Vector Aerospace Granted STC for Bell 205 “Glass Cockpit” Installation

Langley, BC, Canada - Vector Aerospace Helicopter Services-North America (Vector), a subsidiary of Vector Aerospace Corporation, has been granted an FAA Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) No. SR03043NY for an integrated cockpit display system (ICDS, or “glass cockpit installation”) for aftermarket installation in the Bell 205 series helicopter. The Vector STC applies to Bell models 205A, 205 A-1, 205B and 212.

Phil Kemp, Vector vice president of airframe and avionics sales, says the visual flight rule-certified Bell 205 ICDS solution is a completely integrated upgrade that replaces all legacy engine instruments, sensors and gyros with digital, solid-state equipment. The new, light-weight cockpit installation is comprised of a SAGEM ICDS-10A three display electronic flight instrument (EFIS) system and dual crossbow AHR500GA heading and altitude system. It accomplishes enhanced flight safety through the integration of the latest situational awareness tools and the ability to adapt the system to fulfill a wide variety of mission requirements. The Vector system also includes various operator-focused, multi-function improvements including moving map displays and exceedance monitoring functions.

Vector partnered with Sagem Avionics Inc. (Safran group) in development of this glass cockpit STC. To date, Vector has successfully developed and integrated various glass cockpit solutions for the Bell 205/206 series, Eurocopter AS350 and Heli-Lynx 355FX, Eagle Single and Sikorsky S61 and S76 helicopters. In addition to the Vector-SAGEM ICDS avionics suites, Vector also offers a Rockwell-Collins STC glass cockpit solution for the Sikorsky S76 and S61 that utilizes a FDS-2000 and Collins AHRS package.

For more information, visit www.vectoraerospace.com.