StandardAero has been certified by the FAA for a glass cockpit upgrade on the Bell 212 helicopter, available for both VFR and IFR operations. The upgrade features Universal Avionics EFI-890H Advanced Flight Displays that can be integrated with legacy Honeywell and Bell autopilot systems. The first installation of the STC was accomplished in cooperation with Bell customer service facility Alpine Aerotech and its launch customer. The option is now being made available to other Bell 212 operators seeking to economically update their aircraft.

“The partnership approach to this upgrade worked very well and we are extremely appreciative to have such a great customer who believed in us and our collective approach,” states Alpine Aerotech president Jeff Denomme. ”Working together allowed us to provide a complete upgrade in the cockpit and the aircraft simultaneously, resulting in a truly modernised aircraft.”

The STC also includes incorporation of dual, large format Garmin GTN 750 touchscreen navigators offering NAV/COM/GPS/HTAWS/ADS-B capability. Ageing and heavy Tarsyn gyros are replaced with reliable and compact Rockwell Collins AHC-1000 Attitude and Heading Reference System (AHRS). This upgrade allows operators of the Bell 212 machine to modernise their fleet with a low-cost solution that not only can extend the usefulness of their aircraft for years to come, but also improves safety by alleviating pilot workload and fatigue.

“We are excited to bring yet another advanced technological retrofit solution to the market, specifically supporting those operators using the Bell 212 to perform important firefighting, SAR, offshore and utility missions day in and day out,” says StandardAero VP of business development Elvis Moniz. “Over the past year, our experienced in-house design team worked diligently with the Universal Avionics and Alpine Aerotech teams to make this modernised safety solution a reality.”

StandardAero was among the first to develop fully integrated and certified IFR-compatible retrofit solutions such as those developed for the Bell UH-1H, Bell 212S, Bell 205, Bell 206, Bell 407, Sikorsky S-76, Sikorsky S-61 and Nuri, Airbus AS350 and Airbus AS355. The company has performed more than 500 glass cockpit installations on rotary and fixed-wing aircraft.

StandardAero also recently received two awards (Customer Satisfaction and Going Above and Beyond) at the Rolls-Royce FIRST Network Recognition Reception, an annual event held as part of Rolls-Royce's attendance at the 2019 HAI Heli-Expo in Atlanta. The awards recognise achievements by authorised maintenance service centres that provide MRO services for the M250 helicopter engines operated by thousands of customers worldwide.

“It is great to be recognised once again by Rolls-Royce for our ability to meet and exceed customer expectations,” says VP of sales, marketing and business development Manny Atwal. “Going above and beyond is what our people do each and every day for our customers. It is humbling to win the customer satisfaction for the tenth year; a true testament to our team's positive attitude and focus on finding solutions to meet customer needs.”