Green Power Monitoring Systems (GPMS) has gained STC certification for its Foresight MX prognostic health monitoring system on the Bell 407GX and Bell 407GXP helicopters. Foresight MX, GPMS claims, is the first true prognostic health management system for helicopters and rotating industrial equipment. Follow on certifications are expected for other variants of the Bell 407 shortly.

The GPMS Foresight MX system is designed around the needs of the maintainer and operator to provide clear, concise, actionable information about current mechanical and operational issues, as well as predictive information on timeframes for upcoming required maintenance to minimise unplanned downtime. Available exclusively through Bell's Aeronautical Accessories, it aims to meetthe space and weight constraints and tight budgets of helicopter operators.

“The health and usage monitoring system (HUMS) in aviation is a critical component in the safety, ROI and lifespan of equipment, and yet it has been sorely neglected when it comes to modernisation,” says GPMS founder and CEO Dr Eric Bechhoefer. “Foresight catapults the HUMS solution into the 21st century, meeting the necessary requirements around weight, cost and simplicity. We are proud to share this achievement with Bell by making the Bell 407GX and Bell 407GXP a great first platform for the STC. GPMS much appreciates the validation that the STC represents.” An innovator in the fields of prognostic health management, HUMS and condition monitoring, Dr Bechhoefer has published over 100 papers and holds 26 patents with six pending.

The Foresight MX on the Bell 407GX and Bell 407GXP weighs in at less than nine pounds including all hardware, cable and mounting components. The system seeks to reduce operational costs through advanced notification of impending maintenance requirements. It is Part 135 compliant for air medical use and offers a full scope of functionality including mechanical diagnostics and prognostics, engine performance monitoring, exceedance monitoring, flight regime recognition, automated data acquisition and automated, optimised solutions for rotor, track and balance. Foresight MX provides automatic alerting through email and SMS and an user interface accessible through a standard web browser on a laptop, desktop, tablet or cell phone.