Bell 505 autopilot system certified in UK
Genesys HeliSAS Autopilot available in two- and three-axis configurations and can be retrofitted with previous 505 units
The Genesys HeliSAS Autopilot, developed by American aerospace manufacturer Bell Textron, has been certified in the UK Civil Aviation Authority and is compatible with Bell 505 helicopters.
Duncan Van De Velde, Managing Director, Europe and Russia for Bell, commented: “The system decreases pilot workload, increases pilot comfort over long distances, and provided assistance in the event of inadvertent Instrument Meteorological Conditions.”
The autopilot is available in two- and three-axis configurations, enabling pitch and roll controls for the former and the latter adding yaw control.
The system is also equipped with a stability augmentation system to automatically recover the aircraft to near-level flight at all speeds, stability engagement, and envelope protection to prevent over- and under-speeding.
There are currently over 300 Bell 505s operating across the world, and Gary Slater, Director of Helix AV, dealer of Bell helicopters in the UK and Ireland, said: “The UK has been eagerly waiting for autopilot certification for the 505.”
The first Bell 505 dealer in Germany was also recently approved in November 2020.
Khai Trung Le
Khai Trung Le is Editor of AirMed&Rescue. He is an experienced science writer, having previously been embedded in Cardiff University College of Physical Sciences, Innovate UK research council, and the UK Institute of Material Sciences. His writing can also be found on Star Trek and Vice.