Avionics News February 2023 - 21

BendixKing 10.1-inch AeroVue Touch, touchscreen PFD/MFD display
BendixKing AeroNav 800 GPS navigator
state-of-the-art panel upgrade options for thousands of
legacy R44s.
" We were approached by Randy Rowles, president
of Helicopter Institute (the helicopter training provider
for Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott,
Arizona), to find a good value solution to the glass cockpit
needs of the helicopter industry, " explained Bill Young,
AvPanels managing director. " We immediately began a
search for likely partners for the project. After looking at all
of the available glass cockpit avionics manufacturers, we
determined that the BendixKing AeroVue, the Becker audio
panel, and the RC Allen attitude indicator were the right
solutions to build around. "
While many of the current panelmount
digital displays and GPS
navigators would have fit the bill
from a capability standpoint, Young
said piston-engine helicopters have
one particular need that quickly
eliminated many of the contenders:
They vibrate - a lot. And the back
teeth-loosening vibration requires
avionics and instruments that are
extremely robust.
" We really dug into the robustness of all the various
digital units, " he said. " We had to make sure that the digital
glass components we selected would not only be costeffective
at installation but would stand up to the harsh
environment that is a helicopter's panel.
" The units we selected will certainly meet all those
requirements. It was also important to look beyond the
initial sale and installation. Helicopters, especially those
used for training, lead tough lives. We wanted supplier
partners who would be there to pick up the phone when
there was a problem with their unit. Because of their
histories of support, again, these OEMs were the easy
choice. "
A great panel is the sum of its parts
Young said the key to meeting all the company's goals
with the HeliVue R44 panel upgrade had to be a complete
turnkey solution no matter if the helicopter is used for flight
training, aerial tours, police or anything else.
" The system is fully scalable and centered around four
components: BendixKing's AeroVue Touch and AeroNav
800 GPS navigator; Becker Avionics' AMU6500 digital
audio system; and RC Allen's RCA2610-3 standby
attitude indicator, " he said. " This solution brings increased
situational awareness, new approach options, and off-theline
look and feel to any legacy Robinson R44 helicopter. "
BendixKing AeroVue Touch and AeroNav 800
In the figurative front and center of the HeliVue panel
upgrade is the 10.1-inch BendixKing AeroVue Touch, a
touchscreen PFD/MFD display,
and the BendixKing AeroNav
800 GPS navigator.
Becker AMU 6500 digital audio system with
Bluetooth connectivity.
" By centralizing older analog
cockpit instrumentation on
the AeroVue Touch, we were
able to significantly improve
pilot situational awareness
during demanding phases of
the mission, " Young said. " For
example, it features BendixKing's
SmartView synthetic vision, vertical situation display that
shows the flight plan over terrain, built-in ADAHRS, and a
host of other workload-reducing features.
" The AeroVue Touch also integrates with a variety of
third-party electronic flight bag apps allowing pilots to
upload their flight plans into the core avionics and use EFB
functionality in unison with the primary avionics. Again,
another feature that reduces pilot workload. "
The AeroNav 800 GPS navigator complements many of
the AeroVue Touch's capabilities with a host of features,
including a 4.8-inch high-resolution display, hybrid control
via touchscreen, buttons or knobs, 3D terrain, obstacle and
traffic displays, predictive terrain collision alerting, and
more.
While the host of capabilities was compelling enough
to select the BendixKing units for the program, Young
stressed that because so many R44s are used for flight
avionics news * february 2023 21
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Avionics News February 2023

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