Paris Air Show News: Smiths to Provide Voice and Data Recorder Systems for U.S. Coast Guard and Army 160th Special Operations Helicopters

June 14, 2005
Smiths Aerospace has a contract worth more than $4 million to supply voice and data recorder systems with deliveries to be completed this year.

LE BOURGET, France - Smiths Aerospace has been selected to provide its new generation cockpit Voice and Data Recorder Systems to the U.S. Army's 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment MH-47 Chinook, MH-60 Black Hawk and U.S. Coast Guard HH-60 Jay Hawk and HH-65 Dolphin helicopters. The combined value for the contracts is more than $4 million with deliveries to be completed this year. The crash survivable recorders are designed and manufactured at Smiths' facility in Michigan.

"Our selection demonstrates Smiths advancement and capability in the cockpit voice flight data recording and subsequent data management use," commented Marc Brodeur, Smiths Aerospace marketing manager. "These two customers are advanced users of CVFDRs and held a very stringent competition. Smiths' selection clearly places us at the top of the military recording marketplace."

The U.S. Coast Guard selected Smiths' flight data recorders to be used in their new and upgraded digital cockpit architectures for the HH-60T rotorcraft. The 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (Airborne) is the Army's high priority aviation unit that is often called upon to deploy on quick response world wide for priority tactical missions in some of the most challenging operational environments. The new light weight, crash survivable Voice and Data Recorder VADR® which meets the latest survivability requirements of EUROCAE ED-112, is the most capable and reliable solid state recorder on the market today, providing the Services with critical information on aircraft incident, mishaps and daily maintenance operations. Smiths' Voice and Data Recorder Systems are installed on more than 8000 air vehicles around the world including rotorcraft, fighters, military transports and civil transport aircraft.

Smiths Aerospace is a leading transatlantic aerospace equipment and systems company, with more than 10,000 employees and nearly $2 billion sales in Europe and North America. Smiths Aerospace, a part of Smiths Group plc, holds key positions in the supply chains of all major military and civil aircraft and engine manufacturers and is a world-leader in digital computing, electrical power, mechanical systems, engine components and customer services. For more information visit www.smiths-aerospace.com.