PPRuNe Forums - Cobham/Chelton HeliSAS

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Automatic Pilot for Single Engine Helicopter

I read your explanation on SAS. Thanks ! Which automatic pilot would you recommend for an EC 130 ? The Sagem or the Cobham ? I know price and service may be different, but technically speaking what would you recommend ?

Both from what I've read, are 2 axis AP. But I've heard there are some single engine helicopters with 3 axis AP. What would the 3rd axis act on and is it really needed ?

Thanks

My experience of SAGEM in the EC130 is extremely negative. Although the basic autopilot does pretty much what it says on the tin (heading and altitude hold and VOR radial/GPS track capture), the rest of the SAGEM cockpit (ICDS-8) is poor. Vertical nav (ie the ability to do any sort of climb or descent under the autopilot) in our ship is controlled by a separate piece of kit from S-TEC (which is now owned by Cobham) and the integration is poor. The moving map on the SAGEM kit is truly a joke by modern standards, and the chances on them focussing on the GA market to make things better are negligable whilst they have so many other more lucrative markets.

As you'll have read from this thread there are more gotchas in this field than you could even think of, and you need to make the companies you contract man up for the work, especially where integration is involved. Secure detailed written specifications (that you can understand) from your prime contractor and get them to stand behind any third party kit they intend to use. Don't be the first to do anything if you can help it, but if you're forced to, then make sure your suppliers are sharing in the cost and risk.

The third axis will be yaw (ie. pedals) and in my experience (A109) not very well implemented even when it's present, so not worth the bother for VFR.

Quote:

what would you recommend ?

The Cobham HeliSAS in my B407 has been flawless so far. Highly recommended. And, I think, far less espensive than the Sagem. :ok:

Genesys secures order for 210 HeliSAS systems to major EMS operator
BlueSky Business Aviation News 1st May 2014

Quote:

Genesys Aerosystems -- formerly S-TEC/Chelton Flight Systems -- has signed an agreement with Air Medical Group Holdings and its subsidiaries, Air Evac, Med Trans, EagleMed and Reach, for a total of 210 HeliSAS systems in their fleet of Bell and Airbus Helicopters EMS rotorcraft.

The HeliSAS 2-axis autopilot and stability augmentation systems will be installed over the next 3 years, beginning immediately.

Fred Buttrell, President & CEO of AMGH commented, “We have had the opportunity to test the capability of the Cobham system and feel that incorporating the HeliSAS recovery and auto pilot capability into our flight operations will provide an incremental safety benefit for our crews and those we serve.”

I/C