The multi-purpose system needed to respond effectively

What makes you so passionate about aviation?

From a very young age, I was fascinated with aircraft. My father was an engineer at Air New Zealand, and we lived right below a landing flight path, where I’d run outside to identify the descending aircraft. In my teen years, I dreamt of becoming a commercial pilot. After a few introductory flights on a Cessna 152, I learned I was color blind – a condition that, in the 1990s, dashed my dream of training to become a commercial pilot. Redirecting my attention to the business side of aviation and obtaining a business master’s qualification helped me find employment in the aviation sector. I enjoy marketing premium aviation brands and have held senior commercial roles at Singapore Airlines, Air New Zealand, Rishworth Aviation, and Flightcell.

What is the Flightcell DZMx PLUS, and how does it enhance flight operations?

The Flightcell DZMx PLUS is a multipurpose system, providing global cellular and Iridium satellite voice, messaging, and data connectivity, no matter how remote the location is. Tracking is another capability of the system, along with being an approved flight data monitoring system, complying with FAA rule 135.607 for helicopter air ambulance operators. The DZMx PLUS can be controlled from the cockpit or aircraft cabin by the new Flightcell Controller, allowing for seamless air-to-ground voice and messaging communications, whereby air and medical crews can constantly communicate with medical specialists on the ground, ensuring the best possible patient care en route to the emergency department. In addition, using high-speed data connections over Ethernet or Wi-Fi, patient data can be transmitted in real time to hospitals on the ground, and treatment recommendations can be sent back to the aircraft, further enhancing the patient’s care in flight.

What can you tell me about the latest upgrade to the interface on the Flightcell DZMx PLUS with the Flightcell Controller?

The Flightcell Controller is our new compact interface that controls the DZMx PLUS. It’s been designed to match the look and feel of our proven flagship product, the DZMx, which is installed in thousands of rotary and fixed-wing aircraft across the globe. Multiple Flightcell Controllers can be installed across an aircraft, and each Controller acts independently, allowing users to set functions specific to their requirements. This capability is popular with emergency medical services (EMS) and search and rescue (SAR) operators, both of whom regularly need to communicate from the aircraft cabin to ground command centers.

How does this improve the user experience of the DZMx PLUS?

The new Flightcell Controller is night vision compliant and features an enhanced user display that offers operators a better user experience, including a full-color LCD screen, a sunlight-readable display, and an intuitive menu – all new features that provide operators a reliable and seamless interface to talk to and message ground personnel, and transmit and receive patient data.

Why is this important for operators of special missions like Bristow Norway, one of the launch customers?

Multiple launch customers are integrating the Flightcell Controller with the Flightcell DZMx PLUS to modernize the avionics of their respective rotorcraft fleets. One of the launch customers is Bristow Norway, which has chosen the Flightcell Controller for its S-92 fleet. We are thrilled to partner with Bristow and support their SAR operations in Norway with our advanced communication solutions. The Flightcell DZMx PLUS and Controller are designed to meet the unique challenges faced by helicopter operators, providing reliable connectivity and real-time data exchange to enhance operational efficiency and safety. These capabilities empower Bristow’s pilots and operational teams with the information and communication tools needed to respond effectively to emergencies and execute complex missions with precision and confidence.