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TopDeck avionics suite onboard the 1st flight of Sikorsky’s S-76DTM helicopter

Written by thomas · Filed Under Aeronautics News 

February 26, 2009

thomas

Neuilly sur Seine, 24 February 2009 – Thales’s TopDeckÒ avionics suite has successfully
completed its first flight aboard the Sikorsky S-76D™ helicopter. Sikorsky is a business unit
of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
Thales was selected to develop the cockpit by Sikorsky in 2005 – it represents the most
technologically advanced solution currently available and is specifically designed for
helicopter operations. The intuitive design features large-format displays that have been
consolidated in an efficiently designed console for improved visibility and situational
awareness.
The full suite includes four 68 smart LCD displays providing Flight, Engine, Caution and
Warning, Systems Status, Checklists, and Mission Data. The innovative Cursor Control
Device provides cockpit interactivity previously seen only in airline cockpits by allowing
control of avionics via Virtual Control Panels on the cockpit displays and by allowing interface
to the Flight Management System through the cockpit displayed map instead of through the
conventional Keyboard. The Integrated Electronic Standby Instrument provides backup air
data, attitude and communication/navigation interface. The all-new digital 4 axis Autopilot
and Flight Director provides stability and auto-flight.
The flight tests were conducted at the Sikorsky’s Development Flight Center in West Palm
Beach, Florida, and were an outstanding success.
“This achievement demonstrates Thales’ ability to get it right the first time”, said Yves
Joannic head of Thales’s Helicopter Solutions activities. He added that “the hard work that
the team put into validating the system interfaces demonstrates that Thales is ready to enter
Flight Test phase and is on track to meet commitments towards final certification of the
helicopter.”
“A tremendous effort on the part of the Thales team helped us get here”, said Raymond
Spagnuolo, S-76D Avionics/Electrical Systems Leader at Sikorsky.
The S-76D helicopter is scheduled to enter production with certification, and customer
deliveries in 2010.

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