Avidyne Corporation has receved Technical Standard Order (TSO) approval from the FAA for its dzus-mounted Avidyne Helios multifunction flight management system for helicopters.

“Avidyne Helios provides huge benefits for many helicopter operators, and getting TSO approval is just the next step for Avidyne as we continue our growth into the turbine-class helicopter market,” says Avidyne CEO Dan Schwinn.

VP of worldwide sales John Talmadge adds: “Avidyne Helios gives our customers a powerful new option when upgrading their GPS/FMS navigation capabilities, especially for single- and twin-turbine-class helicopter operators with older generation EFIS displays where options have been limited. “This TSO approval allows MRO facilities to begin their own STC programmes and field-approved installations into rotor-wing aircraft.”

The Avidyne Helios is a dzus-mount flight management system that meets TSO-C146c for full SBAS/LPV approach guidance and is an approved GPS position source for ADS-B. Avidyne Helios features easy-to-use flight planning, one-touch departure, airway and arrival navigation, and Avidyne's patented GeoFill waypoint nomination. Avidyne Helios features a full QWERTY-style dedicated keyboard along with touch-screen hybrid touch user interface that provides easy map panning and flight plan editing. Its extensive I/O is designed to integrate with existing equipment in the aircraft including a long list of EFIS, PFDs, CDIs, HSIs, remote sensors and autopilots, and it is also an approved ADS-B GPS position source with numerous transponders.

Avidyne's GPS Legacy Avionics Support (GLAS) provides a direct interface to 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.

The Avidyne Helios boasts a variety of features not found in any other FMS system, such as: hybrid touch-screen user interface incorporating a full set of buttons and knobs as well as touch screen operation for virtually all functions; moving map with extensive airspace, terrain, navaid and airport display capability; 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 electronic approach charts and airport diagrams including heliports; integrated wi-fi and Bluetooth connectivity; Avidyne GLAS technology; integration with ForeFlight and a host of other third-party EFB Apps; spill-proof keyboard and built-in USB charger; optional NVIS compatibility; optional integrated 16-Watt VHF COM, VOR, localiser and glide slope radio; optional radar display for Bendix King digital radars; optional integrated HTAWS with power line database; and optional RS-170 video display capability

The self-contained unit is 7.5” tall, 5.75” wide, and 10.615” deep and is form-factor compatible with a host of legacy FMS systems.

Avidyne has also announced receipt of TSO and STC approval from the FAA for installation of its dzus-mounted Avidyne Atlas multifunction flight management system in Cessna Citation 560XL, Excel, and XLS models. TSO approval also allows MRO facilities to begin performing their own STCs and installations in turbine-class aircraft.

“Certification of the Avidyne Atlas is a huge step forward in FMS capability for turbine-class aircraft, and a big leap forward for our company as we continue our growth into the turbine markets,” says Schwinn. “We've targeted Atlas as an FMS replacement specifically for console-equipped jet operators to provide a highly-capable navigation and flight management solution that pilots will find incredibly easy to use.”