In partnership with Thales, StandardAero is pleased to begin providing kits and installations of the world's first full four-axis autopilot specifically engineered for H125 helicopters, starting this June. The company is currently taking orders for kits and reservations for production slots.

Based on Thales' Compact Autopilot System this solution, commercially known as StableLight, is a feature-packed system in a compact, lightweight package, perfectly suited for light rotorcraft. ​StableLight transforms the flight control experience of the helicopter with its stability augmentation that works precisely and without feedback in the control sticks. Features include stabilised climb flight attitude recovery, auto pull-up terrain avoidance, auto hover and more in a system that drastically decreases pilot workload while providing what is arguably the most significant improvement in performance that this aircraft has seen in decades.

"Stablelight brings transport category autopilot capabilities to this light helicopter," explains Neena Gill, vice president and general manager for StandardAero's helicopters business unit. "Most importantly, it improves safety with its built-in safety features that can help to mitigate inflight risks like IIMC (Inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions) and CFIT (Controlled Flight into Terrain), while reducing pilot workload and fatigue during normal operations."

StableLight autopilot was unveiled at HAI Heli-Expo in March 2022 with onsite customer demo flights, and was granted an STC by the FAA in November 2023 for retrofit on AS350 and H125 platforms. Both EASA and Transport Canada validations of the STC were subsequently applied for.