Avidyne Corporation has launched its dzus-mounted Avidyne Helios multifunction flight management system (FMS) for helicopters. It provides many of the same features as the Avidyne Atlas FMS, including a Satellite-based Augmentation System (SBAS) GPS navigator, a full QWERTY style keyboard with the company's 'Page & Tab' and hybrid touchscreen user interface, and a full colour Moving Map with high resolution, three arc-second terrain basemap, geo-referenced Jeppesen electronic approach charts and airport diagrammes, including helicopter approaches and heliports. Helios options include 16-watt VHF NAV/COM with ILS, HTAWS, Avidyne's GLAS legacy avionics interface, radar control/display capability, NVIS compatibility and an RS-170 video input.

“Avidyne Helios is a natural extension of our highly capable multifunction FMS line, providing the same great easy-to-use features of our IFD and Atlas FMS products. Helios is built from the ground up to meet the rigorous demands of the rotorcraft environment,” explains CEO Dan Schwinn. “With built-in moving map featuring our new three arc-second terrain and power line data, plus charts, and VHF NAV/COM, video, NVIS and radar options, it gives corporate, military and special-mission helicopter operators a highly integrated and much more capable FMS solution.”

“Avidyne Helios gives our Part 27 and Part 29 rotorcraft customers a powerful new option when upgrading their GPS navigation capabilities,” adds director of worldwide sales John Talmadge. “Its extensive I/O provides easy interface with a wide range of new and existing flight instrument systems, and its integrated design gives a big advantage, especially for fleet operators looking to reduce installation and operational costs, including updates of the FMS database and electronic approach plates, as well as extended warranty.”

The Avidyne Helios flight management system meets TSO-C146c for full SBAS/LPV approach guidance, including easy-to-use flight planning, 'one-touch' departure, airway and arrival. Its touchscreen 'hybrid touch' user interface provides easy map panning and rubber-band flight plan editing. It is designed to seamlessly integrate with existing equipment in the aircraft including a long list of CDIs, HSIs, remote sensors and autopilots, and it is also an approved ADS-B GPS position source with numerous transponders.

Helios also offers an option for Avidyne's GPS Legacy Avionics Support (GLAS) interface that provides direct compatibility with legacy Collins Proline 21 and Honeywell Primus EFIS systems for vertical guidance during approach operations. This unique integration capability enables EFISs certified before the availability of LPV approaches to have coupled approach guidance on these and other SBAS approaches.

Amont its others features are display of XM or ADS-B weather with full graphics as an overlay on the map; traffic display from TCAS, TAS, or ADS-B; display of Jeppesen approach plates and airport diagrams, including heliports; integrated wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity; integration with ForeFlight and a host of other EFBs; a built-in USB charger; optional integrated 16-watt VHF COM, VOR, localizer and glide slope radio w/15 COMM channel presets with remote increment/decrement and XFER; optional NVIS compatibility; optional Avidyne GLAS technology; optional radar display for BendixKing digital radars; optional integrated HTAWS; and optional R-170 video input.

The single-box system is 7.5” tall, 5.75” wide and 10.615” deep. It is form-factor compatible to physically fit the same space as a host of legacy FMS systems.

Initial certification is expected later this year, with additional STCs to follow.