Mineral Wells, TX (March 29, 2016) – Genesys Aerosystems announced today that the company has received an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) for the retrofit installation of its HeliSAS® Stability Augmentation System and two-axis autopilot on Robinson R66 turbine helicopters.
“The Genesys Aerosystems’ HeliSAS has been a popular option on factory-new R66s since its introduction. Now with the FAA STC in hand, we are able to offer all of the system’s popular safety-enhancing capabilities to Robinson R66 owner/operators in the field through our retrofit program,” stated Jamie Luster, Genesys Aerosystems Director of Sales and Marketing. “The stability augmentation and autopilot system is the ideal complement to the outstanding performance of the turbine-powered R66.”
“The compact HeliSAS was originally designed for the Robinson platform, so while saving weight was a major consideration during the design process, we also worked hard to keep the price down,” Ms. Luster said. “We knew how beneficial the systems would be and wanted to ensure most Part 27 helicopter owners could afford the potential life saving features HeliSAS provides.”
Weighing less than 15 pounds, the Genesys Aerosystems HeliSAS has set the standard for improving the safety and enhancing the capabilities of light helicopters. The system’s advanced capabilities reduce single-pilot workload, while providing precise “hands-off” control of the aircraft during all modes of flight – regardless of wind conditions or shifts in the aircraft’s weight.
Key features of the Genesys Aerosystems HeliSAS Stability Augmentation System and two-axis Autopilot include:
• HeliSAS Stability Augmentation, the system dramatically reduces pilot workload while providing precise control during all phases of flight regardless of wind conditions or shifts in the helicopter
• HeliSAS Attitude Stabilization and Force Feel features enhance the helicopter’s handling characteristics to mitigate inadvertent cyclic control inputs that could result in dangerous attitudes or loss of control
• With the addition of the optional two-axis autopilot, HeliSAS provides a fully array of workload-reducing capabilities including altitude hold, NAV hold, heading hold and vertical modes, which can track an ILS approach.
Ms. Luster also stated that as part of the FAA STC, Genesys Aerosystems offers the HeliSAS as a stand-alone stability augmentation system (SAS) or with the addition of an optional two-axis autopilot system.
Current pricing for the Genesys Aerosystems’ HeliSAS retrofit STC for the Robinson R66 is:
• HeliSAS Stability Augmentation System only: $62,530.
• HeliSAS Stability Augmentation System with two-axis Autopilot: $71,509.
Pricing includes all equipment required including the installation kit. Price does not include installation or attitude source. The company expects to receive EASA certification soon.
The new Robinson R66 STC joins the growing list of approvals the company already has for HeliSAS installations on other popular helicopters including the Airbus (Eurocopter) EC130 and AS350-series, the Bell 206B, 206L and 407 models, and the Robinson R44. The company stated it plans to add at least three more helicopter models to its FAA STC list in 2016.
About Genesys Aerosystems
Genesys Aerosystems is a leading provider of integrated avionics systems for military and civil aircraft manufacturers and operators. With a diverse and growing product line, Genesys Aerosystems’ avionics systems can be offered as stand-alone components or integrated to provide an entire cockpit solution. Its synthetic vision Electronic Flight Instrument System (EFIS) revolutionized flight crew situational awareness and safety and is now approved on more than 700 models of aircraft and helicopters. Genesys Aerosystems’ newest Helicopter Stability Augmentation System and Autopilot (HeliSAS) adds to the company’s extensive offerings of S-TEC autopilot solutions and brings added safety to light piston and turbine helicopters. For more information, visit: www.genesys-aerosystems.com.
