Southeast Aerospace receives certification for special mission operator station

Southeast Aerospace designed and manufactured the operator station as a mounting solution for housing mission equipment in the Bell 407 helicopter to support Airborne Law Enforcement (ALE) missions.

The operator station was designed to support the Tactical Flight Officer’s (TFO) mission as a primary focus. Dual monitors provide an extended viewing area for mission sensor and mapping data, and the operator station cabinet offers space for housing a fully integrated mission suite.

The operator station cabinet provides mounting provisions for electrical equipment such as video monitors, communication control panels, and recording equipment to be installed by the end user. The mission panel includes provisions for DZUS mounted equipment as well as a dedicated panel for circuit breakers, switches, and maintenance ports. In addition, it is equipped with a fold-down keyboard tray, installed on the left side of the operator station, which can be securely folded up and stowed with a quarter-turn latch for taxi, takeoff, and landing operations.  

The SEA operator station replaces the left-side aft-facing passenger seat in the Bell 407, maintaining three aft cabin passenger seats. The existing left-side aft-facing passenger seat is removed and replaced as part of the modification.

Nathan Hernandez, Business Development Manager, commented: “By having certified options, we can help agencies access high-quality products while still working with their local avionics’ modification team. We look forward to providing more options as we continue to develop and certify additional products."