Moog upgrades its UH-60L with Genesys Avionics Suite

Aircraft manufacturer Genesys AeroSystems has partnered with XP Services, a specialist in aircraft modernization and refurbishment, to add the UH-60L model to its Black Hawk Alpha model supplemental type certificate (STC) for Moog’s Genesys Avionics Suite. As part of the STC, the avionics suite will interface with GE-701D engines. Completion of the STC is planned for later this year.

The first two upgraded UH-60L aircraft will be supplied by Seaview Aviation, located in Camarillo, California, for contract delivery to an Australian customer.

Features of the Genesys Avionic Suite IDU-680 include:

• Synthetic vision (SVS)
• Geo-referenced hover vector
• Helicopter terrain awareness and warning system (HTAWS)
• Built-in flight management system (FMS) for both navigation and communication radios
• Interface to special mission systems using Genesys’ patented Open Architecture System Integration Symbology (OASIS) toolset
• Fully modernized electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) upgrade replacing standard analog gauges with IDU-680 smart displays
• Genesys Digital Radio (GDR) nav/comm, featuring combined very high frequency omni-directional range (VOR), localizer, glideslope, and marker beacon navigation plus very high frequency (VHF) and ultra-high frequency (UHF) communication options.

The dual GPS/SBAS navigation system supports all NextGen procedures, US Coast Guard search and rescue patterns, and user-defined precision approaches. According to Genesys, all engine instruments and master caution lights will be replaced with quadruple redundant engine indication and crew alerting system (EICAS) display pages. The suite will also replace legacy gyros with solid-state, lightweight, digital attitude/heading reference system (AHRS).

Alongside the suite will be a fully digital four-axis instrument flight rules (IFR) certified Genesys Helicopter Autopilot, which includes full automation from a single point hover to another single point hover for ultimate safety and pilot workload reduction.

Jamie Luster, Genesys’ Director of Sales and Marketing, said: “As the US Army releases more Lima models for civilian or foreign military use, Genesys wants to ensure operators are able to utilize fully modernized Black Hawks with a better return on their investment while increasing the aircraft’s operational life and mission effectiveness.”

According to Genesys, the fully integrated system offers dramatic reductions in cost, weight, maintenance, and pilot workload, while remaining customizable for special mission applications.