Airbus Helicopters and Swiss Rotor Solutions (SRS) have signed a memorandum of understanding to cooperate in the promotion of the Maximum Pilot View Kit (MPVK) for the H125 and older variants of the AS350 single engine helicopter (B2 and B3 versions). This will enable customers to have the MPVK installed directly by Airbus Helicopters on newly-built H125s coming out of its final assembly line in Marignane in France, or out of its worldwide customer centres network.

Designed specifically for the H125, the MPVK consists of a large lower viewing aperture and transparent fuselage window fairing, which multiplies by ten the field of view of pilots during vertical work operations. Providing unrestricted pilot view below and to the right hand side of the aircraft, the kit improves the H125 mission capability and enhances the safety for pilots and ground crews in demanding operations such as sling loading, firefighting, confined area operations, search and rescue and emergency medical services, as well as any tasks requiring operation near the ground and obstacles.

“We are striving to constantly improve the safety, performance and versatility of the H125 in order to better meet our customers' expectations,” says Airbus Helicopters head of light helicopters programme Axel Aloccio. “With the MPVK, which will be available this year in new helicopters but also on retrofit, the H125 will further increase its mission capability in important market segments and provide enhanced mission safety.”

Swiss Rotor Solutions was founded in 2013 with the purpose of offering services and products for the helicopter industry. The MPVK STC is already EASA, FAA, TCCA, ANAC Brazil and DGAC Mexico approved.

“We are really happy to start this cooperation with Airbus Helicopters to further promote the use of the MPVK among H125 operators,” adds CEO Thomas Bolzli. “At present there are about 30 aircraft equipped with the kit but, with a fleet of about 2,000 H125/AS350 currently dedicated to work dependent on high pilot vertical visibility, we are very optimistic for the future success of this kit.”