US aeromedical service Apollo Med Flight is enhancing its flight data monitoring (FDM) and communication capabilities by installing the Outerlink IRIS system on its Bell 429 helicopter, operating at Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska.

“We have seen tremendous success with our communications, operational control and FDM programme since implementing the Outerlink IRIS system, which features a global push-to-talk VoIP radio and a fully integrated FDM tool suite,” says director of maintenance Mike Stacey. “We took advantage of a scheduled maintenance interval to have Paradigm Aerospace install and integrate the system into this Bell 429.”

The IRIS system offers a unique recording platform that captures voice, video and parametric aircraft data from initial power-on to power-off. Unlike traditional crash recorders, the IRIS system continuously captures all engine data from start to post-shutdown. Using the IRIS FASTARS Cloud, customers can upload, process and analyse hundreds of data parameters with ease, thanks to a simple SD card in the IRIS control head.

Currently installed on over 500 fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, the IRIS system has demonstrated significant cost-saving benefits for customers by reducing maintenance expenses and lowering insurance premiums. With all hardware and software developed in-house, Outerlink delivers a fully integrated, user-friendly safety system that operates smoothly.