Wireless ICS Heli

[mortennb]

Hey,

Hoping that someone has the solution for what I am describing bellow.

We are a onshore utility company flying mainly AS350 aicraft.
Our pilots and ground crew has aviation helmets when flying.

When starting up, landing somewhere, or just having ground crew on the ground while performing external load, the groundcrew has no way of communicating with the pilot except when he takes he's aviation helmet off and uses a FM radio handheld. We have some really thin helmets(industry) that can connect to the FM handheld. So atleast they have something on the head.

We want to find a system. (not to expensive) that solves a lot of these problems. So the crew can keep their ordinary helmets on.

Any suggestion out there?

[krypton_john]

Subject to bluetooth range* would this work?

LoPresti Announces “CLEARBLUE” Bluetooth Wireless Headset for Pilots (http://www.sbwire.com/press-releases/sbwire-11896.htm)

* I find with my bluetooth car kit that the range is quite a bit more than 10m but I'm not sure how far away your ground crew need to be able to talk from.

[malabo]

Why don't you give the ground crew a $200 VHF/AM radio? Or you could install an FM in the panel of the ASTAR. Or you could put a headset jack on the FM handheld and then the pilot can plug his headset into it when he wants ($20) - what's he listening to on the aircraft comm radio now?

[Vee-r]

It's also possible to wire a handheld FM into some comm panels. I've seen a couple of aircraft set up like that.
Or, have you tried an earbud type headset under your helmet?

[MikeNYC]

I have no experience with the system and don't know its price point, but have you heard of the Polycon SAR system? http://www.lifesavingsystems.com/base/product_pages/polycon1_1.htm and AnCom | Broaden Your Communication (http://www.ancom.no/rescue) .

It seems to be mentioned here:
http://www.pprune.org/military-aircrew/222660-raf-sar-helicopters-get-new-marine-transceivers.html
http://www.pprune.org/rotorheads/346882-rotor-blade-clearance.html#post4459112

But, why not just adapt the FM transciever leads to your helmet wiring?

[flighttest-engineer]

For fixed installation of a wireless ICS I can recommend the system from Telephonics", which is also used on some Navy helicopters.

It consists of:

Access Point Transceiver (installed in the helicopter)
Portable Transceiver(s)
Headset adaptor (for the Portable Transceiver)
fixed installed antennaPower consumption of the Access Point Transceiver is approx. 2 Watt.

[C4]

IMHO Polycon is crap. Used it in SAR AW139 and was not worth the hassle.

[lelebebbel]

I'm probably missing something important here, but couldn't you just install a car UHF 2-way radio in the aircraft, then give the ground crew some $40 handheld UHFs of ebay? Just about every helicopter in OZ has one for exactly that purpose.

[Hedge36]

http://sportys.com/source/images/products/large/10970.jpg

Problem Solved (http://sportys.com/pilotshop/product/10970)

[mortennb]

Sorry, I didnt't specify all.

Aicraft: AS350
Radios installed:
Tecnosonic VHF/FM AIRBORNE TRANSCEIVER + ordinary VHF

Ground crew: They have portable FM radios that is on frequency with the aicrafts FM radio. They also have ordinary industry helmets with ICS that connects to the FM handheld through a cord with a blue unit that you need to press for transmit.

This solution works, but...
We have tried to connect the Gallet helmet cord directly into this blue unit (NATO plug) but it doesnt work.

So as of today when a crew member exists the aircraft, he needs to take he's gallet helmet off, put on a odrinary industry helmet, connect the FM radio.
This is also the helmet he needs to work with during cargo operations.

We want all of our employees to be able to use their Gallet helmet at all times.
Came on this forum to see if some of you has got the optimal system/solution for this.

I am not sure about the price yet, but I have found this:
TELEPHONICS: Communication Systems - Wired & Wireless Secure Intercommunications - TruLink Wireless Intercommunication System (http://www.telephonics.com/products/trulink.asp) (expensive)
&
Air Crew Interface Drop Box, Motorola Plug in Cable, Icom Plug in Cable, Plug in Coil Cable, Helicopter ICS Straight Cable, Helicopter ICS Coil Cable, General Aviation ICS Straight Cable, General Aviation ICS Coil Cable, IPOD, MP3, Cell Phone, Helico (http://www.tigerperformance.com/dropbox.asp)

[flighttest-engineer]

It looks to me that you will need to adapt the Gallet-helmet to your existing portable radio connection.

If you compare the connector-PIN designations (earphone, microphone on which pin) from both helmet-connectors, also taking into account possible different impedance values the reason for the problem can be isolated.
The technical description of your mobile radio will give you information about the required data to connect external earphone & mike.
The data of the Gallet-helmet shall be compared to match with this data.
Maybe an adapter-box to match with the Gallet-helmet will do the job.

[Brilliant Stuff]

The Metropolitan Police in London U.K. use a system called ship to shore, though I don't know if that is it's brand name. Anyway this apparently costs around £250 and has two black boxes one you plug into one of the tails of the aircraft intercom whilst the second box plugs into the socket of the helmet of the ground crew. Permanent on and no extra wiring.

Off-shore we used to use an icom which was tuned into the company frequency and that's how the ground crew communicated to us.

[farmpilot]

Looking for a ground crew radio solution that can be used with a helicopter helmet, any new updates?

[GoodGrief]

Icom IC-A6 COM Aviation Radio | Icom Radios | Aviation Radios | Avionics and Radios - from Sporty's Pilot Shop (http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/avionics-and-radios/aviation-radios/icom-radios/icom-ic-a6-com-transceiver.html)

and

http://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/helicopter-headset-adapter-cable.html

[TenTon]

If you want to interface with the ICS instead of a radio then this is a good solution and is plug and play. Crew can jump in and out etc without having to change helmets or what they are plugged into.

Jupiter Avionics Corporation - Product Wireless Intercom System (http://www.jupiteravionics.com/productwirelessadapter.php)

[roscoe1]

Go look at Jupiter Avionics, they have what you need.

[farmpilot]

Thanks guys.

I get evil feedback whenever I use an Icom handheld and my helmet or headset on the ground.

Will look at the Jupiter options.

[MikeNYC]

The WiJac from Jupiter looks like a solid and inexpensive solution for wireless ICS. Has anyone actually used it? All I can find are sales pages and a demo video, but not any reports from customers. Since it seems to have been out for 3 years, I'd expect more feedback on it. Any users of it here on PPRuNe?

[Aussierob]

Our SAR team demo'd it for Hover entry and exit as well as CDFL operations. We really like it and are buying 5 units. During hover entry/exit we want members on comms during the whole evolution in case of an emergency, and the VOX means the team can use both hands at all times and not need to use a PTT button. FOR CDFL, having the crew on the line on the intercom means the spotter is in the loop with the crew and there is no chance of radio interference. HTH.

[farmpilot]

Aussierob, what sort of distance have you got air to ground? I need something for aerial filming/aerial co-ordinating using a helmet/headset.

Thanks in advance

[Aussierob]

The system is rated for 300 feet in North America and about double that for the European version as it has higher power output. I've seen over 400 feet in testing. (NA system)

[farmpilot]

Thank you, very interesting.