics Today 03-04-2015] Beginning in April, Bristow Helicopters will be beefing up Search and Rescue (SAR) operations in the United Kingdom alongside the Maritime and Coastguard Agency with its Sikorsky S-92 and AugustaWestland AW189 helicopter fleet. The 22 helicopters, 11 of each model, will be outfitted with appropriate technologies and avionics to meet stringent safety requirements and survive the rugged operating environment over the duration of the 10-year contract.
These technologies include high definition Forward Looking Infra-Red (FLIR) thermal image camera and Night Vision Goggle (NVG) technology, including a Rockwell Collins all-glass cockpit in the S-92 fleet. The AW189 fleet will also sport a glass cockpit with four multifunction displays as well as HeliSure integrated Helicopter-Terrain Awareness Warning System (H-TAWS) with an option for a Synthetic Vision System (SVS). The Rockwell Collins-designed cockpit display features an open-system architecture that enables tight coupling of primary flight and navigation applications with the AugustaWestland Flight Management System (FMS) and Automatic Flight Control Systems (AFCS).